Holiday Memorial Service
Tuesday, November 28 at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church
"Silent Night: A Community Service for Grieving Parents"
The holiday season brings on powerful memories and emotions, and it can be a particularly painful time for those who have lost a child. If you have experienced this loss, or know someone who has, we want you to know about a special service held each year by a group of congregations in the Richmond area.
Beginning at St. Stephen's Church in 2006, a special interfaith service has been offered by several area congregations—Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish—to provide a time and place for families to remember the child they lost. The holiday season is filled with images and expectations of loved ones coming home, while bereaved parents and family members know that not everyone can be around the table. Moreover, “holiday cheer” seems to preclude bringing up the name or the memory of the deceased child. The Holiday Memorial Service offers an opportunity to do that, whether your child died 30 years ago, or three weeks ago; whether as an adult, a teenager, a child or an infant. This service is open to all.
The service, formerly called the Holiday Memorial Service, has been held at St. Stephen's, Holy Comforter, Grace and Holy Trinity and other congregations over the years. In 2023, it will be hosted by First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, November 28, at 7 p.m. The church is located at 4602 Cary Street Road in Richmond