Each December, the residents of Cape Albeon Lakeside Retirement Living Community in Valley Park gather for one of their most cherished traditions, the annual candlelight dinner. It’s an evening that blends scripture, song, and reflection, inviting everyone to pause and embrace the quiet beauty of the Christmas story.
Chaplain Le, who has helped lead the program for 10 years, describes it as “more than a story on paper.” Together with a soloist, she shares beautiful passages of scripture, each followed by a Christmas carol that complements the reading. “We incorporate the Christmas story into our hearts,” she explained.
Before the service begins, every seat in the brightly lit dining room is set with a small candle and a printed blessing, with affirmations such as “I am a beloved child of God” or “God guides my footsteps and leads me in the right path.” When the time comes, the staff collect the candles and light them from a single large Christ candle at the front of the room, then place each candle in a bed of sand.
The lights are dimmed in the dining room, and the peaceful glow of dozens of flickering flames fills the space, as voices softly join in an a cappella version of “Silent Night.” “For those few moments, you sit in the beauty and quiet of it all,” Chaplain Le said.
Afterward, the evening ends with a prayer of grace and a gourmet dinner. The candlelight dinner has become one of Cape Albeon’s biggest holiday events. Chaplain Le and the staff host a candlelight dinner twice a year: once at The Harbor for independent and cottage residents, and again the following day at The Village for assisted living and memory care residents. Carolers, festive decorations, and meaningful music fill the air throughout the Advent season.
“It’s a wonderful tradition,” Chaplain Le reflected. “Our goal is always to make the holidays as beautiful, festive, and meaningful as we can.”