A Witness to The Resurrection: Memorial and Funeral Services
The resurrection is a central doctrine of the Christian faith and shapes Christians' attitudes and responses to the event of death…. In the face of death Christians affirm with tears and joy the hope of the gospel.
Christians do not bear bereavement in isolation but are sustained by the power of the Spirit and the community of faith. The church offers a ministry of love and hope to all who grieve. [Book of Order, Directory for Worship]
Just as the church embraces us in our baptism and throughout our Christian life, so it should embrace us in our death and in our hope of resurrection to eternal life. The purpose of this booklet is to assist members of First Presbyterian Church in the realistic consideration of this eventuality and the decisions that are required at the death of a loved one.
Because it is difficult under emotional stress to plan wisely, the session should encourage members to discuss and plan in advance the arrangements which will be necessary at the time of death, including those decisions about the Christian options of burial, cremation, or donation for medical purposes. These plans should provide for arrangements which are simple, which bear witness to the resurrection hope, and in which the Christian community is central. [Book of Order, Directory for Worship]
By prior consideration and planning, the family of the deceased can be relieved of some difficult decisions, and the intentions of the deceased for an appropriate service of worship can be maintained.
Ministerial Staff
Upon the death of one of our members, a minister of the church should be notified as soon as possible. This is best accomplished by contacting the church office. Our ministers also earnestly desire to know of those who need comfort and counsel as they face death. By being involved early in situations of death or impending death, the minister can help immensely with the necessary decisions regarding funeral homes, disposition of the body, and service arrangements, as well as caring for the spiritual needs of those involved.
Types of Services
All services conducted by ministers of the church are services of worship for the community of faith. While the form of services may differ, each is a Service of Witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Memorial Service
The Memorial Service is a service where the body is not present. Interment of the remains in a Service of Committal has either preceded the memorial service or will take place at a later time.
Funeral Service
The Funeral Service is a service where the body is present in either a casket or an urn. The Funeral Service is concluded with a Service of Committal at the burial site.
Graveside Service
The Graveside Service is a service that takes place at the burial site. The Service of Committal is a part of the Graveside Service.
Location of Service
The service on the occasion of death ordinarily should be held in the usual place of worship in order to join this service to the community's continuing life and witness to the resurrection. The service shall be under the direction of the pastor. [Book of Order, Directory for Worship]
The church sanctuary or chapel are appropriate places for a Memorial or Funeral Service. Here on the church property is where we worship every Sunday. Here is where we baptize our children, celebrate marriage, gather at the Lord's table, remember the love and grace of God. Here we are surrounded by the symbols of our Christian faith. In this place we have tangible reminders of the "great cloud of witnesses" that surround us and the community of faith that supports us with compassion and love.
Visitation
The Cheek House, located on the church property, provides a warm and familiar place for visitation with family and friends. Members are encouraged to use this facility for visitation as a part of their arrangements.
The Service of Witness to The Resurrection
Memorial, Funeral, and Graveside Services are acts of worship among the Christian community. The purpose of such services of worship are to glorify God, to affirm our belief in the resurrection to life everlasting, and to comfort the bereaved. Although gratitude and honor are to be expressed to God for the life and witness of the deceased, the focus of worship is upon God; therefore, prolonged and undue attention upon the deceased is discouraged.
The Order of Worship
The service begins with scriptural sentences. It is appropriate for worshipers to sing hymns, psalms, spirituals, or spiritual songs which affirm God's power over death, a belief in the resurrection to life everlasting, and the assurance of the communion of the saints. Scripture shall be read; a sermon or other exposition of the Word may be proclaimed; an affirmation of faith may be made by the people. Aspects of the life of the one who has died may be recalled. Prayers shall be offered, giving thanks to God…. The service ends by commending the one who has died to the care of the eternal God and sending the people forth with a benediction. [Book of Order, Directory for Worship]
Scriptures
The Scriptures are a rich source to which Christians and Jews alike have turned for comfort and assurance in times of grief. The minister will guide the selection of appropriate scripture passages, and would welcome suggestions of those with particular meaning for the family or the deceased.
Hymns
Hymns should be chosen which affirm the goodness and grace of God, and which give comfort and support to those who grieve. The minister and the organist will guide the selection of appropriate hymns.
