The Book of Common Prayer reminds us:
“The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all 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 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. 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.” (Page 490)
At St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, we pray for the dead because we still hold them in our love even after their death. An Episcopal funeral, therefore, is a service of thanksgiving celebrating the life and honoring the memory of the person who died. The burial service centers on the deep gratitude to God for the gift of a life and for the promise of eternal life in the resurrection.
The death of a church member should be reported to the clergy as soon as possible to, and arrangements for the funeral should be made in consultation with, the parish’s Rector and the Music Director. Baptized Christians are properly buried from the church. The service should be held at a time when the congregation has opportunity to be present. Among the rituals for the Burial of the Dead in The Book of Common Prayer is that the physical body or the cremated remains of the dead be present. A coffin (if present) is to be closed before the service and covered with a pall. Our burial service for the dead is one of respect, gratitude, and sacredness of life in the midst of death.
Burial services at St. Paul’s Parish conform with the practices of the Episcopal Church. Services are set as the Parish’s schedule allows and are held in either the nave (the main worship space) which can seat up to 165 people. Fees are assessed based upon the use of Parish resources, including but not limited to space rental, clergy, and music. Officiating clergy and family members of the deceased jointly plan the service. A Eucharist usually takes place during the service, but that is left to the discretion of loved ones and clergy planning the burial service.
The Reception Guild of our parish chapter of the Episcopal Church Women can host a reception in the Parish Hall following the funeral. Arrangements for a reception, including the cost, are to be made directly with the ECW’s reception coordinator.
For more information, or to make an appointment with the Rector, please contact us at coffice@stpauls-medina.org or by calling 330.725.4131.
Columbarium & Memory Garden
St. Paul’s Parish maintains a Memory Garden including a Columbarium behind Canterbury House for the interment of ashes. A donation of $500 to the Columbarium Fund to cover the costs of perpetual care and maintenance is requested for placement of an urn in the Columbarium; $100 for burial of ashes directly in the earth of the Garden.
Persons eligible for interment in the Columbarium or Memory Garden must be either members or past members of the congregation of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church; members or past members of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio; or their spouses, children or family. Determinations of eligibility shall be made by the Rector and the Senior Warden of the Parish. Please call the Parish Office at 330.725.4131 for additional information.