Funerals and Memorials at Knox
Dear Friend,
We want you to know that your brothers and sisters at the church grieve with you and pray that you will feel a special comfort in our Lord during this season. Many of us here have experienced loss and know that it can be “hard to think” or “keep things straight” at this time. We hope that by spelling out the following information regarding the service, it will be a help to you. If you have any questions, please do contact us at the Knox Office at (734) 761-5669 or knox@knoxannarbor.org.
May the Lord bless you and keep you this day,
The Knox Staff
The Worship Service
The Funeral or Memorial Service honoring your loved one is a privilege for our pastors to lead. They will do their utmost to ensure this service blesses your family and guests by keeping it God centered. Our pastors are very experienced. Be assured they will guide the worship service to be both a loving remembrance of the one you have lost and a witness to the hope and assurance of the Gospel.
The Liturgy
The officiating pastor will work with you and your family on the Order of Worship for the service, including readings, hymn/song selections, etc. We will print the Order of Worship for you at the Knox Office. Please anticipate an honorarium for the Pastor. A schedule for all honoraria is included in the following section.
Musicians
Knox has both a digital organ and a grand piano in the Worship Center. If you do not have a pianist / organist in mind, please let us know and we will contact one for you. Similarly, if you need assistance finding other types of musicians, (e.g. vocals, guitar, flute, trumpet etc.) please let us know. Do anticipate giving an honorarium to all musicians supplied by Knox.
Technicians
Due to the complexity of our sound system, a trained Knox Sound Technician will be necessary at the service. If your family would like to provide a video montage, we are able to play DVD’s and project them onto the large screens in the Worship Center. You will be provided with a CD recording of the service. Please anticipate giving an honorarium to the Sound Technician.
Other Logistics
Office Contacts
Either Verna Hinman, Office Manager or Mary Lee Fuchs, Pastoral Assistant will work with you prior to the service on any logistical matters, such as the number of guests to expect, food and beverage preferences, receiving flowers, assigning a sound technician, etc.
You may contact Verna at (734) 761-5669 x. 204 or knox@knoxannarbor.org; Mary Lee may be contacted at (734) 761-5669 x.212 or mfuchs@knoxannarbor.org.
Visitation
At times, rather than having a viewing / visitation at the Funeral Home, families prefer to have it at the church on the night preceding the service and / or on the morning of the service. If that is something you are considering, please let Verna or Mary Lee know and we will work with you on scheduling the appropriate room(s) for your use.
The Day of the Service
A coordinator will be available. They will arrive early to unlock the doors, and be on-hand till the service starts to ensure that you have everything you need (e.g. getting the flowers in the right place, finding a spare display table, setting up a video unit in the Atrium if you wish to play a DVD, etc.).
Following the Service
Should you desire to have light refreshments following the service, Knox would like to bless you, your family and guests by assisting you with this. Following is a sample of what we are able to provide. If a “sit down” meal is desired here at the church or if you are anticipating a large number of guests, please let Verna or Mary Lee know. One of them will be happy to give you a list of caterers we have worked with previously. Payments to caterers are the responsibility of the family. All food served must be catered or prepared elsewhere. A coordinator from Knox will be on hand to see that the refreshment time goes smoothly.
Sample of refreshments provided by Knox:
Coffee / tea / water / lemonade
Pin wheel sandwiches
Fruit / vegetable trays
Cheese & cracker trays
Cookies / brownies
Working with a Funeral Home
We are happy to work with whatever Funeral Home you select. As you have probably found, some are more “full service” and will have a more significant presence the day of the Funeral / Memorial (e.g. having staff on hand to welcome your guests, video recording the service, bringing memorial items and helping set them up, producing a video montage, etc.) Please feel free to pass along the “Office Contacts” information to your Funeral Home representative so that they may contact us with any needs.
Honorarium
Please note, checks should be made payable to the individual providing the service. Verna or Mary Lee will provide you with those names. Checks may be given to Verna or Mary Lee at any time prior to the service or to the Coordinator on the day of the service.
There is no charge to those within the Knox family for use of the building. If you wish to make a love gift to the church, we are glad to receive it, but please know that it is not obligatory.