Remembrance Rituals
“Anything you have ever been given is yours forever.”
– Rachel Naomi Remen
FOUR CANDLES CEREMONY
(Adapted by Children’s Grief Center NM from work written by Darcie D Sims and Sherry L Williams)
The first candle represents our grief.
We light this candle knowing the pain of losing you is intense.
It reminds us of the depth of our love for you.
This second candle represents our courage.
We light this candle to honor the courage to confront our sorrow, to comfort each other, to change our lives.
The third candle represents your memory.
We light this candle for the times we laughed, the times we cried, the times we were angry, the times we were silly.
For the caring and joy you gave us.
This fourth candle represents our love.
We light this candle to signify that your light will always shine in the special place in our hearts reserved for you.
We thank you for the gift your living brought to us.
We love you.
We remember you.
We Remember Them
At the rising of the sun and its going down,
we remember them.
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
we remember them.
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring,
we remember them.
At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer,
we remember them.
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn,
we remember them.
At the beginning of the year and when it ends,
we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength,
we remember them.
When we have joys and celebrations we yearn to share,
we remember them.
As long as we live, they too will live,
For they are now a part of us as we remember them.
We remember them.
~ Sylvan Kamens and Rabbi Jack Riemer