Pre-Planning a Funeral Service
St. John’s Anglican Church
2878 St. John’s Drive
Jordan, Ontario L0R 1S0
Rector: Father Kevin Block 905-562-7238
Name:
_____________________________ Phone Number: _________________
Address:
______________________________________________________________
Church Affiliation:
_____________________________
Executor of the Will: _____________________________ Phone Number: _________________
Other Kin:
_____________________________ Relationship: _________________
_____________________________
_________________
_____________________________
_________________
_____________________________
_________________
Funeral Home:
_____________________________ Director:
_________________
Visitation:
Yes: ___ No: ___
Burial: _____ or Cremation: _____
Burial / Interment of Ashes Location: _____________________________
Place of Funeral: St. John’s Church _____ or Funeral Chapel _____
Please note that I do not accept honorariums for conducting funerals, but St. John’s Anglican Church and
other charities of your choice will gratefully receive memorial gifts.
Charities you designate for memorial gifts: _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Church fees: $100 for the services of the parish organist (please make the cheque payable to the organist)
$80 to the Altar Guild (please make the cheque payable to “The St. John’s Altar Guild”).
If you wish to have a reception in the parish hall, the family should notify the priest as soon as possible.
The St. John’s Evening Guild may be available to prepare tea and coffee and to set up the Hearth Room.
You may wish to provide your own food or it can be ordered and charged to you. Please make a cheque
of $100 to “The St. John’s Evening Guild” for hosting the reception. The Evening Guild uses this money
to purchase supplies and to support various projects in the parish.
Information Regarding the Funeral Service
The liturgy for Anglican funerals begins on page 576 of The Book of Alternative Services. Please also
see helpful background information on pages 565 to 570. While the order and much of the content is
provided by this prayer book, there are still some choices you can make about the liturgy, if you wish, but
you can also leave the service entirely up to the priest in charge.
With a Eulogy _____ or without a Eulogy _____ (please see note below regarding eulogies)
Name of person reading the Eulogy if desired: ___________________
With Holy Communion (page 576) _____ or without Holy Communion (page 589) _____
Please note that while it is most appropriate to have Holy Communion when funerals are held at St.
John’s Church, it tends to be awkward in funeral chapels due to the lack of an altar.
Three scripture readings may be chosen: Lesson:
_________________________________
Psalm:
_________________________________
Gospel:
_________________________________
Scripture passages suitable for funerals are listed in the Book of Alternative Services on page 604,
but you can choose other passages as well.
A friend or family member may read the Lesson:
__________________________________
A friend or family member may read the Psalm:
__________________________________
A family member or friend may lead the Prayers of the People: ______________________________
Two or three hymns may be chosen:
1. ________________________________
2. ________________________________
3. ________________________________
Place of Funeral Reception: __________________________________
Regarding Eulogies
Eulogies have not been a traditional part of the Anglican liturgy, so please do not feel obligated to
prepare one. Increasingly, however, families want a eulogy in the funeral service, and in this regard the
wishes of the executor of the will (who should reflect the wishes of the whole family) will be followed.
If a eulogy is desired, please consider the following:
1. The whole family should meet to compose the eulogy together. This is a good time to share
memories and express feelings. If possible, close friends could also be included in this meeting.
Choose someone to take notes and write the eulogy.
2. The eulogy should:
a. State the important facts about the deceased;
b. Describe the character and faith of the deceased;
c. Represent the feelings of the entire circle of family and friends.
3. The eulogy should avoid:
a. References to any “special relationships” (especially with respect to the one writing or
reading the eulogy) other than a spousal relationship. Such references are sure to arouse
resentment and jealousy in other family members and friends.
b. Humour. Please do not jeopardize the dignity of the occasion with humour which might
seem appropriate to you, but not to others.
c. Startling revelations about the deceased.
4. The final draft of the eulogy should be brief (less than 400 words).
5. The executor of the will chooses the person to read the eulogy, or Fr. Kevin will be glad to read it
if that is preferred.
6. Please tell your family and friends that last minute requests to “say a few words” about the deceased
will not be permitted at the funeral. This rule is for the family’s protection and to preserve the
integrity of the authorized liturgy.