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In early November, lights will shine brightly in the night as family and friends honor the memory of their loved ones in a beautiful, peaceful and meaningful way.

The St. Luke’s Hospice 8th Annual Luminaria Lighting will be held on Saturday November 7, at 5:30pm. This year, the event will be held at Becky’s Drive-In, which is located at 4548 Lehigh Drive in Walnutport, to ensure social distance guidelines. Anyone who has experienced loss, at any time in their lives, is invited to come to honor a loved one.

“This night is an opportunity to slow down, shut out the world’s distractions and focus on the love and memory of our loved ones in a way that is special, unique and meaningful,” says Michelle Udicious, Director of Community Outreach at St. Luke's University Health Network.

“The annual luminaria lighting ceremony provides friends and families an opportunity to reflect, honor and celebrate the lives and legacies of those who have passed.”

The luminaria, which consist of votive candles illuminated in small paper bags, represent light and hope. The lighting is part of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Month observations.

During the St. Luke’s Hospice Luminaria Lighting, guests will arrive at 5:00 pm and receive a welcome bag that includes a personal luminary kit, bereavement resource information and water. Guests will drive through the entranceway lined with luminarias and memorial signs.

The evening’s program will be presented on the drive-in theater movie screen. The St. Luke’s Hospice Team will guide a collective lighting of the luminaria along with shared messages of inspiration, hope and reflection

“In honor of Veterans Day, we will also be acknowledging those who have served,” Udicious says.

Registration is required. The event is offered free of charge because of generous sponsors. A suggested donation of $15 is appreciated and helps to keep the Luminaria Lighting and other support resources free to the general public.

“As a not-for-profit hospice, donations allow us to enhance patient and family care support, build our endowment for the future and invest in the advancement of services,” notes Melissa Siegfried, Director of Development, St. Luke’s University Health Network.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of our sponsors and our community. All proceeds support the mission of St. Luke’s Hospice to provide compassionate care for patients and families through the end-of-life journey.”

Sponsors of the St. Luke’s Hospice 8th Annual Luminaria Lighting are:

• Luminous Sponsors: Embassy Bank for the Lehigh Valley; Pencor Services, Inc.
• Angel Sponsors: First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union; J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home; Vasiliadis Pappas Associates LLC.; R4 Architecture LLC.

The event will follow CDC guidelines. Masks are required when leaving your vehicle parking area and participants are asked to follow social distancing protocols.

The event will be held rain or shine since. Registration is required and can be completed online at sluhn.org/2020Luminaria or by calling InfoLink at 1-866-STLUKES (Option 4).