Funerals at St. Paul’s are celebrations both of the life of the person who has died and of the eternal life that awaits us all through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We at St. Paul’s welcome the opportunity to walk side-by-side with you during this time of grieving and hope.
Funerals at St Paul’s
If you wish to have a funeral service at St. Paul’s simply call the church office at (302) 368-0064. Your information will be immediately passed along to a pastor.
The following guidelines should prove helpful in your planning:
- Funerals in the church can only be scheduled by a pastor.
- The church facilities are usually available to host a “visitation” at some time before the service.
- The pastors are pleased to provide follow-up counseling and to provide referrals to grief support groups.
- St. Paul’s is happy to provide a funeral luncheon through the Funeral Reception Ministry (see below).
- Eulogies work best in the context of a funeral reception/luncheon, when people are relaxed. If you really wish to place a eulogy within the funeral service itself, you must do so in consultation with a pastor.
- The pastors are available to work with you should you wish to pre-plan a funeral service for yourself or your loved one.
Funeral Reception Ministry
St. Paul’s offers a variety of options for funeral receptions. We offer light refreshments during a viewing at the church or following the funeral, or a luncheon following the funeral/interment. Our objective is to be there for the family and, to the extent possible, honor their wishes.
Fees assessed funeral receptions are based on the size and type of reception:
- Smaller receptions (finger foods/desserts for less than 100 people) will cost $50 to cover beverages and paper products.
- For luncheons with an expectation of 100 – 150 people, the cost may be up to $350 to cover costs of meats/bread/beverages/paper products. (The exact cost depends on the food selected.) Members of the congregation will be invited to contribute side dishes and desserts.
Under special circumstances, the fee may be lowered or waived. The situation must be discussed with the pastor at the time a reception is requested. If a family wants a luncheon but is unable to pay, members of the congregation may be invited to help. In some cases, “pot luck” luncheons may be provided.
The Funeral Reception Ministry requests that payment for the reception be made on the day of the funeral or before the funeral. Checks are to be made to “St Paul’s Lutheran Church” and clearly designated “for Funeral Reception.”
