Funerals/Life Celebrations
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A funeral is a sacred occasion where we celebrate the life of someone we love, claim and proclaim the hope of resurrection, and seek God’s guidance in our grief. This celebration begins a process of healing, reconciliation, and reorganizing our life.
Jesus teaches that death is not the end. "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again" (John 11:25). Resurrection Hope The apostle Paul says: "I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Why a funeral? A funeral honors a life and offers hope for the living. It brings a network of family and friends together to encourage one another as we face the pain of loss by sharing memories and expressing our thoughts and feelings as we reflect on the meaning of life and death. Funerals at SWC are scheduled through pastor who will assist with arrangements. Please contact him before publishing an obituary or establishing a date with the funeral home. There are no burial or funeral service fees, but there may be costs associated with refreshments, flowers, musicians, or support staff for non-members. A funeral service is generally 45 to 60 minutes. The Fellowship Hall is available for pre- or post-service gatherings. You may provide your own food or ask our funeral dinner team to help. For non-members there will be a custodian fee and a charge for food costs. Venues
Counseling Grief counseling is recommended. Pastor Jerry uses Kenneth Haugk's "Journeying Through Grief" which is centered around 4 small helpful reads. We can meet in person, by ZOOM or phone call. Four Books/Conversations at Crucial Times: Book 1: A Time to Grieve. (3 weeks after) Book 2: Experiencing Grief. (3 months after) Book 3: Finding Hope and Healing. (6 months after) Book 4: Rebuilding and Remembering. (11 months after) Each book focuses on what you're likely experiencing at different points in your first year and offer understanding, empathy, compassion, and hope. Facebook Live-Stream You may want to include family and friends who cannot be present with a Facebook Live-Stream. During the current pandemic social distancing many are opting for this option and planning a larger in person celebration when it's appropriate to do so. Pre-planning No one wants to think about their death, but death is a reality for all. Pre-planning will make the process less demanding on your loved ones. Pastor Jerry uses Hospice's "Five Wishes" an easy-to-use legal advance directive written in everyday language - Indiana requires an additional document. It helps all adults, regardless of age or health, to consider and document how they want to be cared for at the end of life. You can either meet with the pastor or complete the booklet on your own. Veterans Pastor will conduct a funeral service for any veteran. |
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