funeral and
Memorial services
Please contact the Funeral Coordinator, Merna Abernathy, at 402.330.3360.
The death of a loved one is a difficult experience.
The death of a loved one is a difficult experience. At Christ Community Church (CCC), our desire is to minister to friends and families in their time of loss. CCC conducts funeral services for active attenders and their immediate family members. Ministerial staff will review service requests for others who do not actively attend CCC.
These guidelines will help families plan a Christ-centered service to honor the precious life and memories of the deceased.
Types of Services
Visitation
Families sometimes plan a visitation that allows family and friends an opportunity to gather and say goodbye to a loved one prior to the funeral or burial service. The chance to offer and receive support and sympathy is an important part of the grieving process.
Funeral or Memorial Services
CCC schedules funeral or memorial services in the Chapel. The funeral coordinator will work with the family to create a service experience that reflects the individuality of the deceased.
Graveside Service
Graveside or committal services are at the cemetery and can be public or private. Graveside services allow family and friends to be together as their loved one is laid to rest.
Immediate Burial
Immediate burial means that the remains of the deceased are buried or entombed without a public service or gathering.
Guidelines
Please contact CCC at 402.330.3360 to inquire about funeral or memorial services. A funeral coordinator will answer questions, schedule a family meeting, and assist in service planning.
Planning
The funeral coordinator will be the primary contact at CCC and will guide the family through the planning process. The coordinator will assist with choosing an officiant and working out service and schedule details.
Funeral services are in the Chapel. The funeral coordinator schedules dates and times for services based on family preferences and availability of the chapel and staff. CCC strives to prioritize funeral services, but previously scheduled events may limit availability of desired service times.
CCC encourages special requests and personal touches within the service and will make every effort to accommodate family wishes. The family may suggest features and themes, or provide displays, photos, and other remembrances for the service. Tables, guest book podiums, and easels are available as needed.
If a meal or reception is desired, the funeral coordinator will notify food services and determine if a meal is possible on the service date. Factors that influence meal availability include the number of anticipated guests, service times, and previously scheduled events. Please see the Food Services section for more information.
Coordinating and confirming the final service date and time may take 48 hours. To avoid miscommunication, service date and times are not final unless confirmed by the funeral coordinator. CCC advises that family and friends should not make travel plans until the final service date and time is confirmed and communicated.
Officiating the Service
CCC believes a funeral service is both a celebration of the deceased’s life and a worship service celebrating the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Consequently, funeral services must be consistent with CCC’s Christian beliefs and worship practices.
If requested, CCC staff will officiate the service. The family may request that a minister not on staff at CCC officiate funeral services, provided their message is consistent with CCC’s beliefs and worship practices.
Funeral Home Coordination
The funeral coordinator will work with the funeral home for family needs not provided by CCC.
Guest books are provided by the funeral home or purchased by the family at a local card store. If requested by the family, the funeral home also provides programs, memorial envelopes, picture videos, live streaming, flower stands, etc.
The family should arrange staff from the funeral home for greeting at the service, for assistance with the casket or urn, and the transfer of flowers and other items from the funeral home to CCC or the cemetery.
Technical Support
Services at CCC require a technical arts team member to manage the audio/visual elements of the service. The funeral coordinator will work with the family to determine audio/visual needs and will coordinate with the technical arts team to program audio/visual resources.
The family must submit video presentations to the funeral coordinator no later than 48 hours prior to the service. All presentations should be on a USB flash drive in .mov format. The video must be in completed form, including desired audio. CCC cannot edit personal video content.
The funeral coordinator will discuss the use of prerecorded music, soloists, or guest musicians with the family during the family meeting. If the family would like live music or vocalists, the funeral coordinator can assist with securing musicians if they are available.
Childcare
CCC does not provide nursery space or childcare for services.
Fees and Honorariums
CCC does not charge a facility usage fee for funeral services. However, it is customary for the family to offer an honorarium to the officiant and others supporting the service. Families pay for meals and any other non-facility related expenses. Please see the Meal Options section for meal costs.
Honorariums are given directly to individuals, not to CCC. The funeral coordinator will assist in this process.
Recommended honorariums:
Officiant: $100–200
Live musician or vocalist: $75–125
Audio/Visual technician: $75–150
(per service)
After The Service
The staff at CCC will take care of clean up after the service and meal. The family should be prepared to take flowers, leftover food, displays, pictures, and other personal items with them as they leave, or arrange for pickup of these items from CCC on the same day as the service.
Food Services
If the family would like to have a meal with the service, the funeral coordinator will discuss the meal request with food services. CCC offers food services Monday through Thursday. Please note that previous ministry commitments may make food services unavailable at the requested service times.
The family may also arrange to serve a meal prepared and delivered by an approved outside caterer. If outside catering is desired, the family will coordinate with the caterer directly. CCC has verified several local caterers that regularly pass Douglas County health inspections and can support a full catering experience. Please see the list of approved caterers in the Meal Options section.
CCC does not provide catering supplies, servers, or kitchen usage for outside caterers.
Due to health code restrictions, CCC does not allow potluck-style meal preparation.
Funeral Meal options
All funeral meals include condiments and plateware, coffee and water service, and assorted cookies. The guest count must be determined at least 48 business hours prior to the day of the service.
CCC will provide an invoice for the meal, with payment preferrably the day of service. Fourteen day terms can be arranged if needed.
Chicken Tetrazzini | $6 per person
Diced chicken, vegetables, and noodles tossed in a hearty cream sauce, topped with melted cheddar. Served with salad and warm dinner rolls.
Baked Ziti | $6 per person
Rustic Bolognese sauce tossed with ziti pasta and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Served with salad and garlic toast.
Beef Goulash | $6 per person
Seasoned ground beef and macaroni pasta with diced onions, carrots, celery and bell peppers in a rich tomato sauce. Served with salad and warm dinner rolls.
Coffee & Cookie Service | $2.50 per person
The family may request regular and decaf coffee, water, and assorted cookies for attenders after the service.
Coffee Service | $1.50 per person
CCC will provide coffee and bottled water at no cost in the family room.
The family may request regular coffee, decaf coffee, and bottled water for attenders
Approved caterers
Any recognized fast-food company such as Jimmy John’s, Panera, Chick-fil-A, etc. may cater at CCC. For other options, especially for larger gatherings, consider:
Hy-Vee Catering (recommended)
132nd & West Dodge Road
402.493.2911
Abraham Catering
5520 Miller Ave
402.331.6610
Eddie’s Catering
5009 S 24th St
402.733.5444
Contact
For more info about services at CCC, contact the church at 402.330.3360.