| Funerals |
| Funeral Information |
| The clergy and people of Christ Church New Brighton extend
their prayers and condolences to you upon the death of your loved
one. We hope that these guidelines will help you to plan a funeral
service within the liturgy of the Episcopal Church. Click here
to go to the Funeral Planning Assistance Sheet. |
| About Funerals |
| The funeral service is a celebration of the death and Resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that baptized Christians
share with Christ in his Resurrection and victory over death.
This means that the funeral liturgy is an Easter liturgy and
is, therefore, characterized by joy. This joy, however, does
not make human grief unchristian. 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 Lazarus. 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. |
| At the Time of Death |
| The death of a member of the Church should be reported as soon
as possible to the parish, and arrangements for the funeral should
be made in consultation with the Rector. Baptized Christians
are properly buried from the church. The service should be held
at a time when the congregation has an opportunity to be present. |
| The Vigil Service |
| The family of the deceased may arrange with the Rector to hold
a vigil service on the evening before the funeral. The vigil
service may be held at a family member’s home or at the
funeral home. At the vigil service Holy Scripture will be read,
prayers will be offered for the deceased and for those who mourn,
and there will be a time of remembrance. At the time of remembrance,
family and friends will have the opportunity to share stories
and memories of the deceased. The emphasis at the vigil service
is on the life the deceased lived here on earth. |
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| The Liturgy |
The emphasis of the funeral liturgy is on the deceased’s
resurrected life with Christ. The order of the service, the decorations,
and the music work together to celebrate our participation in
Jesus’ death and Resurrection.
The order of service for funerals is according to the 1979
Book of Common Prayer. The Book of Common Prayer has two funeral
liturgies, and they are fundamentally the same. The Rite I
service uses traditional Elizabethan English, while the Rite
II service uses a more contemporary idiom.
The staff of Christ Church will prepare a bulletin so that
the congregation may easily follow the order of service.
Scripture Lessons
Lessons from Holy Scripture are read at funeral services.
You will be asked to choose two or three to be read at the
funeral. At funerals without the Holy Eucharist, two lessons
are usually read, with a psalm read between them. At a funeral
service in which the Holy Eucharist is celebrated two or three
lessons, separated by a psalm and/or hymn, are usually read.
At the Eucharist a Gospel lesson is always read by either a
deacon or a priest. When three lessons are used, the first
is from the Old Testament and the second is from the New Testament,
excluding the Gospels. When two lessons are used, the first
may be from either the Old Testament or the New Testament.
The second lesson is from the New Testament, either an Epistle
or Gospel. You may ask family members
to read the first two lessons and/or the psalm.
The following table lists suggested readings and psalms
for the Funeral Liturgy. Click on a reading to read that passage
in a separate window:
| John 5:24-27 |
Romans 8:14-19, 34-35, 37-39 |
Isaiah 25:6-9 |
| John 6:37-40 |
1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 35-38,
42-44, 53-58 |
Isaiah 61:1-3 |
| John 10:11-16 |
2 Corinthians 4:16-5:9 |
Lamentations 3:22-26, 31-33 |
| John 11:21-27 |
1 John 3:1-2 |
Wisdom 3:1-5, 9 |
| John 14:1-6 |
Revelation 7:9-17 |
Job 19:21-27a |
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Revelation 21:2-7 |
|
|
| Psalm 23 Dominus
regit me (Traditional) |
| Psalm 23 King James
Version |
| Psalm 23 Dominus
regit me (Contemporary) |
| Psalm 27 Dominus
illuminatio (Traditional) |
| Psalm 27 Dominus
illuminatio (Contemporary) |
| Psalm 42 Quemadmodum
(Traditional) |
| Psalm 42:1-7 Quemadmodum
(Contemporary) |
| Psalm 46 Deus noster
refugium (Traditional) |
| Psalm 46 Deus noster
refugium (Contemporary) |
| Psalm 90 Domino,
refugium (Traditional) |
| 90:1-13 Domine,
refugium (Contemporary) |
| Psalm 106 Confitemini
Domino (Traditional) |
| Psalm 106:1-5 (Contemporary) |
| Psalm 116 Dilexi,
quoniam (Traditional) |
| Psalm 116 Dilexi,
quoniam (Contemporary) |
| Psalm 121 Levavi
oculos (Traditional) |
| Psalm 121 Levavi
oculos (Contemporary) |
| Psalm 130 De profundis
(Traditional) |
| Psalm 130 De profundis
(Contemporary) |
| Psalm 139 Domine,
probasti (Traditional) |
| 139:1-11 Domine,
probasti (Contemporary) |
| Click Here for
Appropriate Hymns for Funerals |
|
| The Holy Eucharist |
| In the Episcopal Church the Holy Eucharist - also called the
Mass, Holy Communion, or the Lord’s Supper - is frequently
celebrated as part of funeral and memorial services. The Holy
Eucharist is our central sacrament which celebrates Christ’s
death and resurrection. A celebration of the Holy Eucharist as
part of a funeral or memorial service reminds us that we also
share with Christ is his death and resurrection. In the Eucharist
we also share in the heavenly banquet with the deceased and with
those who have gone before. In the Episcopal Church, all baptized
Christians who have been admitted to Communion in their own churches
are welcome to receive Holy Communion. |
| Eulogies |
| The Vigil service is the appropriate time for family and friends
to share memories and stories about the life of the deceased.
