When Death is Expected or When Death Comes
When Death Is Expected or When Death Comes 

Our pastors are available in case of any crisis involving you or your family. Please notify the pastors as soon as possible after the death of a loved one. One of the pastors will offer you loving care on behalf of the church.  

Please contact the church: 770-993-6316. If the church office is closed, please leave a message or call the Emergency Pastoral Phone: 770-649-4514.

Arranging a Service
Your pastors, when scheduling the date and time of a memorial service or funeral at the church, wish to be sensitive to your family’s needs. The date of the service will be determined by considering the arrival of out-of-town family members, the availability of the worship space, and the availability of pastors and musicians. A pastor and the Director of Music will meet with you to plan the service. 

In the case of a service at a funeral home, it will be the responsibility of the family to include any RPC pastors in your conversation and/or decisions regarding time and date. 

Types of Service

• A committal or interment service may be held in the Memorial Garden or at the cemetery gravesite. The service usually lasts only a few minutes and consists of Scripture, prayer, and a benediction. It may be held privately with family and close friends present. These services typically take place before the memorial service. 

• Memorial service at the church, in which remains are not present.  

• Funeral service at the church takes place following death, with a closed casket or urn present. 

• Funeral services at the funeral home and graveside service. 

< Funeral & Memorial Guidelines

The Worship Service >

The pastors, in consultation with the Director of Music, are responsible for planning the service itself and will consult with you regarding hymns, other appropriate music, and favorite Scripture passages that would be especially meaningful to you. The music selected for the memorial service should reflect the same standards applied to music chosen for Sunday morning worship. Pre-recorded music will not be included in services at RPC. 

The Service
The service is called "A Service of Witness to the Resurrection" as we first focus upon our common faith, God's Living Word, the Good News of the resurrection. As a part of this service, we invite family members and trusted friends to share their memories. As many as three people may stand to speak during the service, with the recommendation of using prepared remarks. With consideration to our guests and volunteers, these services typically keep to one hour or less. While others may wish to share their memories and condolences, we suggest that these be offered after the service, either during the reception in the narthex or at a location named by the family. 

The service will not eulogize, but instead will celebrate the gift of the life of the deceased that will bear witness to our common faith, and that will meet the needs of the mourners. It is for this reason that we believe it is appropriate not to have more than two/three outside speakers. 

Bulletins
Bulletins will be prepared by the church staff after the pastor and family have planned the service.

Elders
A select group of elders will assist the family, staff, and ministers on the day of the funeral or memorial service. They will act as ushers for the service - reserve pews, pass out bulletins, and answer any questions you or your guests might have. These volunteers are there to officially represent the church at the service.  

Order of Worship
Prelude Music 
Sentences of Scripture/
Call to Worship 

Welcome and Prayer 
Old Testament Readings 
First: 
Second: 
Musical Reflection
New Testament Readings

First: 
Second:

Homily 
Prayer of Intercession
The Lord’s Prayer 
Hymn 
(The Apostles’ Creed)
Family Remembrances 
Prayer of Thanksgiving 
Commendation 
Hymn
Blessing 
Postlude 

Suggested Scriptures
Old Testament 
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
Isaiah 40:1-8
Isaiah 40:28-31
Psalm 23:1-6
Psalm 46:1-11
Psalm 121:1-8 

Suggested Music
1 Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
39 Great Is Thy Faithfulness
65 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
215 What Wondrous Love Is This
238 Thine Is the Glory
275 A Mighty Fortress is Our God
307 God of Grace and God of Glory
326 For All the Saints
366 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
450 Be Thou My Vision
611 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
625 How Great Thou Art
643 Now Thank We All Our God
649 Amazing Grace
687 Our God, Our Help in Ages Past
802 The King of Love My Shepherd Is
834 Precious Lord Take My Hand
836 Abide With Me 

< Funeral & Memorial Guidelines

The Worship Space >

Our Sanctuary accommodates 1000 people. The Historic Sanctuary can accommodate up to 100. The Memorial Garden can accommodate a service of committal for a small group of family and friends. The Welcome Center will be set aside as a place for families to gather and pray prior to the service.  

