Funerals
Sunday Worship ♱ 8:00 a.m. ♱ 10:30 a.m.
2310 Airline Drive ♱ Brenham, TX 77833 ♱ (979) 836-7248
Funerals
The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 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.
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.