Funeral services

Description

This article offers guidance on the ministry of funerals, including pastoral care, service structure,committal of ashes, and setting up a memorial lawn or garden. It reflects the role of clergy in offering comfort and hope during bereavement.

Ministry in bereavement

The ministry, during times of loss, should always be seen as a privilege, especially when serving those who’ve had little or no contact with the church. Funerals offer a unique chance to walk with people intheir grief and to share the Christian message of hope with those who might not otherwise hear it.

In country settings, clergy are often judged by how they handle this ministry. Your availability and willingness to give time matter deeply.

Building good relationships with local undertakers helps ease scheduling challenges. Still, there may be times when a funeral falls on your day off; be prepared to serve anyway.

Regardless of the situation, the following must be offered:

Treat human remains with reverence
Comfort the bereaved
Honour and, where appropriate, celebrate the life of the deceased
Acknowledge unresolved emotions among the living
Proclaim the story of God in Jesus; not to convert in the moment, but to offer grace and hope

The service

Encourage family or friends to speak in honour of the loved one but take responsibility for managing the length and flow of the service. Refer to the resources in A Prayer Book for Australia (APBA). Forexample, the placing of symbols allows families to express their grief and love tangibly within the liturgy.

If families, ask to include RSL or Masonic rites:

RSL rites are appropriate, especially at the Keep them as a distinct part of theservice, with the clergy person concluding with the final prayer and blessing.
Masonic rites can be more sensitive. If it becomes clear this is important to the family,approach it with Again, this should be a separate element, ideally at the graveside.

Pastoral care

The pastoral care of a family following bereavement is a great privilege and opportunity. Encourage lay members of the parish to stay in contact with the family in the weeks and months that follow. Markingbirthdays or anniversaries can be meaningful acts of love and remembrance.

Committal of ashes

Ashes should be returned to the ground, in keeping with the principle of earth to earth, ashes to ashes,dust to dust. Long-term placement in columbarium niches is discouraged in favour of burial.

If your parish plans to create a Memorial Lawn or Garden, follow these guidelines:

Get approval from the archbishop
The land must be free from debt or mortgage
Choose a location that won’t be disrupted by future construction
Physically define the space with a low wall or fence to separate it from foot traffic
Add a plaque or marker to explain the garden’s A cross or crucifix at the

centre is also encouraged

Keep a permanent record of names, ideally in a durable Memorial Book inside the church
Plan for long-term maintenance and reflect this in the suggested donation for interment