FUNERAL AND MEMORIAL SERVICE POLICY AND FEES
Worship, Thanksgiving, and Memory
The Christian funeral or memorial service is a service of worship in which we celebrate the life of a person who has died, give thanks for that life, and commend that person to God. It recognizes the pain of separation that accompanies death and the hope and joy of God’s promise of resurrection. Its purpose is to provide a community an opportunity to support one another with their presence, and to affirm once more the powerful, steadfast love of God from which people cannot be separated, even by death.
Funeral or Memorial Service
A Funeral is one in which the body of the deceased is present in a casket. The casket is closed throughout the service; the service may be held in a church, funeral home, or cemetery chapel. A Memorial service is similar to a funeral, but without the body of the deceased present. It may be held at any time after the day of death. Cremation or burial may precede or follow the service.
Visitation and Reception Arrangements
Henrietta United Church of Christ can offer use of the sanctuary and fellowship hall for visitation prior or after the service; both spaces provide a warm and familiar setting. Use of the kitchen may also be provided for a reception following the service. Members of the Women’s Fellowship are available to provide assistance with a reception if requested.
Memorial Gifts
It is appropriate for the family to invite friends to donate memorial gifts of money to the church, especially for a person who has been active in the church during his or her life. You may discuss the use of memorial funds given to the church with the Memorials Committee’s chair person or the pastor. An endowment fund is also available for those who prefer donations be placed there.
Flowers
The flower is a symbol of the resurrection and appropriate for a funeral or memorial service, as for every worship event in the church. Typically, the family and friends will furnish the arrangement of flowers for the service. It is helpful to designate an individual to coordinate flowers delivery with the church office and ensure removal of flowers following the service.
Planning the Service
The family is encouraged to notify the church as soon as possible and to share fully in planning a service; including choice of participants, readings, hymns and other music, in consultation with the pastor and organist. The Scriptures are a rich source to which Christians have turned for comfort and assurance in times of grief. The pastor will guide the selection of scripture passages, and welcomes suggestions of those with particular meaning for the family or the deceased. Any fraternal, civic, or military rites shall be conducted apart from the worship service.
Bulletins
Information for the bulletin including, order of service, names of participants, music titles, and scripture readings can be created in consultation with the pastor and printed in the church office free of charge.
Financial Arrangements with the Church
The following is a list of various fees for room usage and professional services of church staff.
Room Usage Members Non-members
Use of Sanctuary $0 $ 200
Use of Fellowship Hall $0 $ 150
Use of Kitchen $0 $ 40
Church staff
Pastor $150* $ 150
Organist $125 $ 125
(additional rehearsal @$50)
*There is no fee for church members but the Board of Trustees suggests an honorarium of $150.
Individual checks should be written out to pastors and organist by name. Checks for the use of the sanctuary and fellowship hall should be made out to “Henrietta United Church of Christ” and marked for “Church Use.” Check for use of the kitchen should be made out to “Women’s Fellowship.” Other arrangements, associated costs, suggested donations for receptions, or for musicians should be discussed with the pastor.
Contact Information:
Administrative Assistant Andrea Folan 585-334-0030
office@henriettaucc.org
Interim Pastor: The Rev. Dr. Kathleen Waters 315-380-0744
Pastor@henriettaucc.org
Associate Pastor: The Rev. Martha Koenig Stone 585-473-5744
AssociatePastor@henriettaucc.org
Organist: Robin Bower 585-889-1293
Memorial Committee chair Joe Green 585-334-0212
Women’s Fellowship chair Lois Winters 585-334-7935
Approved by the Church Council 01-17-18