A Christian funeral marks the ending of a human life in memory and hope. A funeral gives people the opportunity to give thanks for a person’s life and remember who they were for those who knew them. It helps people say goodbye and commend the person into God’s hands. A Christian funeral places this in the context of God’s loving presence with us as we grieve and also proclaims the Christian hope in life after death through Jesus being raised from the dead.
An Anglican funeral service can take place in a church, a funeral home or a private home.
Our Priest is available to conduct Funerals at Ryhope Lake Macquarie Memorial Park.
Funeral and Memorial Services for Baby Loss
Our Priest The Reverend Melanie Whalley has written a special service for early baby loss. No matter what gestation Reverend Melanie can conduct a service for your needs. Reverend Melanie has pastoral experience in baby loss, early, stillbirth and Infant.
Every year on October 15th at 7pm we participate in the International Wave of Light on Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.
Preparing for a funeral
If someone close to you is dying or has died, and you wish to talk to someone about a funeral, or just discuss what you are going through, please contact your local clergy person.
People can always contact the priest when the person is dying; as the minister can assist with accompanying the person and their loved ones in preparing for death.
Please call 4959 8108 for assistance.
The shape of the service
Funerals may be very short and quiet services with a few people present or very large (or anything in between) with one or several people speaking and can include the use of music.
The service itself takes people on a journey as they gather in God’s presence, remember the person who has died by telling something of their life story and reflect on what the person meant to them. Then we hear the word of God and the minister reflects on that word, before offering prayers to give thanks for the person’s life lived with us as well as praying for those who mourn. Then we say farewell and commend the person into God’s hands. The committal can take place either in the church at the crematorium or at the cemetery if there is a burial. There is also the option for Holy Communion to be celebrated in the context of the funeral service if this is desired.
Organising a Funeral
It is best if the funeral director and the priest are in contact with each other to arrange the time and day of the funeral. This can avoid mistakes being made.
The funeral director and the priest will discuss practical arrangements for the funeral. The priest will meet with the family and spend some time with them in shaping the service in ways that reflect something about the person and provide the opportunity for people to be involved in the service in ways that are appropriate.
Involvement in the service
There are opportunities for those close to the person to be involved in the service, by placing symbols of the person’s life, reading a lesson, or giving a eulogy about the person, and in being a pallbearer (carrying the coffin out of the church).