Personal Arrangements for the Christian Funeral Service For

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Personal Arrangements for the Christian Funeral Service for:

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Confessing Christ with My Funeral

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom –Psalm 90:12

Unless Christ returns in our lifetime, we will all die. Death can be a traumatic and emotional event for those we will leave behind. It is therefore of great benefit to make our arrangements and record our wishes in advance. This will spare our loved ones some stress. Funeral homes have their own set of options for things like caskets, services, and other arrangements. The purpose of this little pamphlet is to help you plan for the funeral service itself. Some aspects of the service are fixed but others will vary for each Christian. In all the decisions we make about our funerals, the question that should guide us is this: “How do I best confess my faith in Jesus, His return, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting?”

The information you provide will be kept on file in the church office. You should also keep a copy for your own records. You may request changes or updates to this information at any time. Just contact the church office.

Baptism and Death

In Romans 6, Paul teaches us that there is a strong connection between baptism and death. In our baptism, we die with Christ and our sins are washed away. However, the sinful nature continues to influence us and so we continue to sin our whole lives. It is only in death that God completes the work of Baptism in us. When a Christian dies, he is set free from sin (Romans 6:7) and promised bodily resurrection (John 6:40). Therefore, the funeral service will point to Holy Baptism. The pall, a large white cloth, is placed over the casket at the beginning of the service. Like the traditional white baptismal gown, the pall is a symbol and reminder that the deceased has been baptized into Christ. The creed confessed at the funeral is the Apostles’ Creed, which is traditionally the baptismal creed. Baptism is, therefore a central theme of the Christian funeral service. Baptismal readings and hymns would be very appropriate.

For the Living and the Dead

We often say the funeral service is “for the living, not for the person who has died.” While this is true, we shouldn’t leave out the dead! The living hear and are comforted by the Word of God but the act of burial is for the dead. We do not treat the body of a deceased brother or sister as an “empty shell.” Because we confess the resurrection of the body, we should treat the bodies of believers with care and reverence. God is not finished with this body yet!

To give the departed Christian a proper “send-off,” funeral services are encouraged to be held in the church and at the place of burial. This allows the entire church community to participate in commending a brother or sister in Christ to the Lord. The graveside service is the church’s final act of loving care – sanctifying the resting place of the Christian with the Word of God and prayer.

Grief and Joy

Nobody wants people to be sad at their funerals. We know well that death has no ultimate claim on believers in Christ and that death means being in heaven, in the presence of the Lord. While this is certainly reason to celebrate and be joyful, we cannot deny the reality of grief. People will be sad at our funeral and we should allow that time for grieving. The funeral of a Christian is bittersweet, able to encompass both grief and joy. As you plan your funeral, take both of these elements into consideration.

Bodily Resurrection

We believe that when we die, our bodies rest on earth while our souls are taken to be with the Lord in heaven. This is a far greater existence than we have now (Philippians 1:23) but it isn’t the final stop. Better still will be the Resurrection, which will take place on the Last Day, at the return of Christ. Scripture speaks far more often of the resurrection life than it does of heaven. So our final hope and the promise that we cling to is not heaven but a new heavens and a new earth where we will dwell with new, glorified bodies (see 1 Corinthians 15). It is therefore very appropriate to incorporate joyful, triumphant themes of Easter and Resurrection in your funeral service!

Confessing Christ in the Obituary

The obituary provides a final opportunity for Christians to witness to the love and mercy of Jesus Christ in their lives. Obituaries normally contain personal information about the deceased – their families, jobs, hobbies, and interests. For Christians, the obituary should also reflect their relationship with God. This can include things like date and place of Holy Baptism and Confirmation, favorite Bible passages, and church activities. Several example obituaries are provided in the back of this booklet.