However, one family member or close friend may speak at the funeral
service. The eulogy should be five to eight minutes in length
and share reflections appropriate for a church service. The Officiant
at the funeral service will also preach. The purpose of the sermon
is to relate the life and death of the deceased to the hope we
have, even in the midst of sorrow, in the Resurrection of Christ. |
| Music |
| The music at funerals must be sacred in nature. Hymns are normally
drawn from the 1982 Hymnal. Appendix C contains a list of hymns
from the 1982 hymnal that are appropriate for funerals. Hymns
not found in the 1982 Hymnal may on occasion be used if the music
can be secured and if copyright permission is granted. The Organist
and Choirmaster of Christ Church plays at all funerals unless
he gives permission for another organist to play. Vocal and instrumental
solos must be approved by the Organist and Choirmaster of Christ
Church. Music from tapes, compact discs, or karaoke-style music
is not permitted. |
| The Church Environment |
| The liturgical color for funerals is white. White is the color
used for many of the great feasts of the Church and symbolizes
the joy of the Resurrection. The frontal on the altar, the hangings
on the lectern, the pall on the casket, and the ministers’ vestments
are all white. The paschal candle, which is lit at Easter, baptisms,
and funerals, is placed by the body to symbolize the presence
of Christ and the victory of light over darkness. |
|
| Flowers |
| Flowers may be placed in the two vases on the retable behind
the altar, other flowers may be placed in the narthex (entrance)
of the church and at the reception. |
| The Body |
The body of the deceased, as the temple of the Holy Spirit,
is always treated with dignity and respect. When the body is
present for the funeral, the casket is closed prior to the funeral.
Prior to the funeral the casket is covered with a white cloth
called a pall. The pall reminds us of the white garment of baptism
and that the promises of baptism are fulfilled at our deaths.
The cross and clergy proceed the casket into the church and family
members may follow it if they wish. During the service the casket
is placed at the steps of the chancel and next to the paschal
candle. At the conclusion of the service, special prayers of
commendation are offered around the casket and the clergy precede
the casket out of the church with the family following.
A funeral
service without a body is properly called a memorial service.
It is conducted in much the same way as a funeral service with
the exception that the prayers of commendation over the body
are not used. |
|
| Cremation |
| Cremation is an acceptable and dignified way of treating the
deceased’s body. In a sense cremation merely hastens the
natural process of returning a body to ashes and dust. When the
ashes, sometimes called cremains, are present during the service
they are treated the same way as a body in a casket. They are
placed on a table at the front of the church and covered with
a small pall. They may be processed in and out of the church
or they may be placed on a table before the service begins. The
ashes may be interred before or after the funeral service or
at a later date. |
| Funeral Receptions |
| Funeral receptions are usually held in the Guild Room in the
parish hall. Large receptions may be held in the auditorium on
the second floor of the parish hall. |
| Contact Information |
Cathy Romano, Office Manager 718-727-6100
Fr. Charles Howell,
Rector 718-727-6100, office 718-390-0011, home |
| Fee Schedule |
Parishioners: $350, includes organist,
sexton, and altar guild
Non-parishioners: $550, includes organist,
sexton, and altar guild
Honorarium for Rector’s Discretionary
Fund Soloists: Negotiated separately
Flowers: Responsibility
of Family
Refreshments: Responsibility of the Family |
|
| Funeral
Planning Assistance Sheet |
| Click
here to open the form. The form will open in a separate pop-up
window. Fill out the online form and then follow the instructions
to print it. Bring it with
you when you speak to the Rector. See Contact Information (above)
to make an appointment to speak to the Rector. |
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76 Franklin Avenue