Additional Music
The church's organist will provide suitable sacred music and is available for consultation with the family concerning these musical selections. The appropriateness of musical selections will be determined by the church music department. Instrumentalists or vocalists may also be employed, but must be approved and contracted by the church's music department. The family is expected to cover the cost of any musicians other than the church organist.
The Pall
The church provides a white pall for every Funeral Service. A pall is a large cloth which covers the casket during the service. It represents the covering of the Christian by the righteousness of Christ, and alludes to the baptismal waters of death and new life in Jesus. Since righteousness is an unmerited gift from God and all people stand equal in the eyes of God, the outer appearance of the casket in its cost or beauty is of no consequence to the Christian community. By use of the pall, the focus of the service may remain on the goodness and grace of God.
If a casket is present at the service, it is covered with the pall furnished by the church. Where appropriate, the American flag may be used in lieu of the pall. If the family chooses to use a flower pall, it will be removed when the casket enters the church. The church pall (or flag) will then cover the casket during the service. Following the benediction, as the casket is taken from the church, the flower pall may again be placed upon the casket.
Cremation Urn
In the case of cremation, the urn containing the ashes is usually only present at the time of committal, following or preceding the Funeral Service.
Flowers
In keeping with the simplicity and understanding of the Christian faith to avoid ostentation, flowers are limited to one arrangement on the Communion Table. This will encourage worshipers to focus their attention on the promises of Scripture and the grace of God. Typically, the family of the deceased will furnish the arrangement of flowers for the service.
Other Fraternal, Civic, or Military Rites
The service shall be complete in itself, and any fraternal, civic, or military rites should be conducted separately. [Book of Order, Directory for Worship]
The service of worship is an act of the Christian community in which the wider community is welcome. If other rites take place, these rites shall be conducted apart from the service and place of worship.
Costs and Fees
There are no charges or fees for use of the church's facilities, or for the services of the minister and organist. The only costs to the family will be for the flowers the family provides at the service and for additional musicians and vocalists the family may request. |
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The Columbarium at First Presbyterian Church
Churchyard cemeteries were a tradition in Europe and America, and can still be found near many historic places of worship as well as near many country churches. There is comfort and peace in knowing you will be laid to rest at the church in which you have worshiped, witnessed baptisms and perhaps participated in marriages.
Our church reached out to meet a perceived need of its members when it established the Columbarium in 1991. The word columbarium is derived from the Latin word calumba meaning “dove,” the symbol of God’s Spirit. The concept has been in existence for centuries but came to life at our church on Easter Sunday 1992. The original 112 spaces were dedicated that day.
Acceptance of the concept has been vigorous. An additional 224 spaces were completed in 1999-2000, bringing the total available to 336. In 2005, there were only 54 spaces available and a decision was made to commence another expansion. Recently, an additional 312 spaces were completed bringing the total to 648. Three hundred seventy-six spaces are now either occupied or reserved by our church members and their families (100 used and 276 reserved).
Hopefully, you will give prayerful consideration to reserving spaces for you and your family.
For information concerning the Columbarium, you may call Cindy Bozman at 297-9507.