Holy Communion at the Funeral Service

It is entirely appropriate to celebrate the Lord’s Supper at a funeral service. We confess that Christ is truly present in the bread and wine at Holy Communion and when Jesus is present, he is joined by the whole heavenly entourage, including departed Christians. Christ said to his disciples, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that whereIamyoumaybealso” (John 14:3) and St. Paul teaches us that all things in heaven and things on earth unite in Christ (Eph. 1:10). When we kneel at the communion rail, we are participating in the worship service of heaven alongside “angels, archangels, and the whole company of heaven” (Preface to the Service of the Sacrament). The Eucharist is another way of confessing that death does not sever our fellowship with believers who are in heaven with Christ.

If you choose to include Holy Communion in your funeral service, those who have been instructed and share the confession of faith of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod will be invited to commune. For practical purposes or to avoid giving offense to non-Lutheran relatives or friends, you may choose not to include Communion in your service.

Donations

It is customary to have flowers donated for funerals. Flowers are a symbol of life and appropriately point to the ongoing life of those who die with Christ. Some choose to establish a memorial fund either in lieu of or in addition to donations of flowers. Members of the church may wish to designate that memorial gifts be given to the church. Some may also choose to include the church in their estate planning, which is certainly appropriate and greatly appreciated by future generations of members at St. Paul! Please include your intentions regarding these donations on the pages below.

Policies for Funerals at St. Paul

Appropriate hymns from the hymnal should be chosen

The hymnal we use in church contains a wide variety of appropriate hymnody from which to choose. You may want to choose hymns that fit with one of the themes outlined above. Some suggestions are provided at the end of this booklet. If a Christ-centered, doctrinally sound song from outside the hymnal is desired, approval must be sought from the pastor and the accompanist.

Organist

Our organist will normally play the music for all funerals. If additional musicians are to be involved, permission must be obtained from the pastor and staff organist.

Eulogies will not be allowed during the service

Eulogies are traditionally not part of a Christian funeral. This is because the funeral service is not focused on the good things the person did in their life. It is focused on what Jesus did for them. A more appropriate place for sharing memories might be the funeral home, a funeral meal, or in the home.

LCMS clergy officiate the funerals of LCMS members

We certainly invite other ministers to attend the service and share their sympathies and consolation privately but because of our different confession of faith, we cannot co-officiate a service with a pastor or priest of a different Christian denomination. This would give a false impression of doctrinal unity where it does not yet exist. We continue to pray for the visible unity of the Christian Church.

Guidelines for cremation

While the witness of Scripture and longstanding Christian tradition prefer burial, cremation is also an acceptable option as long as cremation is not seen as a denial of bodily resurrection. A cremated body should be treated with the same respect as any other body. God will one day raise this body again. We therefore strongly urge that ashes be buried or entombed. The practice of scattering or keeping cremains is discouraged among Christians. In the case of cremation, the funeral service may be held first with the committal rite (burial) following after cremation, or both may occur on the same day.

Organ donation

Christians are permitted but not required to designate their bodies for scientific research or organ donation. Your body will be raised on the last day but in the meantime, it may continue to be of use to your neighbor. However, also consider when donating your body for research, that you will have no control over whether your remains are treated with appropriate dignity and respect.

Guidelines for military honors

We are citizens of two realms – civil and spiritual. In the civil realm, honor is due to citizens who have demonstrated loyalty to their country. In the spiritual realm, honor is due only to God for his saving grace. For veterans, funerals may include military rites. This should occur at the cemetery following the conclusion of the church’s ceremonies. If the casket is to be covered with the American flag, this should happen after the casket leaves the sanctuary and the funeral pall has been removed. If a military chaplain wishes to say a prayer at the graveside, the approval of the officiating pastor should be sought.

Funeral meal

The family may use the church basement to host a funeral meal at no cost. The Women of St. Paul will provide drinks and desserts. The family is expected to provide the food.

Fees/Honorariums

Organist - $100

Pastor - $100 (suggested)

Musicians enlisted by the organist will be compensated by the organist. Musicians enlisted by the family may be compensated by the family as they see fit.

There are no additional fees for the use of the church for a funeral.

Service Planning Resources