Reception
The Funeral Guild may be requested to offer a reception after a funeral, memorial service, or graveside service held on the premises of Roswell Presbyterian Church. The pastor will work with the family to secure a reception pending the availability of the funeral guild. While refreshments are at the discretion of what church volunteers provide, we commonly offer cookies, brownies, cheese and crackers, cheese straws, mixed nuts, water, and punch. While we do our best to accommodate grieving families and guests, we are unable to host or provide catered meals or more elaborate offerings. 

Technology use for the Service
Occasionally, families may wish to have an audio recording or other audio/video services during a memorial service. For services held in the Sanctuary or Gym, an A/V technician will be available to manage the sound and basic recording needs. This service is provided to families at no charge. 

The LED screen is not available for use during the service in the Sanctuary, but a screen is available in the Gym.  

The screen in the courtyard room (outside of the Sanctuary) and Atrium (outside of the Gym), is available for a screen slideshow without music. A PS or Mac laptop must be provided that can connect either wirelessly using Bluetooth or with an HDMI cable. When possible, the funeral sound technician can assist the pastors and families in setting this up for use. 

< Funeral & Memorial Guidelines

Congregational and Pastoral Care >

Grief support groups and books are available if desired. Roswell Presbyterian Church will also occasionally offer Healing and Wholeness services throughout the year. RPC offers ongoing support and care as part of its continued ministry. 

To learn more contact Rev. Rev. Ryan Jensen at ryan@roswellpres.org
 or 770-649-4507

Stephen Ministers
Stephen Ministers are dedicated, trained church members who offer confidential, one-on-one support to those experiencing a time of crisis or need. The caring relationship is always male-to-male and female-to-female for those in need age 18 and older. Stephen Ministers are trained to listen and provide support, click here.

< Funeral & Memorial Guidelines

Memorial Garden >

Throughout our lives as Christians, the Church ministers to our needs. We are baptized in the church, nurtured by its teachings, and are fulfilled by service in its mission. At the end of our lives, we find comfort in knowing that the church provides interment and/or memorialization on consecrated church property. 

It is in the spirit of closing the circle of ministry from birth to death that Roswell Presbyterian Church has created a Memorial Garden in our cemetery. The Garden provides a well-maintained, consecrated site for the interment of ash remains and the memorialization of church members and their families. 

Application and Acceptance
Any member of Roswell Presbyterian Church may arrange interment of ash remains and a memorial nameplate by completing an application. Members of Roswell Presbyterian Church and their immediate families are eligible for interment. 

Upon payment of a $750 fee per family member, the member will receive an acceptance notification signed by an appropriate church representative. The church office will maintain the original application and acceptance. Such acceptance will be subject to the policies and regulations governing the Memorial Garden, which the Session may change or modify from time to time without notice. 

The purchase fee is non-refundable, but rights may be assigned to a family member or other qualified person by written designation. 

Memorial Plaques 
The name of each person memorialized in the Garden, including date of birth and death, is placed on an individually cast bronze nameplate. Nameplates of all those memorialized are affixed to a bronze plaque located inside the Garden. The cost of the nameplate is included in the purchase fee.  

These nameplates are the only markers used in the Garden. 

Interment
The ash remains will be interred within the Memorial Garden in the biodegradable containers in which the ashes are received.  

Specific plots are not purchased. The Memorial Garden Committee will assign space and design it on a plan of the Garden retained in the Church Office. The Committee will attempt to honor requests for interment in contiguous spaces. It is intended that the interment of remains in the Garden will be available in perpetuity. 

When the more than 700 available spaces have been used, remains will be reverently interred in previously used plots, in order of initial interment. 

Records and Documents
The church will maintain a record of the names of all those memorialized in the Garden. The church will keep a grid showing the locations of occupied or assigned spaces. This documentation is available for viewing upon request.

Administration of the Memorial Garden
The Garden will be administered by a committee appointed by the Building and Property Ministry. The Session will have final approval of any policy governing the Garden.