Trinity United Church is committed to offering faith celebrations that remember and honour those who have died and to providing spiritual support to those who are grieving. These pastoral services are an important part of Trinity’s ministry and they are freely available to all members of the community. There is no fee attached to the pastoral services provided by Trinity. An individual need not be a member of Trinity United Church, be affiliated with the United Church of Canada or have any other particular church connection for a funeral service (with the body present) or memorial service (for those who have been cremated) to be held at Trinity or officiated by a Trinity Minister.

Because Trinity understands a Christian funeral/memorial service as the natural extension and completion of a life of faith, we encourage individuals and families to hold these faith celebrations within the Sanctuary or Chapel of Trinity United Church. Trinity Ministers, however, will also consider requests to officiate at, or otherwise participate in, funeral and memorial services held in Funeral Home Chapels and other appropriate locations. If the deceased or his/her family would like other clergy (i.e. ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, etc.) to be invited to participate in a funeral or memorial service such requests should be discussed with the officiating Trinity Minster who can then extend an invitation to participate to the relevant clergy him/herself.

Music for funeral and memorial services held at Trinity, including requests for the participation of an organist, pianist and/or soloist, should be arranged in consultation with the Director of Music Ministries. Trinity’s Director of Music Ministries can be asked to play the organ or piano for funeral and memorial services held at Trinity for a fee of $125. The fee for a soloist’s participation in a funeral or memorial service is $75. Please note that Trinity’s Choir is not normally involved in funeral or memorial services. If there is a special relationship between the Choir and the deceased or between the Choir and the deceased’s family, however, the participation of the Choir may be requested through consultation with the Director of Music Ministries.

When a funeral/memorial service is held in a Funeral Home Chapel, the officiating Minister will help the family to select music and communicate with the Funeral Home’s organist/pianist on the family’s behalf.

Trinity’s Church Office will prepare a service bulletin for all funeral and memorial services officiated by a Trinity Minister, whether such services be held at Trinity or elsewhere. By request, the deceased’s obituary and/or curriculum vita can be included on the back page of the service bulletin.

When a funeral/memorial service is held at Trinity, the Custodian will post the name of the deceased on the sign board in front of the Church on the day of the funeral/memorial service along with directions to nearby public parking facilities. Directions for parking can also be provided to guests in advance of the funeral/memorial service by publishing them in the newspaper along with the deceased’s obituary.

If the funeral/memorial service is held at Trinity, members of Trinity’s congregation will also extend a ministry of welcoming to family and friends of the deceased by greeting guests, operating the elevator, distributing bulletins (if Funeral Home staff is not involved), and guiding family members from the Reception Room to the Sanctuary or Chapel for the start of the service.

During the funeral or memorial service, arrangements can be made to invite family and/or friends to offer Personal Remembrances of the deceased. Speakers are asked to focus on the deceased’s positive qualities and/or his/her contributions to family, church, community and society.

In celebration of the life of the deceased, family and/or friends may place flowers, a photo of the deceased, a candle, and/or the urn (in the case of a cremation) in the Sanctuary, Chapel, Front Access and/or Fellowship Hall of the Church, but not on the Communion Table. Following the service, some or all of the flowers (if used) may be left at the Church for future use and/or for delivery to persons living in nursing/retirement homes.

When the funeral/memorial service is held at Trinity, family and friends of the deceased are invited to share a time of fellowship following the service. During this time of fellowship, members of Trinity’s congregation are pleased to offer a ministry of service to family and friends of the deceased by preparing and/or serving a tea or luncheon. This service can be arranged through the Church Office with Trinity able to supply and serve coffee, tea, finger sandwiches and/or sweets. A catered lunch, arranged and paid for by the family, can also be served at Trinity if desired. We recommend that this time of fellowship follow immediately after the funeral/memorial service with the interment arranged for a later time.

A tax receipt will be issued for voluntary donations made to the Church.

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