Funeral/Memorial Application

11024 Auke Lake Way, Juneau AK 99801

Phone: (907)789-7592 | Email: admin@chapelbythelake.org 

"And God will raise us from the dead by His power, just as He raised our Lord from the dead."

1 Corinthians 6:14

 

"For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died."

1 Thessalonians 4:14

Introduction:

A central doctrine of the Christian faith is the resurrection to eternal life. "Jesus Christ is Risen Today" is not only our Easter message, it is our life-long message, the foundation of our life of faith, and our hope for eternity. We believe, as followers of Christ, we will share in His victory! 

 

Christians should seek to mark occasions of death as a time to reaffirm the hope of the Gospel. It is natural to feel sorrow and grief when faced with the reality of the loss of a loved one. There is a time for grieving, and even Jesus grieved. As people who belong to one another in the Body of Christ, we share sorrow, grief, joy and triumph. For believers, grief is tempered by our overriding hope and faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Chapel by the Lake extends Jesus' ministry to people at significant times in life: at birth, baptism, marriage, in times of illness and trouble, and most appropriately, at death. In your time of loss, we are here to care, encourage, support and pray with you.

 

It is important that a pastor be notified immediately when there has been a death so that people may be connected to the spiritual and practical support that the Chapel by the Lake family can offer. Please contact a deacon or elder if a pastor is not immediately available.

 

Chapel by the Lake is available to help Covenant Partners and friends of the church arrange for funeral or memorial services. To make funeral or memorial arrangements, please contact the church office at (907)789-7592, the pastoral emergency number at (970)367-7991¹, or email the church office at admin@chapelbythelake.org. If you are making funeral arrangements with us, please read our guidelines for funerals and memorial services to plan specific aspects of the service ahead of time.

 

May God give all comfort and care in times of loss and death. Know that Jesus walks with you in the valley of the shadow of death. May the presence of the Holy Spirit be your comfort.

 

In Christ's Holy Service,

Chapel by the Lake

_{1 The area code for the pastoral emergency number is (970) This is a google voice number.}

Guidelines for Funeral and Memorial Services

Helpful Terms Defined

It is understood that people, communities and cultures use words, phrases and terms that are often interchangeable. For those who profess Christian faith, confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and who place their eternal hope in the resurrection, we carefully choose the meaning of the words we use, especially in times of death.

• Funeral is a worship service where the body of the deceased is present in a casket. The preferred title is A Service of Witness to the Resurrection.
• Memorial is a worship service where the body of the deceased is not present, or is present as cremated remains.
• Interment is a service when a body or cremated remains are committed into the ground. This is commonly referred to a burial or committal.
• Inurnment is a service when created remains are placed in a columbarium or other such facility.
• Eulogy, which comes from the Greek word meaning to bless, is a message that expresses gratitude to God for the life of the deceased.

Sometimes the term Celebration of Life has been used to describe a gathering at times of death and is often used by the community at large. We do not use this this term because we celebrate the resurrection and the hope that all who follow Jesus will also experience the resurrection.

 

In the Reformed and Presbyterian tradition, a funeral or memorial service is considered a service of worship, and will be approached with grace, dignity, honesty, Biblical truth, theological integrity and joyful celebration we accord all our worship services. In consultation with the pastor, other elements of Christian worship (such as remarks from family members and friends, special music) and others may be allowed as long as these reflect Christian faith and are consistent with a Reformed understanding of worship.

 

Every funeral and memorial service shall proclaim the Gospel hope of the resurrection to eternal life. Scripture passages that speak to the resurrection shall be read and proclaimed.

 

The primary arrangements will be made with a pastor of Chapel by the Lake who shall serve as the officiating pastor. The pastor, in consultation with the family, shall guide the creation of the Order of Worship. Invitations for outside musicians and speakers shall not be made before an initial consultation with the officiating pastor. Requests for the participation of a "guest" pastor to assist in the service must be made to the officiating pastor; who, if it is appropriate, will extend an invitation. The pastor shall share a copy of the Order of Worship with a representative of the family before printing. The pastor shall have final decisions on the elements and order of worship. Fraternal, civic, or military rites and such honors are not considered part of Christian worship and are therefore more appropriately carried out at the funeral home or cemetery, or during the reception.

