One of the greatest hardships of life is to face the loss of a loved one. It’s a time when there are many emotions consuming your mind and heart. For many families, it is a time of stress and chaos, lives turned upside down and unraveled. Others experience a sense of peace, while some experience mixed emotions of guilt or sadness. The reality is that we all deal with grief in different ways. The important thing is that no matter how you deal with loss, you are not alone.

St. Timothy’s offers the following to assist persons and families as they confront the death of a loved one:

Pastoral Care of the Sick and Dying

Prior to death, the church offers pastoral counseling and specials prayers for the sick. Please contact St. Timothy’s when your loved one is in the hospital or ill. Rev. Sarah Shofstall or a Pastoral Care Team Member will visit the hospital or home to offer prayer, comfort, and assistance. Sarah may offer to anoint your loved one with holy oils for healing or, in the case of pending death, special Ministrations at the Time of Death.

Grief Counseling and Memorial Service Preparation

As soon as someone passes, it is important to notify St. Timothy’s immediately so that pastoral care can be rendered to you and your family, and your church can support you in prayer and reach out to you in friendship.

Grief counseling and expertise in planning the funeral, memorial, and/or memorial service is available. The rector will work closely with the family to accommodate special requests and needs, and to plan a service that reflects the beautiful traditions of the Episcopal Church. St. Timothy’s will also coordinate closely with your funeral home of choice. A representative of St. Timothy’s will be on hand the day of the service to make certain everyone is welcomed and accommodated during the service. If you wish to have a reception in the parish hall, that can be arranged, as well.

Funeral

In the Episcopal Church, a funeral is a celebration of life and of resurrection. We celebrate their life with white clergy vestments and altar cloths, because the liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. The message for Episcopalians is clear: as Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised.

The Book of Common Prayer is the authoritative source for the outline of the service and the appropriate readings, psalms and hymns for a funeral service.  For more information on the service, please read it here.

Memorial Garden

St. Timothy’s Memorial Garden is a beautifully landscaped area situated among the trees on the church’s east lawn. A lovely curved brick wall surrounds a peaceful garden area, providing two options for a safe,  and serene resting place for the cremains of deceased members.

The church has traditionally been the natural location of preservation and final resting place for the mortal remains of deceased members of the Christian community. Cremation is simple, respectful and in accordance with the teachings of the Episcopal Church.

Interment in the Garden Wall

In the outer curved brick wall is the columbarium, containing niches for the placement of the ashes after cremation. A inscribed name plate is attached to the module cover.

Burial in the Garden

In the Memorial Garden, there are designated sites for the burial of ashes. No marker will be placed where ashes have been interred. Instead, the name of the deceased,  will be inscribed on a brass plaque and placed on the south side of the Columbarium’s center wall.

Memorials

If you wish to memorialize a loved one interred elsewhere, you may purchase a name plate for inclusion on a brass plaque.