Sample Funeral/memorial Service Planning Worksheet Template (Page 2 of 12) in pdf

Funeral/Memorial Service

Planning Guide and Worksheet

Jesus said, “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself,

John 14:3

so that where I am, there you may be also.”

Planning Faithfully, Choosing Wisely

There is perhaps no time when we most feel the need for God’s grace and comfort than when we experience the

loss of a loved one.

In the first days following a loved one’s death, the family makes an average of 200 decisions.

During such an emotional, stressful and demanding time, plans that have been made in advance help lighten the

load after death. If you’ve not made advance plans, this guide will be helpful to you as you make arrangements

for services and burial of your loved one.

This guide is designed to:

provide a tool for planning for the future when your life on this earth ends, and

support and guide families making plans upon the death of a loved one.

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This guide will walk you through a series of questions and your responses can be marked on the worksheet at

the end. Prince of Peace’s pastors are available to discuss any items with you. When you are finished, please

share your worksheet with a family member or friend who will act on your behalf after your death. It would

also be helpful to contact one of the pastors at Prince of Peace to share your worksheet so that it can be held in

safekeeping for the future.

The Goal of the Christian Funeral/Memorial Service

As Christians, we not only mourn the loss of a loved one but we also celebrate their victory through Christ

over death and the grave, giving thanks for the gift of eternal life that God promises us in baptism.

The

gathering of family and friends, who form a community of hope for a funeral/memorial service, is also a rich

opportunity to celebrate the life of the deceased.

Christians view death as another step in our life as children of God. Yet, we also experience death as a time of

loss when sorrow, grief, and bereavement are both natural and appropriate. These two truths inform the

Lutheran funeral/memorial service and guide the church in its ministry to those who have lost a loved one to

death. As we celebrate the life of the deceased and God’s promise of new life, often we find ourselves smiling

through our tears.

Above all else, a funeral/memorial service is a time of worship dedicated to God. A funeral/memorial service

should be comforting to those who mourn as well as bear witness to our faith in Jesus Christ. There, in God’s

presence together, we witness to our faith in the communion of saints, the resurrection of the body, and the life

everlasting.

Sample Funeral/memorial Service Planning Worksheet Template Page 2