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For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16
Life is changed, not ended
Preparing for a funeral is an important process
Coming to grips with death is both necessary and inevitable. We know that we will all die. How we prepare for death is important.
At our end, we know we will see God. In the Gospel of John 3:16, Jesus offers reassurance:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
With the knowledge that we all will die and we will see God, we can take hold of each day of our lives and live it to the fullest with thanksgiving and a sense of blessing. Seeing our lives and our deaths in light of Christ’s resurrection gives us hope and imbues us with a sense of renewed confidence that life is changed, not ended.
This sense of hope does not mitigate our fears of dying painfully or our sense of grief at the loss of a loved one. Jesus himself felt sorrow at the loss of a friend. And, while we can take heart that the one we love but see no longer has entered into the nearer presence of God, we mourn in the midst of our Easter faith. Knowing this truth allows us to consider how to prepare for death; and there are some practical considerations to be made when making our own funeral plans. Where is one to be buried? Is cremation OK? What kind of service should we have? Has a last will and testament been made? It is never too soon to think about such things and at Christ Church we have resources and counseling available to answer these and other questions.
The clergy are available to counsel members of Christ Church about planning a funeral service and to answer questions and address any concerns that may arise. Members of the Planned Giving Committee can offer advice about the Christ Church Foundation and how to remember Christ Church in a will. Again, the clergy can discuss with members the opportunities for interment in the church’s Sanctuary Garden that lies on the north side of the main church. The garden is a sacred place where over thirty members of our church are interred in a setting that is both beautiful and serene.
Taking time to prepare for death is an act of caring for those who come after us. Planning one’s funeral service gives family members a clear direction of one’s wishes at the time of death. And, remembering Christ Church in wills and estate plans gives solid assurance that the good work of ministry and mission begun well over a century ago will continue for generations to come.
There are forms and information available in the parish office for members to take. Peter and I are available to pay a visit for discussion at anytime.
Faithfylly yours,
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