Christmas is on the way and St. Joseph’s Hospice in Thornton will hold its annual Light up a Life service at 4pm this Sunday 3rd December.

The service will include readings, prayers and blessings from the Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool, Tom Neylon, and Father John Furnivall, as well as the hospice’s chief executive, Mike Parr, and clinical director, Clare Waller.

Make Noise Choir will sing festive carols at this years’ service and mince pies and hot drinks will also be available.

During the service, the hospice will also switch on the lights of its Light up a Life Christmas tree, with each light dedicated to the memory of someone special.

Light up a Life isn’t just for families who have lost loved ones at the hospice but is for anyone who would like to remember the special people they have lost and to celebrate their lives, or to say thank you or mark a special occasion or birth. It is a very personal Christmas service, which takes place at dusk on the lawn in front of the hospice.

Maxine Armstrong, head of fundraising at St. Joseph’s Hospice, said: “Our Light up a Life service is a wonderful way to mark the start of the festive season here at the hospice and to think about our loved ones.

“We are always delighted to welcome everyone in to our woodland gardens for the service and to see the Christmas lights being switched on our beautiful Christmas tree, which has kindly been sponsored by the generous team at Barringtons Funeral Services.

“For all those families who have made a dedication to Light up a Life, they are not only remembering their loved ones but are also helping to support and fund all the good work the hospice does within the community.”

Families can still dedicate a light to a loved one by completing a dedication form, which is available to download here. Forms are also available to pick up directly from the hospice or from any St. Joseph’s Hospice charity shop.

To find out more about Light up a Life, call 0151 932 6044/6046 or email events@stjhospice.org.uk.