burials, funerals

We believe that the liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised. The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This joy, however, does not make human grief un-Christian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. 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.

The death of a member of the church should be reported as soon as possible to, and arrangements for the funeral should be made in consultation with, the rector of the congregation.

At St. Luke’s we have a memorial garden where any baptized member or regular communicant of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church or any Christian related to a member of the church shall be eligible for interment of cremated remains (“ashes”) in the Memorial Garden. To read our policies for the Memorial Garden and funerals click here.

If you are seeking to hold a funeral at St. Luke’s or to have our rector officiate at a funeral, please contact the Rev. Brit Frazier at brit.b.frazier@gmail.com.