GUIDELINES for FUNERAL/MEMORIAL SERVICES AT VICTORY
It is rare that we have a funeral service at the church. However, when we do, please follow these
guidelines in addition to the normal procedures for funerals…
All staff members are to “drop everything” and do whatever is needed to minister to the bereaved family,
making every attempt to attend a viewing or the funeral service and help if needed. During service, avoid
congregating together with your friends/fellow volunteers. Focus on the family and guests.
 ADMINS:
1) SCHDULE DATES IN RESOURCE CALENDAR - Input information into Resource Calendar as soon as
you have date and time in order to secure rooms.
2) INFORM STAFF MEMBERS - Security, Music, Café, Creative Director, Media/Sound, Ushers, Traffic
Team, Housekeeping, and Maintenance.
3) CONTACT FUNERAL HOME
 Obtain all family records of deceased (funeral home website obituary or an online newspaper
obituary) Find out name and best phone number of funeral director the pastor should contact
(email this to pastor).
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If casket is to be brought in, instruct funeral director to enter and exit through New North
Entrance and into the sanctuary. Notify pastor, security, and ushers if this is the case.
4) DISCUSS DETAILS WITH FAMILY
 Will they want a PowerPoint presentation? (They create or our Media Dept. creates with photos
they provide) to be shown prior to service on all screens or at some point during the service
(work with Media Dept. on details.)
 Will they need an easel(s) for a picture board? (Easels are kept under Mezzanine A.)
 They must discuss music with Music Director
 They must discuss details of Service Order with pastor (favorite scriptures of deceased, etc.)
 Find out how many immediate family members they will want to have seated in the front row(s)
with them.
5) CREATE PROGRAM - We keep a variety of funeral bulletin shells on hand for these occasions. Once
all information about deceased and family has been obtained (from funeral home or online newspaper
obituary) and order of service has been determined (usually submitted to you from the officiating
pastor) then create the funeral program. Note: Some info. will be decided after Music Director and
Creative Director have been involved to help determine music and PowerPoint needs. Make sure you
get a copy of the finished program to officiating Pastor, Creative Director, Media and Sound
Technicians, Music Director, and Min. of Helps Director
6) FLOWERS - Flowers are to be sent to the funeral home if they are doing the viewing. They will then
bring them to us on the day of service here. When flowers arrive, the cards must be opened so that the
donor of the flowers may be clearly seen by the family as they look at them. Flowers are to be arranged
around the edge of the platform symmetrically. When we are holding the viewing here, make sure
florists know times that the church will be open for deliveries to be received.
7) If refreshments are required for a funeral/memorial service at Victory, we will help serve if they
so desire. (Refreshments are not provided by Victory. Sometimes families request that they be
allowed to have refreshments and they provide the cookies, catered items, etc.) If we are allowing
Congregational Care/Funerals/Funeral Service at VFC 3.19.14
the family to provide refreshments, a volunteer will be needed to watch and refill cookie trays and help
with clean up ongoing. If special provision for a meal is made, make arrangements with Food Admin.
DAY OF THE FUNERAL SET UP
ADMINS:
 Set up large clear podium by entrance to sanctuary for guests to sign in, along with a bowl of mints. May
also setup a small 4 ft. table with gold skirt for flowers and programs to be displayed.
 May need easels for the family to display photo boards. Nice easels are stored underneath Mezzanine A in
the closet.
 If refreshments are being served, have tables covered and skirted in foyer area of cafe. Put out large
flowers from info. centers on center of tables for cookie display. Remember to put out tongs for serving.
 Following the funeral, make sure the sanctuary is cleared of programs, easel, etc.
MAINTENANCE/HOUSEKEEPING:
 Make sure the Healing Room is setup with enough seating for family to have private area prior to service.
Also, provide an extra supply of tissues, waters, and mints and order coffee service from Café Manager.
SECURITY:
Open the building 1 – 1 1/2 hours prior to time of family’s arrival.
MINISTRY OF HELPS All of the following teams must be at their post before the first guest arrives:
 Volunteers/staff are needed: at front doors to open doors for family and guests; at the front & back doors
to sanctuary; posted at the corner to direct toward bathrooms, etc. and to pass out the funeral bulletins at
the sanctuary doors.
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USHERS
Need to seat people and dismiss people (like at a wedding).
Provide bottled water underneath the chairs of the family members and our pastors.
The two middle sections of the sanctuary to seat the family and friends and try to split the seating of the
guests evenly between the two.
 Take the family members immediately before the funeral service to the Healing Room in order to identify
the immediate family for ushering to the front rows, and to allow the family a little private time prior to the
service.
 PRODUCTION TEAM
 Sound technician is needed, may need to operate power point slide as well. Have music playing in foyer.
 Musicians & vocalists may be needed (may be provided by the family).
 CAFÉ MANAGER
 Set up includes: bottled water, coffee service (one small pot on warmer) in Healing Room.
FOLLOWING THE FUNERAL
Following the funeral, make sure the sanctuary is cleared of programs, easel, etc
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