Pastoral Services in Times of Loss
It goes without saying that one of the greatest hardships of life is to face the loss of a loved one. It is a time when there are many emotions pulling at you from all directions. For many families it is a time of stress and chaos, lives are turned upside down and everything normal seems to unravel. Others, experience a sense of peace and struggle with mixed emotions of guilt and sadness. The truth is that we all deal with grief in a different way. The importance is that however you choose to deal with loss you are not alone. St Timothy’s offers the following to assist persons and families as they confront the death of a loved one.

Pastoral care of the Sick and Dying
Prior to death the church offers pastoral counseling. When informed that your loved one is in the hospital or ill the priest will come to the hospital or your home for a visit to offer prayer, comfort and assistance. The priest may offer to anoint your loved one with holy oils seeking healing in the sacrament of the sick or in the case of pending death.

Grief Counseling and Service Preparation
As soon as death occurs it is important that you contact the priest immediately so that he can render pastoral care to you and your family. At this time he may offer you grief counseling and or connect you with other resources as you plan a funeral or memorial service. The priest will work closely with you as a family to accommodate your needs as well as keeping the service to reflect the traditions of the Episcopal church. Families may wish to have a funeral service or memorial service with or without the body or “ cremains” present.

Funeral or Memorial Arrangements
St. Timothy’s works locally with Witzler Shank funeral home to provide services. At this time you would contact the priest and he will meet with you to coordinate the church service. After setting a time and date for the service, the priest will work closely with the family of the deceased to create a personal and fitting memorial or funeral, tailored to best remember the deceased, while still maintaining Episcopal dignity and order of worship. Services range from traditional and formal to less conventional and informal as suits the family's remembrances of their loved one. In the Episcopal Church, the coffin is always closed before the service and, while in the church, is covered with a pall or a national flag. A funeral coordinator from St Tim’s will also be on hand to assure everyone is welcomed and accommodated during the service. Please consider us : Our ability to serve the community in this way requires the generosity of many people. We ask that when preparing the obituary for your loved one that you include St Timothy’s Episcopal Church as a recipient for memorial donations.

Memorial Garden