Simeon Stylites has said that,
"We are sprinkled three times in our lives: once with water, once with
rice, and once with dirt."
The rites of passage are ceremonies
which celebrate the high moments of life: birth, "Coming of Age,"
marriage or union, and death. Every age, place, and people have observed such
events with music and dancing and the spoken word. So too do Unitarians.
All Souls Unitarian Church has its
own customs and procedures for the services that reflect the spiritual values
of our religious community.
The last rites, we believe, should
“mark the dignity and mystery of what we call death” and celebrate the life of
the deceased.
The things that we have set forth on
the following pages are meant -- not to detract from our reverence for life and
death – but to give these their fullest expression.
The Memorial Service is a religious
celebration of the life of the deceased – and of life itself. This is not to
suggest that the service is only for “religious” persons, for, indeed, anyone
of any religious or philosophical persuasion (or none) is welcome at All Souls.
Anyone of any creed or sect may use our church facilities. The Ministers are
glad to provide a Memorial Service for any one, provided the procedures set
forth above are observed.
Usually, a Memorial Service means a
service that is held after burial or cremation, although there are occasions
when a Memorial Service is conducted before interment. A casket is never
present at a Memorial Service.
If requested, the Minister can meet
with the family at home or at the graveside for a brief, private committal
instead of the more formal Memorial Service held at All Souls following burial
or cremation.
All ushering is done by the members
of All Souls or by persons appointed by the family of the deceased from their
personal friends and relatives. Members of the Church, families or friends may
also tend to the signing of the guest book in the foyer prior to the service.
The music for the memorial service
must be approved by the Minister. The purpose of the service is to give thanks
for the life shared rather that to grieve what death has taken away.
Make Your Wishes Known
Please talk with the Ministers about
your final wishes regarding end-of-life decisions and the details of your own
memorial service, which information can be recorded on the forms available at
the church office.
Use of the Facilities
No charge is made for the use of the
church facilities by pledge-paying members of All Souls. Fees for non-members
are determined at the time of making service arrangements and should be paid in
full prior to the service.
The church musicians’ fees -- for
members and non-members alike -- are payable in full before the service and
made out to the individuals directly.
Flowers and Memorial Gifts
In the Sanctuary and the Chapel,
only a single flower arrangement on the chancel table is allowed. All other
flowers will be placed elsewhere in the Church and must be removed immediately
following the service.
Most Unitarians encourage memorial
gifts made to favorite named charities in lieu of flowers.
Members and friends of the Church
may wish to make special monetary donations to the Church Endowment as a
memorial gift or to purchase a commemorative “leaf” for the Garden Room’s “Tree
of Life.”
To schedule a memorial service please contact the Pastoral Assistant, Laurel Williamson at 918-743-2805 ext. 305.