Funeral Service Planning Worksheet Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
Dear Friends, Please accept the condolences of our members, and know that you and your family are in our prayers as you grieve. This worksheet intends to assist you in making decisions related to your loved-one s funeral service prior to our meeting to discuss the arrangements. In this way, you have time to reflect on these decisions, discuss them with others, and to look up needed information. Should you have any questions, as you complete the following steps, please do not hesitate to call or email us here at the church. It is our privilege to serve you at this difficult time, and I look forward to meeting with you. In Christ Jesus, Dennis M. Roser, Pastor Rev. Dennis M. Roser Senior Pastor Calvary Lutheran Church, NALC 1750 North Calhoun Road Brookfield, WI 53005 Church Phone: 262-786-4010 Cell Phone: 262-893-8312 Fax: 262-786-9295 E-mail: pastorroser@calvarylc.com Blog: teachingfaithinchrist.wordpress.com
Please print clearly. Return to the pastor or to the church office when completed. 1. Name of funeral home handling arrangements: 2. Do you desire to have a time of visitation in the narthex, prior to the service? Yes No 3. Would you like to have a meal at Calvary following the service (or following the committal, as circumstances dictate)? Yes No The meal is arranged by our office manager, with the bill being sent to the church. In this way, the family can simply reimburse the church for the meal. Beverages and other amenities are provided by the church, and arranged by our funeral hospitality team. 4. Please provide a rough estimate of how many people may attend the service? 5. Would your family be best-served by a communion service or a service without communion? With Communion Without Communion 6. Are there members of your family or friends who would like to serve as a lector in reading one or more of the Scripture lessons? You may choose between one and three lectors, or you may choose to ask the pastor to read the lessons. If you have lectors, please list their names and an email address (if possible) where the pastor can send a copy of the lessons. Name: Email: Name: Email: Name: Email: 7. We have stands for displaying flowers before the altar during the service. Typically, the funeral home staff will take care of placing them in the chancel, just prior to the service. If a member of their staff does not ask you about this during or prior to the visitation, please do not hesitate to speak to the pastor or a member of the funeral home staff. 8. Many times, following a member s death, family and friends make contributions to the congregation in the deceased s memory. It is Calvary Church s policy to solicit assistance from the person s family as to how memorial monies should be directed. The congregation council has approved three possible funds where such memorials may be directed: the Nave Lighting Project, the Nave Projector fund, and the Calvary Church Endowment fund. Other possible designations may be approved by the congregation council, should a member s family request it. Please list the fund into which you would like to have monetary gifts contributed in your loved-one s memory directed. Nave Lighting Project Nave Projector fund Church Endowment fund 9. Our accompanist or another designated accompanist will provide musical accompaniment for the funeral service. Since special services, such as weddings and funerals are not covered by our accompanist s compensation package, we ask families to compensate the accompanist directly. Unless the particular accompanist has an established fee, we suggest $150.00 as an honorarium. If the musician is being asked to accompany a soloist or other singers, the family is encouraged to provide an additional $25.00, due to the additional preparation required. 10. Our funeral services typically include one reading from the Old Testament, one from the Psalms, one from the Epistles of the New Testament, and one from the Gospels. Please check a lesson from each category that you would like to have read at the service. Certainly, other Scripture passages are also invited, should the family choose.
Old Testament Job 19:23 27a Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Isaiah 25:6 9 Isaiah 53:3 6 Isaiah 61:1-3 Jeremiah 31:15 17 Psalms Psalm 23 Psalm 27 Psalm 34:1 10 Psalm 46 Psalm 71:17 21 Psalm 84 Psalm 90 Psalm 103:13 18 Psalm 116:1 9, 15 19 Psalm 118:5, 8 9, 13 17 Psalm 121 Psalm 143 Epistles Romans 5:1 5 Romans 5:12-21 Romans 6:3 11 Romans 8:28 39 Romans 14:7 9 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 1 Corinthians 15:51 57 2 Corinthians 4:7 18 Philippians 1:21 23 1 Thessalonians 4:13 18 Revelation 7:9 17 Revelation 21:1 7 Gospels Matthew 11:28 30 Matthew 27:27 54 Mark 10:13 16 Luke 2:25 32 Luke 23:33 46 John 3:16-21 John 5:24-29 John 6:37-40 John 10:10b 15,27 30 John 11:20 27 John 14:1 6 Job confesses his faith Times and Seasons The Lord will swallow up death Surely He has borne our griefs To grant to those who mourn in Zion Rachel mourns for her children The Lord is my shepherd Wait for the Lord Fear the Lord, you His saints The Lord of hosts is with us God will not forsake us A day in Your courts The years of our life The Father s compassion You deliver my soul from death I shall not die but live The Lord will keep you Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love We have peace with God The free gift of life through the new Adam, Christ our Lord Baptized into Christ Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus Whether we live or die Death, the enemy, will be defeated by Christ, the victor Death swallowed in victory He will raise us from the dead To live is Christ, to die is gain The dead in Christ will rise first Standing before the throne New heaven and a new earth Come to Me, all who are weary The crucifixion of Jesus Little children brought to Jesus Lord, let Your servant depart You will be with Me in paradise God so loved the world the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him will have eternal life The Good Shepherd gives them eternal life The resurrection and the life Many rooms *Many of these suggested passages, and their summaries, are taken from the Lutheran Service Book: Pastoral Care Companion, Concordia Publishing House.
11. The congregation typically sings three hymns during the service. The first hymn [a] is sung as the casket is brought to the front of the church, another [b] is sung following the homily (sermon), and the third [c] is sung as the casket is removed to the rear of the church. You are invited to choose three hymns from the following list, or other hymns as appropriate: a. b. c. Suggested Hymns He Leadeth Me: Oh, Blessed Thought! LBW 501 Abide With Me LBW 272 Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound LBW 448 Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me LBW 327 Blessed Assurance WOV 699 Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer LBW 343 A Mighty Fortress is Our God LBW 229 How Great Thou Art LBW 532 Thine Is the Glory LBW 145 Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing LBW 363 The Strife Is O'er, the Battle Done LBW 135 For All the Saints LBW 174 Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones LBW 175 Rise Up, O Saints of God! LBW 383 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry WOV 770 I am the Bread of Life WOV 702 Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling WOV 734 On Eagle s Wings WOV 779 Be Thou My Vision WOV 776 Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus LBW 487 Lift High the Cross LBW 377 If You But Trust in God to Guide You LBW 453 Precious Lord, Take My Hand WOV 731 What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine WOV 780 Children of the Heavenly Father LBW 474 Beautiful Savior LBW 518 Great is Thy Faithfulness WOV 771 God of Grace and God of Glory LBW 415 11. Family Contact Information: (Name, Phone Numbers, Email Addresses)
12. Additional notes: