The service on the occasion of death is both a thanksgiving to God for the life of the deceased and a witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, in whom we too can have life eternal. It is both a public expression of our faith in Christ and an illustration of our solidarity as a Christian community. All services conducted by Pastor of the church are services of worship for the community of faith. While the form of services may differ, each is a Service of Witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, celebrating the victory over death made manifest by God’s act of raising Jesus from the dead. The PCUSA Book of Order states:
The resurrection is a central doctrine of the Christian faith and shapes Christians’ attitudes and responses to the event of death. Death brings loss, sorrow, and grief to all. In the face of death Christians affirm with tears and joy the hope of the gospel. Christians do not bear bereavement in isolation but are sustained by the power of the Spirit and the community of faith. The church offers a ministry of love and hope to all who grieve. (W-4.10001)
The Service of Witness to the Resurrection Policy and Guidelines