WORSHIP AT  ST. ANDREWS

  
 Worship  Visitors  Get Connected  About Us  Serving Others  Info  Home   
  WORSHIP

WORSHIP TIMES

SERMON SCHEDULE

SPECIAL SERVICES

MUSIC

CHILDREN

TAIZE

 

 

 

Funerals at St. Andrews

Services on the Occasion of Death

The resurrection is a central doctrine of the Christian faith and shapes Christians' attitudes and responses to the event of death.  Death brings loss, sorrow, and grief to all.  In the face of death Christians affirm with tears and joy the hope of the gospel.  Christians do not bear bereavement in isolation but are sustained by the power of the Spirit and the community of faith.  The church offers a ministry of love and hope to all who grieve.

Members are encouraged to discuss and plan arrangements for funeral or memorial services in advance.  this discussion should be done in consultation with family members, the minister and other persons responsible for final arrangements.  These plans may be filed in the church, either in an open file or sealed to be opened on the occasion of death.

The service should be held in the place of worship, and shall be under the direction of the pastor on staff.  If he/she is unable to officiate, his/her designee or a designee of the worship, Music and Sacraments Committee shall have charge.  However, it shall ordinarily be an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  The service may be held on any day of the week.  Session approval is necessary only when held as part of the Lord's Day service or when the Lord's Supper is celebrated as part of the service.

There shall be no cost for the service to anyone who at the time of death is a member of St. Andrews.  Flowers at the communion table and the organist's fee shall be provided by the church.

The organist on staff or his/her designee, with Worship Committee approval, shall be the organist.  "It is appropriate for the worshipers to sing hymns, psalms, spirituals or spiritual songs to affirm God's power over death, a belief in the resurrection to life everlasting, and the assurance of the communion of the saints."1 Special musical requests shall be approved by the minister(s) and/or Worship Committee.

The casket may be opened in the gathering area, Christian Education Hall or Narthex.  The casket will be closed and should be covered by a pall before being brought into the sanctuary for the service of committal, which is to be conducted with simplicity, dignity and brevity.

Part of the ministry of the church is to provide a luncheon for family and friends at the church,should it be desired.

1The Directory for Worship, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) W-4.10004

 

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church  600 S. 12th St. Lebanon, PA 17042 (717)272-9933