Requests regarding a reception shall be made and coordinated with a representative from the deacons.

Other Considerations:

 

• As the focus of Christian worship is the Triune God, it is not appropriate to display pictures of the deceased in the sanctuary during the service. Photo displays of the deceased are encouraged, and more appropriately placed in Smith Hall for the reception. Non-flash photography is permitted during the service from a stationary position behind the worshipping congregation.
• The casket/cremains of the deceased may be present for the service, and shall arrive at the church at least 45 minutes prior to the announced start time. In order that the worship may focus on God, and upon the gift of the resurrection rather than upon the earthly remains of the deceased, the casket will be closed during the service. Viewings may be allowed before the service begins. However, the casket shall be closed at least 30 minutes before the service.
• Decorations shall be tasteful and appropriate for a worship service. single flower arrangement in the sanctuary is appropriate. Any additional decorations are best suited for the reception. Chapel by the Lake Deacons are pleased to coordinate a reception and decorations for Smith Hall.
• The church will provide a worship bulletin for services held at the church. Other printed materials to be distributed at a reception are the responsibility of the family. As an instrument of worship, the bulletin shall normally not include any photos, nor other elements (poems, songs, etc that do not reflect Biblical faith in Jesus Christ.
• Live-Streaming may be available. Inquiries will be made as to the availability of our volunteer tech team.
• Video elements featuring the deceased are not to be part of worship. Chapel by the Lake is pleased to arrange for video elements to be shared in Smith Hall.
• When special music is allowed, this may require a sound board technician. If so, inquiries will be made as to the availability of our volunteer tech team.

Fees and Honoraria

 

• For Covenant Partners and their families, and Friends of Chapel, all building use deposits and fees are waived. For all others, standard building use deposit and fees are in effect. A copy of the Building Use Agreement is attached.
• The deacons are happy to coordinate a reception for Covenant Partners and their families, and Friends of Chapel. This often includes potluck dishes as well as outside catering. The deacons are happy to cover the costs and welcome honoraria to cover expenses. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/chapelbythelake for payments. (Please choose Deacons Donation under the Funds tab) Checks may be made out to Chapel by the Lake with "Deacon's Fund" in the memo line.
• Honorarium for the pastor(s) for Covenant Partners and their families, and Friends of Chapel is a suggested minimum of $200. For all others, the minimum honorarium is expected. A check shall be made out to the officiating pastor.
• Honoraria for musicians/accompanists is a suggested minimum of $100 for Covenant Partners and their families, and Friends of Chapel. For all others, the minimum honorarium is expected.
• A check shall be made out to the musician/accompanist. Honoraria for sound tech, video tech or live-stream tech is a suggested $50 each for Covenant Partners and their families, and Friends of Chapel. For all others, the minimum honorarium is expected. A check shall be made out to the appropriate technicians.
• If there is financial hardship, please speak with the pastor.

 

Other Services:

 

There are occasions when our community wishes to gather when someone has died and a Christian worship service is not desired or appropriate. We are happy to rent Smith Hall for such gatherings. Normal building use fees apply. In accordance with the existing Building Use Agreement, our facility is not available to groups or for events that contradict the fundamental tenets of our Christian faith. Inquires for building use shall be made through the church office and approved by the pastors and/or the Session.

 

Service Outline:

 

A typical funeral or memorial service will last about one hour and have the following (or similar) outline:

 

 

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection

Date of Service              Time of Service

Opening Statement from Scripture

Gathering Sentences of Seripture

Songs, hymns or music that speak to Christian Faith(optional)

A Brief Statement on Why the People are Gathered

Receive the Comfort that Comes from God

Sentences from Scripture that speak to God's comfort and care Songs, hymns or music that speak to God's comfort and care(optional)

A Prayer for Comfort

Remembering with Joy and Thanksgiving to God

Words, testimonies and eulogies of thanksgiving to God Songs, Hymns or Music(optional)

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Renewed in the Promise of the Resurrection

Sentences of Scripture affirming the hope of the resurrection

A brief message Songs, hymns or music that celebrate the resurrection to eternal life(optional)

A closing prayer, including the Lord's Prayer

Benediction

 Funeral/Memorial Application

Information Sheet

_{*Completion of this form does not guarantee the use of our facility on the date requested.}