Member Care

Meet Our Ministerial Staff

Funeral Arrangements

Planning a Funeral Service for a Loved One

A funeral is a sacred occasion. However, the death of a loved one is often the most painful and challenging that anyone can go through. Mount Airy Baptist Church (MABC) ministerial and lay staff wants to minister to your family and friends during these difficult days. The following information has been prepared to assist in the planning of a service that will honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as well as the person whose life is being celebrated. This information is our way of helping you know what Mount Airy can do to assist you during this time. We will provide comfort, direction and support from the initial death notification through the funeral service and after care if needed.


Our prayer is that the information below will stimulate your thinking and assist you in preparing for your loved one’s home-going celebration service. The death of a loved can leave the survivors, lost and alone, or just unsure of ….
  •  Who to contact
  •  What to do and how
  •  How to make the funeral arrangements
  •  What to do after the funeral

Click here to download our printable document  

WHO TO CONTACT:

Family member(s) and/or friend(s)
Inform family members and friends regarding the death of your loved one.

Funeral Home Contact a funeral home of your choice.
If you do not have a funeral home in mind, you can find one in your area on http://www.funeralnet.com/ .

Call Mount Airy Baptist Church office
Call the church Clerk at 202.789.0640, Monday – Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. After 5:30 p.m. and on weekends follow the instructions on the church’s voice mail to leave a general message by pressing “0” or staying on the line).

Online

Go to the Member Care menu  http://www.mountairybaptist.org and complete the Death Notification form. Provide the following information when reporting a death:

  • Full name of the deceased
  • Date of death
  • Name, address and phone number of the funeral home
  • Interments (burial site)
  • Name(s) of Mount Airy Baptist Church member(s) related to the deceased and their relationship to the deceased.
WHAT TO DO

Complete the “Obituary/Life Story” form for your loved one..
Schedule an appointment with the funeral home director. Ask a close family member or friend to go with you to the funeral home. It will be helpful to take the following information with you when visit the funeral home:

  • Date, time and location the family is requesting for the viewing/wake and funeral service
  • Home-going service request (if available). Information regarding the deceased’s wishes for their funeral service
  • Insurance policy(s)
  • Full name of your loved one (no nicknames)
  • Date and place of birth
  • Parents’ name, living or deceased
  • Social security card/number
  • List of family members (i.e. spouse, children, brothers, sisters, uncle, aunts)
  • Church Membership name (if applicable)
  • Proof of military service
  • Memorial funds - donations (In lieu of flowers) - name and address of organizations or charities to which donations are to be made
  • Pallbearers - list of people who might be available to serve as pallbearers

Make a list of family and friends to be notified of the death of your loved one. Ask a relative or friend to assist with the following:

  • Making telephone calls
  • Answering the telephone or door (keeping a record of calls and visitors)
  • Child care arrangements (if needed)
  • Coordinating the supply of food and the preparation of meals in the home
  • Attending to household chores

FUNERAL SERVICES AT MOUNT AIRY BAPTIST CHURCH

Funeral services are designed to meet the needs of the family and every attempt is made to accommodate the family’s requests. The Senior Pastor or Assistant to the Pastor will meet or speak with the family to review the following:

Funeral date – Is the funeral date agreeable to the church, family and the funeral home?
Eulogist – The family’s request is considered, however the Senior Pastor has final approval.
Order of service - Please review and/or complete the items below prior to speaking with the minister:
Opening Hymn
Favorite Scriptures (Old and New Testament)
Soloist  
Soloist Request
Favorite Songs
Acknowledgements and Reading of Obituary – Person to read
Remarks – No more than three (3) people, 2 minutes each. (ex. family, friend, worker, etc)
Location of funeral service –
Chapel (Less than 120 in attendance)
Sanctuary (More than 120 in attendance)
Burial/Cemetery – Name and address of cemetery
Family Requests/Needs
MABC minister, special guests/speakers
Easel for pictures
Special sound request - Playing of CD or DVD
Ceremonies – such as Sororities/Fraternities, Masonic, Eastern Star, etc.
Reserved parking
Reserved seating at the funeral (sororities, fraternity, ministries, church, etc.)

Church Support:
Church Clerk
Ministers
Deacons – The deacons will speak with the family regarding the repast and family needs.
Serving ministries - (ushers, hospitality, nurses, musicians, soloist and sound technician).
Repast (Meal)
The Culinary Ministry will organize the repast/meal at the cost of the family member.
Mount Airy Financial Assistance
Financial Assistant (Benevolence) - If the bereaved family needs assistance, a reasonable request will be given every consideration  

The bereaved family can obtain the Benevolence Fund Request Form for the church office which will be completed and submitted to the Deacon Ministry for review.

The Bereaved Family is responsible for the following items below.

Church Funeral Support Fees – The policy of Mount Airy Baptist Church is never to charge families for the use of the church for funerals. However, the family is expected to cover the church’s related funeral expenses. Support fees will be discussed during the initial funeral planning and incurred based on the family’s funeral services need. The following are the funeral support fees:
Eulogist/minister – $150 (recommended)
Musician – $100
Soloist – $50
Custodian – $150
Sound – $0 (If the funeral is in the sanctuary)
Funeral Programs – Completed by the funeral home or the family.

Repast/Meal– The family is responsible for the cost if the deceased is a non-member or is not an immediate family member of a MABC member. The following applies:
The cost of food will be on a per person basis.
All food items must be prepared in the church’s kitchen by the Culinary Ministry. This in compliance with the church insurance specifications.  Food prepared outside will NOT be allowed at the repast.  If an exception is to be granted, it must be reviewed and granted by the Trustee Ministry.

Funeral Services NOT at MABC - For members
Every attempt is made to accommodate the family’s request for support when a member or immediate family member’s funeral is held at another location.  

Funeral Service for Non-Members at MABC
MABC will consider the usage of the church facility based on availability and upon Senior Pastor’s approval.

AFTER CARE (AFTER THE FUNERAL)

After the funeral services are over, a bereaved member may benefit from participating in some or all the support services below:

Celebration of Life – A memorial service designed to celebrate the life of the deceased, while supporting surviving family members.
After Care/Bereavement – The Senior Pastor will provide or assign a minister for counseling, prayer and support to surviving family members.
The Senior Pastor will refer the member to professional counseling, if appropriate. The member contacts the counselor and schedules their own appointment.
Pastoral Care and Counseling Center – Phyllis J. Mayo, Ph.D.
Ministerial Support – Call the church office
Prayer Requests – Call the church office at 202.789.0640 or log onto the church’s web at http://www.mountairybaptist.org and complete the prayer request form.
E-mail the MABC at churchsec@mounairybaptist.org .