Thank you for allowing me to serve you and your family. It will be my honor.
I am aware how hard it is to grieve and also try to plan a memorial service. I hope this email helps you. The following ideas and suggestions are just that: suggestions. I have served many families over the years and I have found that these ideas can help make the service warm, positive, and personal. Use the ideas you want and discard the others. I hope they help you think about this upcoming service.
- Provide a “summary of life” document to read at the top of the service. This might include an order of your loved one’s life including such things as where they were born, to whom were they born, childhood highlights, education, fun facts, occupation, military background, hobbies, and special interests. It can be fun, light, informative, and touching. Pls click here to read a recent blog on mine on this subject
- Ask 3-5 people to stand up and deliver a few words to all of us during the service (these are called personal tributes or eulogies). They will need at least a day to agree to do it and prepare their words. If someone can’t get up to speak, i would be glad to read a letter from them. I will take as many letters and notes as you give me. Here are a few ideas from my recent blog. Also check this blog out as well.
- Choose a song to be played (or two) during the actual service. One or two songs are perfect. The one or two songs can be anything such as Amazing Grace to a current rock song. Whatever you feel would be appropriate. Music gives folks a few minutes to reflect. Here are a few ideas.
- A slideshow of photos to music to be played at the end of the service (or before and after). This will take a significant amount of time to create. If you have the time and ability, it’s a great way for us to conclude, but it’s certainly not necessary. Here are a few ideas from a recent blog of mine.
- Finally, Open Mic Session – But not the traditional open mic format. You can read more here from a recent blog on the topic if you’re interested.
As for a general order of service, here is a typical order that you can use as a guide. Of course, we can solidify the order together. (Everything is optional)
- WELCOME (turn off mobile phones)
- 3-5 PERSONAL TRIBUTES (aka EULOGIES) @ 3-5 minutes each.
- OPEN MIC led by Randy with his abbreviated format (10 minutes)
- SONG 1
- POETRY / SCRIPTURE
- RANDY’S WORDS OF HOPE (5-10 minutes)
- PRAYER / LORD’S PRAYER / or poetry or nothing
- DVD VIDEO MONTAGE or SONG 2 or NOTHING at the end
- SONG 2 or 3 as people are walking out of the chapel
Celebrate & Remember Funeral Pastor 