The Christian funeral is a gift. In the midst of grief and sorrow, we gather to comfort one another and to hear what is at the center of our faith: Jesus is Risen! The Christian funeral is a proclamation that nothing can separate us from God’s love: the promises we receive in Baptism are forever.
We encourage members and their families to talk about their funeral plans. You may download our “Funeral Planning Guide” as a help to you. We understand this may be the last thing you want to do, but in the church death is not an enemy to be avoided, but a reality whose power has been overcome through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Let your family know your wishes, and then encourage them to share their wishes with you. (We can keep this information on file here at St. James.)
Following a death the family members will meet with one of our pastors to discuss the funeral. For funerals taking place in our sanctuary, we will look at the congregation’s calendar and find a time that works best for everyone. A funeral is a worship service, a celebration of the resurrection, and a comfort to the bereaved. The God News of Jesus is our focus, our promise, and our hope.
