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Resources
Memorial Services
Staff
Arriving for the Service and
Parking
The Order of Service
Arranging for the Music
Flowers and Mementos
Ushers
Memorial
Reception
Memorial Gifts
The purpose of this guide is to support families in this time of grief by
assisting in planning a service that recognizes the loss of a loved one and the
celebration of their life. The service, in expressing the faith of the church,
will be an occasion of dignity, reverence and remembrance. We carefully follow
the guidelines of the Directory of Worship, which is a part of the Constitution
of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Sanctuary seats approximately
500 persons, but it’s design works equally well for 100 or more. The Chapel
comfortably seats up to 70 people. The Chancel in the Sanctuary holds up to 50
persons.
Staff
Memorial services are conducted by one of the members
of our clergy staff. Other church staff may include the organist, soloist(s),
service coordinator, and custodians. The officiating minister and the service
coordinator will plan the service with you, help with additional arrangements,
and give you all necessary instructions.
Arriving for the Service and
Parking
The family should plan to arrive
at the church not later than one-half hour before the service is scheduled to
begin. Parking space can be reserved in the south parking lot or in front of the
church. If the family wishes to have a private entrance into the building, they
can park in the alley directly behind the church and Fellowship Hall.
Family members and those to be seated with the family are asked to go directly
to the church lounge upon arrival. It is important that they remain there until
the service is ready to begin.
The Order of
Service
A memorial
service may include a variety of elements: choral and vocal
music, reading of the Scripture, eulogies, meditation and
prayers. The church office will prepare a simple order of
service bulletin for distribution to worshipers and family.
If there is a need for a complex formatting or a color
photo, we request that printing of the bulletin be done
elsewhere. A member of the family will be asked to proofread
the bulletin before it is duplicated.
The following
is an explanation and resource for planning the order of
service:
Organ Prelude
The organist will
play selected pieces as worshipers arrive and as the family
is seated.
Call to Worship and Prayer of Invocation
The pastor begins the service by calling the congregation to
worship and then offers a brief prayer.
Music
The congregation may sing a hymn or a soloist may
perform.
Time of Remembrance
At this point
in the service, individuals may offer eulogies. We suggest
that there not be more than four speakers and that each one
prepare written comments which can be delivered in not more
than three minutes.
Reading of Scripture
We
suggest that readings be selected from the list below. As
many as four readings could be selected, provided the total
length of time required is not too great. All readings are
taken from the New Revised Standard Version.
Job
19:25-27
Psalms 23; 46; 90:1-12; 103; 121; 139:1-12
Proverbs 31:10-31
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11a
Romans 8:31-35,
37-39
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Ephesians 3:14-21
1
Thessalonians 4:13-18
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Hebrews 12:1-3
Revelation 21:1-4
Homily/Meditation
The
officiating pastor would deliver the meditation. Its purpose
is to declare the gospel and address the circumstances of
the day.
Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
The officiating pastor offers a prayer of thanksgiving
and intercession. The Lord’s Prayer may be recited by the
congregation or sung as a solo.
Music
The
congregation may sing a hymn or a soloist may perform.
Benediction
The officiating pastor closes the
service by pronouncing the benediction.
Organ
Postlude
The organist will play selected pieces as
the family is escorted from the sanctuary and as worshipers
are dismissed.
Arranging
for the Music
San
Marino Community Church employs professional musicians, and
it is our policy that these people be used for any music
during the service. The organist will contact the family to
arrange for a soloist and make music selections. In addition
to service music, arrangements can be made for music during
a reception.
The directory for Worship offers this
counsel regarding congregational singing: “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 saints.” We suggest the
following as possible hymns for congregational singing:
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
All People That on Earth Do Dwell
Amazing Grace, How
Sweet the Sound
For All the Saints
How Firm A
Foundation
O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go
Our God, Our
Help In Ages Past
Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
The King of Love My Shepard Is
Because of the nature of the service, please
refrain from requesting secular songs, popular favorites
(instrumental or vocal), Top 40s hits, or so-called
‘Contemporary Christian’ music. Although personal favorites
are difficult to refuse, the inclusion of such selections is
contrary to the tenor of the memorial service.
Flowers and Mementos
The family may place floral arrangements in the chancel rail
flower boxes, on the retable at the head of the chancel, and
on a buffet table at the reception. Floral arrangements
provided by persons other that the family will be placed
inside the entrance of the sanctuary. If flowers are to be
delivered, it is necessary that the florist coordinate the
arrival time with the church office. Florists are asked to
enter the north Sanctuary door nearest the Chapel. Parking
is available in the adjoining driveway.
After the
service, the ushers will carry floral arrangements
designated by the family to Fellowship Hall. The custodial
staff will dispose of any remaining floral arrangements
unless the family has made other plans.
The church
provides guest books as necessary. They are located at the
tower entrance to the sanctuary and at the reception. The
ushers will deliver the signed book(s) to the family
immediately following the reception.
Ushers
The church will provide a sufficient
number of ushers for the service. The family may, if they
desire, name honorary ushers whose names will be included in
the worship bulletin.
The ushers will reserve pews
for the family, greet and seat arriving worshipers, set out
and monitor the guest book(s), provide the family with
copies of the worship bulletin, bring designated floral
arrangements and guest book(s) to the reception, and escort
the family to and from the sanctuary.
Memorial
Reception
The church offers a reception in
Fellowship Hall after the memorial service, providing punch, coffee, and cookies without charge to church
members. For an additional charge, sandwiches or a
meal can be ordered. Both options are
available to non-members for a fee. Flowers are not
included, but may be set up along with any personal photos
or mementos.
Any remaining
cookies or sandwiches will be boxed for the family to take home.
Memorial Gifts
Any
memorial gifts may be made to the Foundation of San Marino
Community Church. Gifts to the
Foundation will be added to accounts in perpetuity unless
other arrangements or designations are made. Families
wishing to make special arrangements should contact either
the president of the Foundation or the Senior Pastor. The
church office will assist in making these contacts.
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