I fully understand your feelings and how confusing and frustrating the position that you're currently in can be. I was there just a few months ago, but I can assure you that once you see it all come together, you'll totally realize why you're doing what you are!

For our ceremony, we had one speaker read a few different poems that my Event Chair and I agreed on and we also did the Empty Table. (MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T FORGET THE ITEMS BECAUSE I DID AND IT WAS JUST AN ADDED STRESS!) As for the lighting of the bags, we had a lone walker take a lap and all participants lined the outside of the track behind the bags. As the walker passed, they lit the bags so it was like a ripple effect while an emotion provoking song was playing. (It took about 6 minutes so make sure the song is long enough.) Once he passed the start/finish line, everyone filed in behind and the walking resumed as normal. While doing it this way took a lot of planning and coordination, it has the positive of the fact that you don't have to light all the bags and everyone gets involved in your ceremony.

Just an idea, but hope it helps. And if you have any questions or anything, please don't hesitate to contact me. I learned a lot and learned that being Luminaria Chair, especially taking it on by yourself can be very stressful and I'd be more than happy to help in any way I can!

Have you considered adding the empty table to your luminary ceremony? It is amazing what this simple thing can add to the ceremony. I would suggest, however, that you separate the actual lighting of the luminarys from the setting of the empty table. You can find the reading simply by googling 'the empty table'. Good Luck!

Kim

HI THERE-

WE JUST FINISHED OUR RFL LAST WEEKEND.  UNFORTUNATELY, IT RAINED ON US YET AGAIN BUT WE WERE ABLE TO STILL HAVE A LUMINARIA CEREMONY DESPITE BEING WET.   YOU'VE GOT SOME GREAT IDEAS.  WE DID A POWER POINT PRESENTATION WHERE MUSIC PLAYED AND EVERYONE WAS REMEMBERED AND HONORED.  IN THE PAST, ONE OF OUR TEAMS RELEASED BUTTERFLIES AND DOVES AS A FUNDRAISER AND IT WENT  VERY WELL IN THE YEARS THEY DID IT.   YOU CAN RELEASE BALLOONS BUT, INSTEAD OF PUTTING SLIPS OF PAPER IN THE BALLOON, HOW ABOUT WRITING THE NAMES ON THE BALLOONS WITH SHARPEES IN DIFFERENT COLORS TO SIGNIFY THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANCERS.   OUR DIVISION IN VIRGINIA ALSO HAD THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT TO USE FOR THE POWER POINT PRESENTATION.  I DO SUGGEST THAT YOU DO THE NAMES INDIVIDUALLY NOT GROUPED TOGETHER.  THEY DID THAT THIS YEAR AND IT WAS KIND OF DISAPPOINTING NOT LIKE IN PREVIOUS YEARS WHERE ALL THE NAMES WERE LISTED INDIVIDUALLY AND IT INCLUDED PICTURES THAT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED BY EVERYONE WHO WANTED THEIR LOVED ONES' PICTURES IN THE PRESENTATION.   I THOUGHT IT WAS MORE MOMENTOUS THAT WAY. AND THE SONG SELECTIONS WENT ALONG WELL WITH THE PRESENTATION, TOO.  I REMEMBER  A LOT OF TEARS WERE SHED THAT NIGHT, AND IT WAS A GOOD CEREMONY.  THIS YEAR,  IT WAS HARDER TO FIND OUR LOVED ONES THE NEW WAY.   WE'VE ALWAYS HAD SPEAKERS FOR OUR RFL... DRS,  CLERGY, CANCER SURVIVORS, CAREGIVERS, FAMILY MEMBERS.... ETC.  IN FACT, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS THIS YEAR, WAS A PASTOR WHO WAS ALSO A CAREGIVER.  IT NEVER EVEN CROSSED ANYONE'S MIND THAT HIS SPEECH  WAS RELIGIOUS IN NATURE, JUST MOVING.   IF YOU ASK ME, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH A LITTLE PRAYER DURING THE CEREMONY.   FOR SEVERAL YEARS DURING OUR  LUMINARIA CEREMONY,  ALL OF THE NAMES OF THE SURVIVORS AND THOSE WHO'VE PASSED AWAY WERE READ OUT LOUD AND THAT TOOK A LOT OF TIME WITH MUSIC PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND.   WE'VE EVEN USED THE SONG ONE VOICE BY BARRY MANILOW FOR OUR LUMINARIA CEREMONY -  WE START OUT IN THE DARK AND AS THE SONG PLAYS, LUMINARIAS ARE LIT AS WELL AS EITHER CANDLES OR FLASHLIGHTS (YOU'LL UNDERSTAND IF YOU LISTEN TO THE SONG) AS THE MOMENT BUILDS.

ANYWAY, I'M GOING TO SIGN OFF AND SAY GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR RELAY.   HOPE THESE IDEAS HELP AND DON'T BE DISCOURAGED.

It's really unfortunate your ideas were shot down...because they are good ones.  I have been involved with Relay for 14 years, and we have always had a minister speak at the Luminaria ceremony.  We have had all faiths represented and basically the ministers are asked to speak about the struggle of losing someone to this dreadful disease, the healing power of Relay, sometimes they relate a specific experience they've had with cancer...and then a very brief, "please let us pray" at the end.  Never offensive to anyone whatever their religious persuasion may be.

As for the Powerpoint presentation, it is a beautiful thing to have and people look for it every year.  Here in the PA division, our staff partners have projectors that they can bring and hook their own laptops into to display the PPT.  We usually project it on the side of a tent!!  I have a Luminaria template that I would be more than happy to share with you if you end up going that route.  And there are great lists of music to use here on RelayForLife.org.

I'm not sure but I think that there are environmently friendly balloons, you could probably do an internet search...or what about a butterfly release?  You may have someone in your area that does this and may donate the service.  It's beautiful to see.

Don't give up you enthusiasm because of this experience!  Every Relay needs new blood and new ideas and it is up to the event chairs to embrace them when they come along!