As Christians we are called to recognize the inevitability of death. But as a people of faith we also believe in the promise of an eternal life made possible by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For the faithful Christian, then, death brings only an end to our physical being. At death, we spiritually "cross over" or "pass on" to another phase or dimension of our relationship with God, joining God in his "heavenly" realm or kingdom. Jesus explained this well when he declared that "In my father's house, there are many rooms..." (John 14: 2-3). In his own letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul also eloquently described what lies ahead for us as a people loved and redeemed by God, declaring that death shall be "swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15:54-55) amid our new life with God.

When a family member or friend passes on, the funeral or memorial service is, at one and the same time, an occasion for mourning and celebration. In the company of family, friends, and congregational members, we acknowledge our own sense of loss as we say goodbye to the loved one who has died. Yet we also commend the person to God and offer God our thanks that death is not the end for those of us who live and die believing in Jesus Christ.

Venue: We have several rooms of various sizes to fit the needs of services big and small.

Officiant: Our pastors would be honored to officiate any type of service, whether it's hosted on our campus, at the gravesite, or anywhere in between.

Planning Support: Planning a memorial service is no small task. Should you need it, our pastors and staff will guide you through the planning process and walk along side you every step of the way.

Pastoral Counseling: You may not be ready to plan a service yet, and that's okay. Everyone grieves differently, and we want to meet you where you're at. Call our office at 360-574-1611 to get connected with a pastor today.

Note: while we can often provide a secondary venue space, we are unable to coordinate receptions at this time.

What's the difference between a Funeral, Memorial Service, and Celebration of Life?

End-of-life gatherings and ceremonies can go by many names.  Most commonly, an end-of-life ceremony will be called a “funeral,” a “memorial service,” or a “celebration of life.”  All of these terms refer to the ritual of gathering family and friends together after a loved one has died. The purpose of all three of these gathering types is to remember and honor the person who has passed away. All of these gathering types also allow the loved one’s community to come together to comfort and support each other.

While the terms all have slightly different meanings, the difference between these types of gatherings is not necessarily clear-cut. Many people use these terms interchangeably.

Funeral is most commonly associated with “traditional” end-of-life rituals, with a service that involves the burial of a casket in a cemetery and is typically held immediately following a loved ones passing. While not a requirement, funerals lend themselves to a more somber and reverent tone.

Memorial Service has historically been used to refer to an end-of-life gathering where the loved one’s body and casket are not present. Often, it is used to refer to a remembrance held for a loved one at any point after they have passed, not just immediately after their death. Tone-wise, Memorial Services are the most flexible type of service and can lean towards somber or celebratory depending on the family's lead.

Celebration of Life is the newest term used to refer to an end-of-life gathering. Many families use this term when they want to indicate to their guests that the gathering will have a different focus and tone than a traditional funeral. Some families may even encourage their guests to wear bright, colorful clothing to contribute to an upbeat tone instead of a somber tone.

Honorariums are suggested donations for those who have the means to thank the professionals assisting with the service.

Honorariums are never required as we believe fees should never get the way of honoring our loved ones.

Our current honorariums are as follows:

• Musicians... $100 - $150
• Pastor... $150 - $200
• Sound Technician... $150
• Video/Slideshow Technician... $150