First
of all, we extend our sympathy to you in the loss that has
led you to seek this information. We want you to know that
the clergy of this parish endeavor to be sensitive to the
varying pastoral needs of those who request the services of
the Church at the time of death—whether they are members
of this parish or not.
If you would prefer
to contact the clergy or parish office by telephone to make
arrangements, please feel free to do so. The parish telephone
number is 203-259-3013. When the office is closed, a recorded
message will provide emergency contact information.
Arrangements may
also be made through a funeral director, who will in turn
consult the parish clergy.
Following
the guidelines of our Book of Common Prayer, we encourage,
but do not require, that the church be used for the funeral
service for baptized Christians, and that Holy Communion (the
Eucharist) be celebrated as part of the service.
At the funeral
service, the body may be present in a coffin, which is closed
prior to the beginning of the service; or ashes may be present;
or the service may take place without a body or ashes present.
The service may take place before or after the remains are
committed to a final resting place.
We also commend
to you the following description of the burial service of
the Church as it expresses our Christian faith:
The liturgy
for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its 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”
[Romans 8:38-39].
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.
—Book of Common Prayer, page 507
May God
bless you in this time of mourning, lighten the burden of
grief, and through the gift of grace bring you in due course
to wholeness and peace. +
The Reverend Nicki Kimes, Assistant to the Rector
The Rev. Bennett Brockman, Rector
