I am sure that neither death, nor life, . . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-9

There are many prayers and rites that can take place at the time of death and in the days that follow. These prayers remind us of God’s abiding love for us and help us acknowledge our loss. There can be prayers near or at the time of death, at one’s home or in the hospital. There can be prayers at the visitation, which might occur at a funeral home or at the church. There is the funeral liturgy itself, and this can take place at the church or at the funeral home. And then there are the committal prayers, which may happen at the gravesite or final resting place for the ashes.

In the midst of critical illness and at the time of death, our clergy are available to lead any or all of these rites with you and your loved ones. In case of immediate need, contact one of our clergy.

The funeral liturgy can take place in the church or at a funeral home of your choice. This service may or may not include Holy Communion. Our clergy and staff can help you to plan a funeral that celebrates the life of the person who has died and which blesses their memory. This rite is also an important time for those who grieve to seek God’s comfort and to be reminded of God’s promise of eternal life.

The committal prayers may be done at the graveside. At the request of the family, our clergy can also lead these prayers at the crematorium.

A separate service for the interment of ashes can take place at the final resting place for the ashes. This service includes prayers and scripture readings. It can be combined with the funeral liturgy if the ashes are ready to be interred or may take place later.

Our clergy are available to provide pastoral support to those who grieve in the weeks and months following a death. Please contact us if you’d like to receive further materials and resources on the grieving process.

Funeral Advanced Planning

I want that hymn at my funeral

People say this from time to time. The best course of action is to put your wishes for your own funeral in writing. A copy can be stored with the church office.

Planning part or all of your funeral service is a great gift to your family and loved ones. In the days following a death, family and loved ones are asked to make hundreds of decisions regarding the funeral and the estate. This can be overwhelming, especially following trauma or critical illness. Families are often relieved when they discover that their loved one has chosen hymns and scripture readings or given other directions. It assures them that they are making the right choices as they seek to honour and bless their loved one.

If you’d like assistance in planning a funeral service, please book an appointment with our priest. She can help you make selections and will arrange for a copy to be stored in our records.