If a friend or loved one has died or is near death, you may be facing a bewildering array of decisions.
If you or the person whose death is at hand is a person of faith, the Church is the best place to gather friends and relatives for a funeral or memorial service. Here you are supported by the faith that when we die, because of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ, “we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed” (I Cor 15:51).
Although the death of a loved one often overwhelms us with sadness, our sadness is eased by the faith that our beloved is not lost to God, but rather, is raised to a new life “where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting” (Episcopal Burial Service).
Therefore, while funerals and memorial services acknowledge our grief, they primarily celebrate the life of the person who has died—a life we know has been saved in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
St. John’s Memorial Garden, pictured here, is an area of repose for meditation and prayer. There is another more secluded and informal Memorial Garden as well. The ashes of loved ones may be interred in either garden as a part of the ministry of St. John’s Church.
To learn more call the church office (203) 239-0156