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Memorial services at First Unitarian
A Unitarian Universalist memorial service celebrates the life of the person who has died, and is an opportunity for that person's family a friends to mourn their loss. The center of a Unitarian Universalist memorial service is the remembrance of the person who has died, a reflection written by the minister after talking with the family of the deceased person. Below you'll find an outline for a typical memorial service, as conducted by First Unitarian's minister, Rev. Dan Harper. Rev. Harper writes all memorial services in consultation with the family of the deceased.
There is no charge for the minister or for building use when the deceased was an active member of First Unitarian immediately prior to dying (fees for the music director and the sexton do apply). Our music director may approve other musicians at his discretion. For those who are not active members at the time of death, there will be fees for the minister's services and for building use. Please call the church office at 508-994-9686 for more information.
Typical memorial service
Prelude
Ingathering words
Hymn
Possible hymns from our hymnal, Singing the Living Tradition, include: #101 "Abide with me," #336 "All my memories of love," #27 "I am that great and fiery force," #96 "I cannot think of them as dead," #412 "Let hope and sorrow now unite," #411 "Part in peace."
Also useful, from the hymnal How Can I Keep from Singing, is"Turn, Turn, Turn" by Pete Seeger.
Readings
For more traditional services, one reading could be the 23rd Psalm.
Contemporary services may draw on a wide range of readings by humanist, pagan, and/or Christian authors.
Prayer
For more traditional services, this may end with the Lord’s Prayer.
In more contemporary services, a time of meditation may be substituted for the prayer.
Musical interlude
Music provided by our music director, Randy Fayan.
Reflection by the minister
The story of the deceased's life. The minister will write this reflection based on conversations with family members. The conversations with the minister take place at least a couple of days prior to the memorial service.
Remembrances by family members
These may be previously written remembrances read by one to three family members. Or the minister may ask those present if they would like to share memories. Or this section may be omitted entirely.
Closing hymn
[Optional.]
Benediction
Postlude