A Christian Funeral is a Worship service that provides an opportunity to give thanks to God for the life of a loved one, to remember the promises God makes to us, and to support and comfort one another. 

The Funeral Arrangement Process:

Families first contacts their Funeral Home of choice and meets with them. Next, the Funeral Home contacts the Pastor(s) to set a date and time for the service. Finally, the Pastor(s) will schedule a meeting with the family to gather stories and memories of your loved one and plan Worship and other details.  

What you should know about Funeral Services at Trinity: 

  1. Visitation & Service Time: A visitation the evening prior to the funeral service or a one-hour visitation on the day of the funeral is preferred.  Funerals are approximately 25 minutes long.
  2. Personal Remembrances: are shared during visitation and at a reception, not during the funeral service.
  3. Music: because a Funeral is a Worship service only hymns or classical music are used. It is common to sing hymns at a funeral. Families choose those in conjunction with the Pastor(s). Secular music/favorite songs are good for a visitation and/or a reception.
  4. Supplies Trinity can provide:  easels for photo boards (up to 3), table in lobby for display of photos/special items, table at front of Worship space for urn/photo/flowers, some stands for flower arrangements.
  5.  People Trinity provides: Pastor(s), Musician, Hospitality Host/Hostess to guide people unfamiliar with Trinity’s building.
  6. We highly encourage families to use the services of a Funeral Home the day of the funeral. The Funeral Home: sets up for the service; arranges photos, flowers, casket/urn; organizes family and friends to begin; packs up after the service; and leads the procession to the cemetery, including a police escort. The Funeral Home also provides a guest book, memorial cards or bulletins, a secure box for sympathy cards. These are not tasks the Pastor(s) or Church Staff perform. 

Usage Fees (paid through the funeral home)

  • Use of the church building & Worship space: no charge
  • Use of the fellowship hall & kitchen (if lunch/reception held at the church): $100
  • Pastor: $200
  • Musician(s): $100 

 

Receptions at Trinity:

Families are welcome to use the Fellowship Hall for up to 2.5 hours for post funeral gatherings (example: gathering starts at 11:45 and ends at 2:15).

  • Food is provided is catered by the family’s arrangement. See our list of preferred caterers below.
  • Trinity provides: decaf coffee, packets of creamer, sugar, and sugar free sweetener; plates, cups, napkins, flatware, and serving utensils; kitchen hosts to make coffee, pack up leftover food for the family, and clean the kitchen.
  • Trinity’s Custodian will: set up and arrange tables; empty trash after receptions; clean floors, bathrooms, & kitchen counters.
  • No alcohol is allowed.
  • You’re welcome to use easels and tables for display. No tape or tacky on the walls.

Preferred Caterers

  • Bon Ton Bakery  (920) 674-3262  
  • Carla’s Catering  (920) 728-3246  
  • Festival Foods  (920) 563-3531

 

Order of Worship

  • Gathering
  • Invitation to Prayer
  • Thanksgiving for Baptism
  • Prayers
  • Hymn
  • Scripture Readings
  • Sermon
  • Hymn
  • Creed
  • Prayer (+ Lord’s Prayer)
  • Commendation
  • Hymn

Suggested Readings (not an exhaustive list):

  • Isaiah 43: 1-2
  • Jeremiah 29: 1-14 (especially v. 11)
  • Psalms 22, 23, 121                                                                 
  • Matthew 11: 25-30
  • Matthew 12: 1-12                                                                  
  • Matthew 19: 13-15
  • Matthew 21: 1-11                                                                  
  • Mark 4: 35-41
  • John 19: 25b-27 (for families that are beyond biology)        
  • Romans 8: 9-17
  • Romans 8: 31-39                                                                    
  • Ephesians 3: 14-21
  • Philippians 1: 3-11    

Suggested Hymns (not an exhaustive list):  

  • Abide with Me                                                                       
  • Alleluia! Jesus is risen!
  • Amazing Grace                                                                       
  • Beneath the Cross of Jesus
  • Blessed Assurance                                                                 
  • Borning Cry For All the Saints                                                                    
  • Give Me Jesus Great is Thy Faithfulness                                                        
  • Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer
  • How Great Thou Art                                                               
  • I Am the Bread of Life
  • In the Cross of Christ I Glory                                                  
  • I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
  • Jesus Loves Me                                                                      
  • Love Divine, Love Excelling
  • On Eagle’s Wings                                                                   
  • Precious Lord Take My Hand
  • Thy Holy Wings                                                                      
  • Shall We Gather at the River
  • Spirit of Gentleness                                                                
  • When Peace Like A River