“In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit,we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.” -from A Brief Statement of Faith, PC(USA)
When someone dies, the sense of loss is intense. Yet loved ones may be called upon to make very practical, urgent decisions. Calvary is here to help and support those in need of care and hope.
Funerals and memorial services help everyone to understand what the missing family member meant. They are remembered from the smallest trait to their largest career success or civic achievement. At this time, everyone in the family reflects, either consciously or unconsciously, on how they knew and loved this person, and how the deceased fit into the family. Funeral and memorial services deal realistically in addressing death as part of life, and as an inevitable and necessary prelude to resurrection. Specifically in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), such services of worship are referred to as the Service of Witness to the Resurrection.
The constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) states: “The resurrection is a central doctrine of the Christian faith and shapes Christians’ attitudes and responses to the event of death. Death brings loss, sorrow, and grief to all. In the face of death Christians affirm with tears and joy, the hope of the gospel. Christians do not bear bereavement in isolation but are sustained by the power of the Spirit and the community of faith. The church offers a ministry of love and hope to all who grieve.
For more information about funeral or memorial services held at Calvary Presbyterian Church, contact the Church Office at (724) 463-9197.