Using Scarsdale Community Baptist Church

Christian faith directs us to a hope for a life in the presence of God that extends beyond what we experience now. Nevertheless, death is a jarring and disorienting experience for those who remain. Traditionally, Christians have gathered for worship following a death. This experience is a reflection of trust in God, a moment of commendation of the deceased person’s soul into God’s hands, and is a very important time of reflection, remembrance and solace for those who remain. Providing pastoral care as the grief process begins, helping to plan and arrange services and providing a place for funeral and memorial services is an important ministry of SCBC.

In recent years the distinction between funerals and  memorial services has become somewhat blurred. Broadly speaking, a funeral service is scheduled to take place soon after death, and usually the casket or cremated remains of the deceased is present in the church for the service. The immediacy of the recent death is very much the focus of a funeral service, and both the commendation of the departed’s soul into God’s hands and the consolation of those present is the uppermost theme. This service is usually followed immediately by a brief graveside service at the place of interment, or the immurement in a columbarium, whether at SCBC or elsewhere.

A memorial service often takes place sometime later and usually is conducted without the presence of the casket or cremated remains. A memorial service is often preceded at an earlier time by a brief graveside or immurement service.The focus of the memorial service is similar regarding the commendation of the soul of the deceased into God’s hands, but it often also includes a significant focus on the life, achievements, service, interests and personality of the person being memorialized.  Memorial services have gained in preference in recent years because of the difficulty many families experience in gathering members from long distances and because interment or immurement may take place in a location distant from the home or home church of the deceased, family or friends.

The church staff desires to be supportive and helpful to families and friends at such a difficult time. It is important that the church be contacted as soon as the preferred date, circumstances and style of service has been determined, or to provide guidance in making arrangements. If the deceased person has been part of the church life, the pastor will likely already have been involved during the time of final illness or accident. If not, he will desire contact with family and friends as soon as possible in order to receive and to provide guidance in planning the service and arranging for needs.

If the deceased will be immured in the Columbarium in SCBC, whether there will be a formal funeral or memorial service at the church or not, it is important to contact the church office to arrange for the selection of an immurement niche, or if one has previously been selected, to arrange for the time of immurement. If service and other arrangements are being handled by a funeral home or another church, they may be instructed to contact SCBC at 914-723-1734.

There are no sanctuary or chapel fees for church members (and their families),  or active, contributing participants.  A schedule of chapel, sanctuary or interment/immurement fees for those not presently affiliated with SCBC is available on request from the church office, and will depend on size, date and circumstances of the service. Fees for musicians, or certain other unusual needs will be discussed while planning the service. The Church’s Fellowship Hall is normally available on request for the gathering of family and friends preceding or following the planned service.