THE MINISTRIES OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LENOIR

FOR FAMILIES AT THE TIME OF DEATH

The First Baptist Church of Lenoir seeks to provide meaningful ministries to members at the time of death in the family. Our ministries are part of our deep commitment to care for one another in the Body of Christ. 

The Staff Ministries

As soon as the church staff learns of the death of a member, one of the ministers will visit the family in the home as quickly as possible.  The minister will offer pastoral care for the family and will be available to assist in the planning of services to mark the passing of the loved one.

The ministers of the church consider it a privilege to serve families at this important time.  It is part of the church’s care for the church family.  The ministers do not receive financial gifts for their services.  This is a ministry of our church to the family.

In extremely rare situations, the pastor may not be available to conduct a funeral or memorial service at the time the family desires.  If such a situation happens, the church staff will contact other ministers in our church to assist the family.

Types of Services

A Committal Service takes place at the graveside or, in case of cremation, where the ashes will be placed. The committal may take place before or after the services at the church or funeral home.  In some situations, the committal service may be the only service requested by the family.  This is sometimes referred to as a graveside service.

A Memorial service takes place when a committal service has already taken place.

A Funeral Service takes place before a committal service when the casket or cremated remains are present.

Each of these services is a time of worship.  Our focus is upon the God who has given life and upon Jesus who is the first fruit of the resurrection.  While we thank God for the life and love of the person we are remembering, the focus remains upon God.  For services at the church or led by one of our ministers, the music, readings, and remarks offered should be consistent with what is part of our regularly scheduled worship times.

Memorial and Funeral Services normally include:                  

            An organ or piano prelude

                        Opening Sentences of Scripture

                        A congregational hymn

                        Readings from the Old Testament

                        Readings from the New Testament

                        Prayers

                        Special Music or Quiet Music

                        Benediction

If the family desires to include a minister in addition to our staff members, the minister of our church will contact the guest minister to extend an invitation to participate.  This procedure is important to coordinate the service.

On occasion, family members wish to speak at a service.  The staff ministers will consult with family members in order to have an orderly and worshipful service.

For funeral or memorial services held at the church, the church will provide a simple worship guide containing the order of service.  For worship guides of a more detailed nature, the family will be responsible for providing such programs.

If a family desires an audio recording of the service, the request should be made to the church staff in advance.  Audio recording is available in the sanctuary.  Those wishing to videotape the service must make arrangements with someone to do so.  Videotaping of the service must be done from the balcony. 

Our church facilities are available for services in the event of the death of a church member, member’s spouse, parent, child, or grandchild.  The facilities will be made available to other churches when a special need arises.  This decision will be made by the pastor and deacon officers.

 Planning a Service

As the family begins planning a service, they should consult with the church office and the ministers before finalizing a time and place for the service.  There are times when other events are scheduled at the church (such as weddings, worship times, community events).

The ministers will assist the family in choosing the most appropriate service for the family.  They will advise as to Scripture readings, music, and other elements of our worship together.

Our church has two beautiful rooms in which to have a service. The chapel is an appropriate place for smaller services.  It seats approximately 110 people.  The sanctuary is available for larger services or when the room has special meaning.  The family will decide which will be the best location.  The church provides these facilities at no cost to the family.

 Other Guidelines

The expressly Christian furnishings of the sanctuary or chapel are not to be removed, relocated, or obscured during a memorial or funeral service. At a funeral service when a casket is present, the communion table will be removed with the cross and candles placed in the baptistery area.

During a funeral service when the casket is present, the casket will remain closed during the service.  The church has available a beautiful pall which may be used to cover the casket.  It is provided at no cost to the family.

 Receivings

Some families choose to use the church facilities to receive friends at the time of death of a loved one.  Some choose to have the receiving immediately before or after the service.  Others schedule a receiving the night before a funeral or memorial service.

For services at which a smaller congregation is expected, the church parlor, located immediately behind the sanctuary, can be used.  For larger groups, the dining room is available.  The scheduling of a receiving must not interfere with regularly scheduled church activities or events previously planned for the areas to be used.

The church parlor is used for receivings immediately before or following a service. 

Representatives of the funeral home will be needed to assist in the details of the receiving.  If the casket is brought to the receiving, it cannot be placed in the room more than an hour before the receiving begins and must be removed immediately following the time of receiving.

Bereavement Committee

The purpose of the Bereavement Committee is to learn the needs of church families at the time of death and to communicate those needs to the church staff and church family. 

The Bereavement Committee will be contacted immediately by the church office upon the death of a member, a member’s spouse, parent, child, or grandchild when the services are held in the Lenoir community.  The committee will then contact the grieving family to learn their needs and to communicate to the family the church’s program to respond to their needs.  At the first visit, the committee will deliver the paper products prepared for these visits.  This committee will coordinate providing a meal for those church families during the time of a death.

When the family is involved in a Sunday school class, choir, or other program of the church, the committee will notify that group.  Each Sunday school class or group has its own policy on providing food for the family.

If the family is not involved in such a group, the committee will provide a meal for the family.  The meal will consist of a meat (provided by the church bereavement food budget) with vegetables, dessert, and drink provided by the members of the committee. 

 Approved by the Diaconate

10-23-2006