5/17/18

1

How to Establish a Funeral Ministry at Your Church

Author of Funeral Planning Made Simple

R. Steven Norman, III

Healing the Brokenhearted

Seminar Objective

Show how to establish a church-based funeral assistance ministry n  for your congregation and community n  that will provide support and comfort n  win souls.

What is Funeral Ministry?

There are three types of ministry to the dying and bereaved – n  terminal care n  grief management n  funeral ministry

5/17/18

2

Terminal Care

Terminal care is given during the dying process. Has the goal of preparing the patient and their family for death Includes care given to the patient and their family in the form of counseling, respite care, and spiritual guidance.

Grief Management

Grief management is counseling and support during bereavement or after loss. Has the goal of facilitating grieving persons through the grief process. In the professional context it occurs in counseling sessions and support groups. May also be provided by caring friends and relatives who assist the grieving person through various acts of care and support.

Funeral Ministry

Funeral ministry is care given to families who are in the process of planning a funeral. Most often comes at the time of death Sometimes requested by individuals who want to pre-plan. Our focus today will be on funeral ministry.

5/17/18

3

Why Should the Church Be Involved in Funeral Ministry?

Funeral preparation is one of the most difficult experiences of bereavement. It is an opportunity for churches to help heal the brokenhearted. Luke 4:18 Helping bereaved families is a way to show love and make friends for Jesus.

How To Do Funeral Ministry

1. Organize a funeral ministry team 2. Select a funeral ministry coordinator and

volunteers3.  Train the funeral ministry team4. Make church aware of funeral ministry5. Order supplies

Funeral Planning Made Simple

Funeral Planning Made Simple – is a 32-page funeral resource book used by churches to minister to their congregation and community.Recommended in 2002 by the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association as best on subject.

5/17/18

4

Funeral Planning Made Simple - An Overview

A Funeral Planning Checklist to guide families through the process of planning the funeral.

Funeral Expense Worksheet

The Funeral Expense Worksheet can help families save thousands of dollars on funeral and burial costs.

Biographical Information Worksheet

Aids with gathering the information needed to write the obituary and contact relatives and friends.

5/17/18

5

Funeral Program Worksheet

A pull-out, fill in the blank Funeral Program Worksheet to plan the funeral service and design the funeral program.

Funeral Arrangements Timetable

That helps families keep track of appointments such as the first viewing, family hour, funeral, and interment.

Phone Numbers and Resources

Plus a Thank You Card List, Promises for the Bereaved, a place to keep notes and important telephone numbers.

5/17/18

6

How to Present Funeral Planning Made Simple

Whenever a member of your congregation or community dies, you or a caregiver from your church will carry a gift copy of Funeral Planning Made Simple to the family compliments of your church.

The caregiver then briefly explains some of features of Funeral Planning Made Simple.

How to Present Funeral Planning Made Simple

If the family wishes to have help, the caregiver may take a few moments to assist them with filling out the forms. This ministry will reduce the time and stress spent with funeral preparation Help the family make wise decisionsAnd will make many lasting friends for your church.

How to Plan the Funeral

Using Funeral Planning Made Simple. . . Write the obituary Plan the program Select pallbearers and flower bearers Gather tributes Seek ways to personalize the service Collect sample programs for reference.

5/17/18

7

Writing the Obituary

§  The purpose of the obituary is to provide a brief life sketch of the deceased and identify their relatives.

§  It is sometimes called Life Sketches, Tribute, or Reflections. The information for the obituary is gathered in the Biographical Information Worksheet.

Biographical Information

Begin the obituary with the deceased’s full name, parents, birthplace, and birthdate. In later paragraphs tell the schools attended, information concerning their marriage, children, church, career, military service, favorite hymn or scripture, and date of death.

Personalize the Service

Add interest by including … n  a brief story, humor, or using a unique

outline to organize the obituary.

Include captions with the pictures in the program

5/17/18

8

Conversion Story

If the deceased was a Christian include the story of how they accepted Christ. Keep it brief. Make Christ’s love and grace the focus.

Survivor ListOrder survivors according to the following lists.Married Person — Spouse, children, parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other kin.Single Adult — Children if any, then parents, sisters, brothers and other kin such as aunts, uncles, etc.

