Funerals
When someone dies, loved ones – family and friends, neighbors and church members – often need space to grieve, to remember the deceased, and to give thanks to God for their loved one’s life.
A church service is an important part of the grieving process that may also include a visitation at a funeral home, family’s home, or at church; a reception where friends and family gather to tell stories through laughter and tears; and a burial or internment to lay to rest the deceased.
Whenever it is possible, it is beneficial for each person to plan their own funeral or memorial service. There are materials available at church to help you indicate your plans or consider ways you’d like to be remembered. This can be done at any age, whether or not you are sick or expecting to die soon. Plans can be kept on file in the church office, and can be edited or updated at any time.
The Funeral or Memorial Service: The Christian funeral service is a chance to come together to hear God’s promises for the deceased and to take comfort that “nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord,” not even death (see Romans 8:38-39).
A funeral service is one at which the remains of the deceased are present, and is often – but not always – held within four to eight days of death.
A memorial service is very similar to a funeral service, though the remains of the deceased are not present. Memorial services may be held soon after the death of a loved one (if cremation is the preferred option) or may be held at a later date.
Full Body Burial, or Cremation? The Lutheran church teaches that cremation is a perfectly appropriate way to care for the deceased’s remains. Burial of remains – cremated or not – often takes place immediately following the funeral service, but may also take place at a later date.
Scheduling: Services need to be scheduled with the church. Though the church and the pastors have schedules that are generally flexible, there will be times when the pastors’ various commitments or other extraordinary circumstances would prevent the church or pastors from being available at particular dates and times. In these rare circumstances, pastors will work with the family to find another date for the service.
Luncheon: Members of St. Michael’s are available to provide desserts, coffee, set-up, serving, and clean-up of a post-service luncheon. St. Michael’s volunteers are able to prepare food at cost of the family. They may also choose their own caterer, or work with a local restaurant/deli to provide food. Please contact the church office for the name and number of the funeral reception coordinator to make luncheon arrangements.
Memorial Gifts: The family may select opportunities for others to remember the life of their loved one by providing memorial gifts. The church is very grateful to be remembered by the deceased and loved ones with memorial gifts. Memorial gifts to the church are used for special ministry projects to carry out the mission of the church. Families, and those looking to plan their own estate, are encouraged to speak with the pastoral staff about current needs or aspirations for the church.
A church service is an important part of the grieving process that may also include a visitation at a funeral home, family’s home, or at church; a reception where friends and family gather to tell stories through laughter and tears; and a burial or internment to lay to rest the deceased.
Whenever it is possible, it is beneficial for each person to plan their own funeral or memorial service. There are materials available at church to help you indicate your plans or consider ways you’d like to be remembered. This can be done at any age, whether or not you are sick or expecting to die soon. Plans can be kept on file in the church office, and can be edited or updated at any time.
The Funeral or Memorial Service: The Christian funeral service is a chance to come together to hear God’s promises for the deceased and to take comfort that “nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord,” not even death (see Romans 8:38-39).
A funeral service is one at which the remains of the deceased are present, and is often – but not always – held within four to eight days of death.
A memorial service is very similar to a funeral service, though the remains of the deceased are not present. Memorial services may be held soon after the death of a loved one (if cremation is the preferred option) or may be held at a later date.
Full Body Burial, or Cremation? The Lutheran church teaches that cremation is a perfectly appropriate way to care for the deceased’s remains. Burial of remains – cremated or not – often takes place immediately following the funeral service, but may also take place at a later date.
Scheduling: Services need to be scheduled with the church. Though the church and the pastors have schedules that are generally flexible, there will be times when the pastors’ various commitments or other extraordinary circumstances would prevent the church or pastors from being available at particular dates and times. In these rare circumstances, pastors will work with the family to find another date for the service.
Luncheon: Members of St. Michael’s are available to provide desserts, coffee, set-up, serving, and clean-up of a post-service luncheon. St. Michael’s volunteers are able to prepare food at cost of the family. They may also choose their own caterer, or work with a local restaurant/deli to provide food. Please contact the church office for the name and number of the funeral reception coordinator to make luncheon arrangements.
Memorial Gifts: The family may select opportunities for others to remember the life of their loved one by providing memorial gifts. The church is very grateful to be remembered by the deceased and loved ones with memorial gifts. Memorial gifts to the church are used for special ministry projects to carry out the mission of the church. Families, and those looking to plan their own estate, are encouraged to speak with the pastoral staff about current needs or aspirations for the church.