|
|
Ministry of a Christian Funeral
Life is a gift from God and is celebrated in how we live each day. As a Christian
family of faith we celebrate this in our funeral services and remember that life
does not end with the death of the body.
"All who believe in me, though they die
Yet shall they live,
And whoever believes in me shall never die."
John 11:25-26
In a funeral or memorial service we give thanks to God for the gift of sharing
life with our beloved family and friends. We acknowledge the significance of
their life by remembering the many ways in which they touched our lives and
the world around them.
"Let, I pray thee, Thy merciful kindness be for my comfort,
According to Thy Word?"
Psalms 119:76
You need not travel this road alone. Your Pastor and church family are here
for you.
Family members are encouraged to contact the pastor and the funeral home
as soon as possible for the planning of ministry during this time. The funeral
director will arrange the details surrounding the care of the body, calling hours,
and burial. The pastor, by meeting with the family in the days before the
funeral, will prepare for the memorial or funeral and interment (burial) services.
By expressing your wishes ahead of time a burden is lifted from your family. If
you choose to make advance plans you can do so by sharing your wishes with
the pastor during a scheduled time together.
Often, families arrange to have calling hours at the funeral home the evening
before the service. Funeral services can be conducted in the church sanctuary
or the funeral home, depending upon the family's wishes. When the service is
held in the sanctuary the body may be present but the casket is usually
closed. Music is very appropriate and special organ or piano music and hymns
can be included in a service at the church. (An honorarium for the organist can
be given to the funeral director.) Interment (burial) of the body or ashes is then
usually held immediately following the service.
Some families prefer a private interment (burial) with a public service at
another time. A memorial service is a service in the church sanctuary in which
neither a body nor ashes are present. A memorial service tends to focus less
on death and more on life.
"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath
Are the everlasting arms."
Deuteronomy 33:27
,Following any service, the Pilgrim Diaconate will provideFor all members of the
church, if requested, a reception for the family. The men and women of the
Diaconate are honored to be able to care for your family in this time of need.
The request for a reception can be made either through the pastor or directly
to the chair of Diaconate.
There are several options for the reception type that Diaconate can provide:
- Cookies, coffee, tea and punch
- Cold meat and cheese tray, cookies, coffee, tea and punch
- Fruit and cheese, coffee, tea and punch
Families may also provide additional foods if they wish and Diaconate will
gladly serve them.
No fee is charged for the reception, but Diaconate will accept a donation to
help defray the cost. In an effort to be good stewards of the resources God
has entrusted to Pilgrim, and to ensure we meet your needs without excessive
waste, we ask for a reasonable estimate of the number of people to expect.
We pray that our ministry to you in this time is meaningful. If there is something
additional we may do to care for you and lift your burden please make mention
of it. May you feel the presence of God through our caring, and may the Lord
grant you healing.
|
*Christian
Education
*Events
*Fellowship
*History
*Missions
*Music
*Photos
*Welcome
*Weddings
*Worship
*Youth
|