Following is a listing of the Columbarium interment from April 1992 to present:
David Kay Alexander • June 30, 1995
Dr. James Erwin Anderson, Jr. • November 18, 2003
Thelma Arena • September 30, 1996
Alvin Broome Todd Baker • September 19, 2003
June Brock Baker • March 19, 1999
Amira Raquel Ballesteros • May 9, 2002
Grant Thomas Bannen • February 18, 2008
Lillian Knight Bell • July 25, 1999
Glenn H. Booth, Sr. • October 25, 2004
Jack Dalton Brandon • June 4, 2001
Katherine Armistead Brandon • October 30, 1997
John K. Breast, Jr. • December 25, 2000
Winifred Smith Breast • December 5, 2006
Julie Ann Sauer Campey • November 25, 1985
Clay Redman Caroland, Jr. • December 9, 1997
Nathaniel Alexander Carswell, Sr. • March 9, 1995
Nelle Cheek Carswell • December 29, 1996
Keith Campbell Cawthon • June 9, 2008
William Connell Cawthon • April 3, 2004
Carter Stanley Chapman • May 19, 2004
Harold White Clark • May 31, 1989
Catherine Shari Cole • August 22, 1956
Emily Simpson Courtenay • May 11, 1974
Walter R. Courtenay • June 14, 2000
Robert Neal Dean, Sr. • November 27, 1990
Judith Kraft Diehl • January 25, 2002
Neil Nelson Diehl • January 3, 2005
William Howard Eason • September 22, 2005
Margaret Grace Anna Everhart Eckel • October 1, 2006
Frederick J. Eckert • April 18, 1993
Brodie H. Elkins • January 28, 2002
Duncan McKay Fort, Jr. • February 11, 2003
Sue Thompson Fort • November 23, 2008
Sandra St. Clair Franklin • July 11, 2005
Cyril Vaughan Fraser • August 1, 1996
Paul Gordon Gilliland • August 31, 2008
Nancy Aileen Glassford • October 31, 2004
L. Joyner Greathouse, Jr. • July 5, 2000
Steven Porter Halbert • April 10, 2007
William Hayes Halbert • May 11, 2002
Nancy Louise DeBrock Harris • May 16, 2003
James Miller Harrison • August 25, 2003
Eloise Purdum Hassard • October 29, 2004
Bruce Sheldon Hawley • October 27, 2005
Margaret B. Hawley • August 7, 1996
Linda Norfleet Henry • March 7, 2004
Carl Paul Holland • December 7, 2004
Dr. Hubert Leech Hotchkiss • March 1, 2007
Nancy McKisson Johnson • December 12, 2008
Victor Samuel Johnson, Jr. • January 19, 2008
Susan Lee Ketterman • March 18, 1998
James R. Kitchens, Jr. • October 24, 2002
Helene Baltz Kunikoff • February 23, 2009
Bruce Gordon Lawry • January 6, 2001
Robert Ebb Layman • November 9, 2002
Mary Caitlin Lovejoy • February 17, 2008
Lewis Wilson Maddux • June 9, 1996
David James Mahanes, Jr. • December 29, 2004
Alexander Martin • January 17, 2000
Mary Farris Cook Martin • July 30, 2002
Milton B. Maxwell, Jr. • October 9, 2005
Marjorie Sinclair McNeill • December 1, 2002
Joseph G. Murphy, Sr. • March 20, 2009
John H. Noel • January 23, 2002
Samuel Edward O’Bryan • July 13, 2007
Henry O’Neil • May 31, 2000
Dr. Douglass Moore Oliver • June 14, 1997
Dr. Richard Watson Oliver • November 26, 2005
Edna Gray Moore Oliver • September 26, 2002
Dr. Clarence Eugene Peery, Jr. • April 28, 2007
Ernest Clifton Perry III • August 20, 1986
Helen Hayes Perry • January 8, 2007
Ann Mitchell Price • December 3, 2002
Werter Robert Pugh • February 22, 1989
E.L.A. Rau • August 6, 1991
John Taylor Rau • July 7, 2007
Frances Helen Rau • February 12, 2004
Gladys W. Risser • December 7, 2000
Robert Porter Risser • September 12, 1989
Wallace Bradley Rogers • December 26, 2008
Margaret Oliver Rolfe • June 5, 2002
Henry Edward Sauer • October 7, 1992
Mary Eleanor DeMotts Sauer • July 14, 2008
Louise S. Smith • March 16, 1999
Russell Monroe Smith, Sr. • April 21, 1996
Janet L. Stone • January 12, 2001
Merrill R. Stone, Jr. • November 19, 2000
Herbert A. Summar • June 4, 2008
Janice Durham Summar • September 7, 2008
John Fred Tarkington, Jr. • February 21, 2008
Elva Hollins Thomison • June 23, 2004
Hester Yvonne Throckmorton • March 21, 1987
Frank F. True • March 18, 2003
Susanne B. True • August 6, 2003
Thomas Ellington Watts, Jr. • March 23, 2000
James Arrington Webb, Jr. • January 8, 2009
John Charles Wheeler • March 27, 2001
David Brian Williams • July 8, 2006
Doris Jane Wilson • May 10, 2008
Sally H. Wilson • November 21, 2001
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