“The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised.
The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty 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 joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.”
The Book of Common Prayer, p. 507
As Christians, we know that death does not have the final word. Through God’s grace, Jesus has conquered sin and death forever. As we profess in the Apostles’ Creed, we believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
Funerals are among the times that we as Christians do the task of the Church the best. We comfort one another in our grief, we gather in community, and we proclaim Christ crucified and risen. A Christian funeral is not a tribute to how wonderful you were, but instead it publicly affirms the saving power of God, as demonstrated in your life. We tell how God’s story interacts with your story. Baptismal imagery is important because it reminds us of God’s saving deeds. As Paul writes in Romans 6:5, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
In the days following a death, it can often be overwhelming for family members to put the details of a funeral together. Whether it is following a long illness or a surprising accident, your loved ones may wonder what your wishes really were. This worksheet is an opportunity for you to think about these things now, discussing them with your family, friends, and priest. A copy will be kept in a confidential file at St. Paul’s to assist the priest and your family in planning your funeral. It is not a legally binding document, but a guide and starting point for having conversation about what is to come.
St. Paul’s has prepared three downloadable documents that cover many aspects of the planning process for a funeral and beyond. The first, “Funeral Planning,” covers the liturgical decisions which are made in planning the funeral service. The second, “Personal and Financial Information,” covers everything from who is authorized to handle your affairs to location of accounts, properties, safety deposit boxes, and other important information. The third, “VA Advance Directive,” is as it is titled and includes who can make medical decisions for you as well as other end-of-life medical decisions.
All forms are downloadable PDFs.