Remembering a Loved One
Funerals & Memorial Services
When someone you love dies, St. Peter’s is here to pray with you and help you plan a service of remembrance and hope. Please call the church office at (979) 836-7248. We will help you take the next steps, one at a time. The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy, grounded in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Its hope makes room for grief: Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. We rejoice in the promise of life with God while sorrowing with those who mourn.
Burials at St. Peter's
Baptism is the means by which we become members of the community of believers, defined in the New Testament as the Body of Christ. Just as Jesus was baptized with water by John the Baptist, we include people in the community of faith by baptizing them with water. Following a series of questions, responses and prayers, the priest pours water on the candidate. The sign of the cross may be made on the candidate's forehead with blessed oil. In the Episcopal Church a person is baptized only once.
St. Peter's Columbarium
St. Peter's has a Columbarium garden where ashes of loved ones can be interred. The columbarium consists of a series of niches, or small compartments, where the remains can be placed. The niches are marked with a plaque. The columbarium provides a sacred and peaceful space for the interment of loved ones, and is located in a quiet and secluded area just outside of the nave at St. Peter's.
Planning Ahead
Death is a part of living; thoughtful Christians acknowledge this and prepare for it. For the Christian, the time to prepare for one’s own death is when one is sound of body and mind. Planning ahead allows family and friends to deal with their own grief at the time of death, and will lighten the burden of the many details to come. Here is a link to a form that will help you plan.
If you are planning ahead, please contact the church office at: (979) 836-7248
The Liturgy for the Burial of the Dead
The funeral service includes prayers, hymns, and a eulogy given by a clergy member or loved one. The service includes readings from the Bible and a homily, or sermon, given by a clergy member. The body ( or ashes ) of the deceased is typically present at the service, and a committal service, during which the body is laid to rest, may also be held. The liturgy is both a space for solemn grief and an opportunity to remind Christians of the hope of the resurrection of the body and the promise of eternal life with God through faith in Jesus Christ.