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Around 1000 candles shone outside St Gemma’s Hospice on Sunday as people came to light a candle in memory of a departed loved one.
Bishop Nick spoke during the Light up a Life Appeal service in which people also dedicated a light to shine on a special tree in memory of someone they’d lost.
In his talk, Bishop Nick (who is patron of St Gemma’s), said, “In St John’s Gospel it says that the light has come into the world and the darkness has not overcome it. But when we’ve been bereaved sometimes it doesn’t feel like that.
“Christmas is about God coming in to the world as it is. He doesn’t wait until accidents have stopped happening or cancer has been wiped out, but in Jesus, God experiences the world as we experience it.
“So whatever sort of prayer we can offer, we can know that we needn’t be driven by fear or loss, but rather drawn by hope in a God who also knows the reality of death, suffering and bereavement.
“Death doesn’t have the final say and will not extinguish the light that is rooted in God himself”.
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If you were unable to attend the service, St Gemma’s also have home packs for people to remember a loved one at home.
For more information please contact Kirsty or phone 0113 218 5506.