The Apostle Paul writes in Chapter 8 of the Letter to the Romans that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." This knowledge is a source of comfort and assurance during a time of sorrow and grief. It allows us to celebrate the lives of those we love as we mourn them and is the font of the funeral service.
There are three types of services for the departed:
- A funeral is a service with the body present, either in a coffin or as ashes in an urn. It is usually held within a few days of the person's death.
- A graveside service is a brief liturgy that usually follows the funeral directly, but can take place sometime after if the circumstances require it. The same liturgy is used for the casting of ashes or for burial at sea.
- A memorial service is a liturgy without either the body or ashes. It can be held anytime from a few days to a few weeks after death.
You may arrange for a funeral service by contacting the pastor directly, or by having the funeral director do so. The pastor will then meet with family members and/or friends to develop plans for the funeral and to ensure that the service is comforting, personal, and uplifting.