Funerals

A funeral or memorial service is a worship service that honors a transition, celebrates the relationship between our community of faith and one of our members, and offers prayer and intercession for the soul of the departed as they journey from strength to strength. Funerals at St. Francis use the rites found in the Book of Common Prayer, which have shaped the faith lives of the living and the departed for generations.

In the Episcopal Church, the Liturgy for the Dead is an Easter liturgy, finding its ultimate meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised. A funeral liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.

Preparing at any time

The St. Francis clergy encourage members to hold funeral or memorial services in the church. Death is a moment when the Christian hope is brought closest to our daily life—it is fitting that such a moment be marked at the place where joy, hope, and sorrow come together in the encounter with Christ.  

Eliminating guesswork can help make the funeral or memorial service become more personal and less fraught with anxious decisions. St. Francis' clergy and staff stand ready to assist in funeral preparation. Call the church office to set up an appointment with a priest, who will be happy to guide you prayerfully and thoughtfully through the necessary decisions and selections.

Some members choose to have their ashes interred in our Memorial Garden, which provides a place of quiet repose for those who have died. The Memorial Garden is open at all times for those who wish to pay their respects or to spend a quiet moment of reflection or prayer.