Page 14 - Berg_Mortuary_Bishops_Guide

14 BISHOP’S GUIDE

CONDUCTING FUNERAL SERVICES

“With the recent changes in the meetinghouse custodial program, priesthood leaders are now
responsible for preparing chapels for funeral. It is important to have the meetinghouse open
and available to funeral directors well in advance (one hour) of the scheduled time for viewings
and funerals. The facilities need to be clean and brought to appropriate temperature and light
levels. Sound systems should be activated and tested. Overflow meetinghouse may be a source

of comfort and consolation to surviving family member.”----Bulletin, 1991-92

EXAMPLE

If the service was to begin at 11:00 am, the following schedule would be an appropriate formal

to follow.
10:20 am: Arrive and coordinate the service format with the funeral director. Things to be
considered are: when to begin the family prayer, proper name pronunciation, have the service
participants arrived, is the building ready for the service.

10:45 am: Be in the viewing/visitation area prepared to begin the family prayer. Often a large
viewing line occurs, thus is becomes necessary to ask all those who are not family members to
withdraw to the chapel. The funeral directors can assist in dispersing the line.
10:48am: Position yourself at the head end of the casket and ask the family to take a seat in
preparation for the family prayer. It is essential to have the family prayer at this time in order to

start the service as scheduled.
Invite the person giving the family prayer to come to the casket.
Following the prayer, the family is invited to step to the casket a final time prior to its
closing. This invitation can be done either by you or the funeral director. As he family steps

to the casket, it is appropriate for you to withdraw from the viewing room to the chapel in
preparation for the procession into the chapel. Usually, The order of the procession into the
chapel is the casket, then the family. However, there are times when the pallbearers will precede
the casket into the chapel.
11:00 am: As the casket enters the chapel, the congregation should be invited to stand. The

funeral directors will assist the family to the reserved seats at the front of the chapel. Occasion-
ally, the distance between the podium and the front row necessitates seating the family on the
second row. The seating should be accomplished by the announced start time of the service.
After the family is seated, the congregation should be welcomed and appreciation expresses
for their attendance. The opening prayer is then announced. The service format can be an-