Survivor ListChild — Parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other kin.In-laws — The spouses of children or siblings may be listed in one of three ways. Examples: n  1. “brother and sister-in-law, John and

Jane Doe” n  2. “John (Jane) Doe”

n  3. “Sister-in-law, Jane Doe”

5/17/18

9

Order of Service Follow the practices of your congregation and in consultation with your minister. n  Visitation n  The Prayer n  The Scripture n  The Music n  Tributes or Remarks n  The Eulogy n  The Processional and Recessional

Some Suggestive ScripturesOld Testament: Job 19:23-27; Psalm 23, 90, or 91, 121; Ecclesiastes 3:1-11; Isaiah 25:6-9.

New Testament: John 6:37-40; John 14:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Romans 8:26-39; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 21:1-7.

Disposition of the BodyGround Burial—is the traditional means of disposing of a body after the funeral services are held. It involves the use of a casket, vault or grave liner and the purchase of a gravesite in a cemetery.Cremation—is reducing the body to ashes or cremains. After cremation the cremains will be returned to the family in a temporary urn. Choices for handling the cremains include placing them in an urn for storage in a columbarium, ground burial, or you may choose to keep them at home. Consult with your funeral home regarding local health regulations if you choose to scatter them on your land or over a body of water.

5/17/18

10

Disposition of the BodyDonation – Some persons choose to donate some of their tissue or organs for transplant or research For information about this option you may call 1-800-243-6667.Entombment – Entombment is placement of the body in a mausoleum or above ground crypt. It involves the purchase of a casket and crypt in a cemetery. No vault or grave liner is needed with this option.

Selecting a CasketSelecting a casket involves d e t e r m i n i n g m a t e r i a l , appearance, cost , and “protective features.”

Caskets may be purchased with “protective features” such as rubber gasketing and rust inhibitors. However, n o c a s k e t c a n b e guaranteed to permanently preserve human remains.

Selecting a CasketMetal Casketsn  Steel Caskets - Most caskets are made from

rolled steel and come in various gauges. The gauge refers to the thickness of the steel and is located at the foot of the casket. The lower gauge caskets will be more expensive since they are constructed from thicker steel.

n  Stainless Steel Caskets - These rustproof caskets are one level below the precious metal caskets.

n  Precious Metal Caskets - These caskets are constructed of steel mixed with copper or bronze The quantity of copper or bronze is usually indicated as 32 or 48 ounces.

5/17/18

11

Selecting a CasketWooden Caskets - wooden caskets are available in a variety of specie — such as oak, pine, mahogany. If you select cremation some funeral homes will sell y o u a w o o d e n cremation casket or you may rent a wooden casket which will hold the cremation liner.

Selecting an Outer Burial ContainerGrave liners and vaults are placed in the grave as a casing in which to house the casket. Their main purpose is to prevent the ground from caving in as the casket deteriorates. They may be constructed of wood, metal or reinforced concrete. Concrete lasts the longest.The Grave Liner - is a plain reinforced concrete box that is placed in the grave to hold the casket. It is the less expensive than a vault.A Burial Vault - is made of steel reinforced concrete or metal and is usually lined and gasketed for added protection.

Disposition of Cremains

Cremains or ashes may be placed in an urn and put in a columbarium. They may also be scattered.

5/17/18

12

Other Practical Ministry Ideas

Offer to help prepare a memorial slide or video tribute Offer to sit with children or elderly Send e-card Send encouragement through e-mail Carry food to house Follow-up calls

After the Funeral

Add name, address and phone number to contact database. Develop a friendship by maintaining contact Stop by to visit and offer prayer Send a card periodically Call them periodically just to let them know you are thinking about them Add their name to Funeral Ministry Prayer List.

From Friend to Fellow Member

After the initial visit you will want to seek to lead the contact through several phases: n  Contact n  Friendship n  Membership.

This should be done without force or turning people off.

5/17/18

13

Moving Towards Church Membership

Place them on church mailing list to be invited to special events so they can be invited to concerts, evangelistic crusades, etc. Send free subscription to Signs of the Times, Message or other missionary magazine. Some will join and others will not. But all persons should have an opportunity to see Jesus through a Seventh-day Adventist.

How to Order Funeral Planning Made Simple

GESS Books International P. O. Box 390114 Snellville, GA 30039 Phone: 615-491-1851 Phone: 770-462-0457 Ask about volume discounts