Memorial Services

In life and in death, we belong to God. – A Brief Statement of Faith, PC(USA)

A Christian funeral is a service of worship held on the occasion of a person’s death. In this service we give thanks and praise to God for the gift of life, seek God’s help in time of need, witness to the hope of the gospel anchored in the resurrection of Christ, remember the life of the deceased, and offer support and comfort to the grieving.

If the body or cremated remains of the deceased are present, the service is called a funeral. If neither the body nor the ashes are present, it is referred to as a memorial service.

Because the emotional stress of death makes planning difficult, members are encouraged to discuss and plan in advance for arrangements that are necessary at the time of death. These plans should be simple and meaningful, provide spiritual comfort and bear witness to our resurrection hope. The Information Form for Planning a Memorial and Funeral Service is available from the church office. A copy may be kept with one’s will as well as filing one with the church office for future reference. The forms kept at the church are confidential.

So that all New Providence members and their families may be aware of current church policies and guided in their planning, we also provide a brochure entitled Funeral and Memorial Guidelines.