Bereavement Response
If anyone in our church hears about a death in our church family, they will notify Michelle Bowen.
Michelle takes the following steps to ensure everything is covered:
- Notifies Intercessors, Staff, Small Group & Team Life Team.
- Catalogs name/date/photo & ensures contact from a pastor who will call and/or visit the family & confirms pastoral presence at funeral. The pastor will then meet with the family to fill out a Bereavement Planning Form1 to ensure all bases are covered.
- If the family requests Heritage to host the funeral, Michelle notifies a pastor when they are requested for the service. That pastor will then meet with the family to help prepare the service.
- Notify the staff to ensure the service's needs are met.
- Set up the room or rooms needed.
- Contact and work with Lance to ensure any materials such as picture slideshows are created.
Other roles taken on by staff or volunteers:
- Intercessors, Staff, Small Groups, and Team Life Teams will pray for and minister to the family as well as notifying Emily of any additional Ministry needs.
- If needed, Emily will ensure MOM's, the Altar Fund, etc. helps meet needs.
- Carrie reserves any rooms needed and schedules a cleaning crew while updating CCB2.
- Brian confirms greeters and ushers.
- Mark works with technicians, speakers, singers, and the funeral home to direct the service. This may require a rehearsal.
Notes
1 Covers pricing, room reservations, décor, technical requirements, funeral home involvement, & extras (program, video, refreshments, etc.)
2 Update the deceased individual’s CCB record (remove from groups, teams, and future mailings)
2 Update the deceased individual’s CCB record (remove from groups, teams, and future mailings)