At Peapack Reformed Church, funeral and memorial services are planned with care, reverence, and respect for the family, the congregation, and the hope of the Christian faith. A funeral or memorial service is a sacred time of worship and remembrance for all involved.
To inquire, please contact Peapack Reformed Church at 908.234.2733 to reach the church office or email pastor@peapackreformed.org to start a conversation directly with Pastor Mark. We would be glad to speak with you.
Funerals at Peapack Reformed Church
The funeral or memorial service is a worship service, and the order of worship will be planned with the pastor. Families may discuss Scripture readings, hymns, prayers, remembrances, and other meaningful elements as part of that planning. The pastor will help guide the family through the service structure so that the day is fitting, faithful, and manageable.
The funeral director will usually coordinate the transportation of the person being remembered or ashes of the person being remembered to the church. The funeral director will also instruct pallbearers and assist family members in getting to the church, and, when applicable, to the cemetery. These practical arrangements help the family move through the day with as much steadiness and support as possible.
Planning the Service
Organ music, including the prelude, hymn accompaniment, and postlude, will be provided by the church music director. Families may also wish to include additional vocal or instrumental music as part of the service. The church can provide a soloist upon request.
Music should support the worshipful nature of the service and the Christian hope at the center of the funeral or memorial. The pastor and church staff can help families think through appropriate selections. Any additional music should be discussed during the planning process so arrangements can be made in advance.
Music
Flowers may be brought or delivered to the church for the service. In consultation with the pastor and family, the funeral director will arrange their placement. Families are asked to have flowers removed after the funeral or memorial service.
If the family wishes, one floral arrangement may remain in the church for the following Sunday worship service. This can be a meaningful way of honoring the person who has passed within the worshiping life of the congregation. All other flowers should be removed after the service.
Flowers
The church is usually not party to interment arrangements. If interment of ashes is desired in the Edythe DeGaeta Memorial Garden, the family should consult with the pastor. There is no room available in the Peapack Reformed Church cemetery.
Wherever interment takes place, the pastor will be glad to conduct a short committal service at the graveside. This service offers prayer, Scripture, and final words of Christian hope. Families can discuss these arrangements with the pastor and funeral director as plans are made.
Interment and Committal
If the family wishes to host a reception in Fellowship Hall following the service, the family may hire a caterer. The caterer is responsible for setup, serving, and clearing. Reception plans should be discussed with the church office so that building use and timing can be coordinated.
Families and those using the building are asked to remove personal items from the church immediately after the service and/or reception. This includes any items brought for the service, reception, or family use. The church office can answer practical questions regarding the space when plans are being made.
Receptions
Certain fees apply to the use of church facilities for a funeral or memorial service. Please contact office@peapackreformed.org for detailed fee information. Fees are due on or before the date of the service and may be paid through the funeral director or directly to the provider.
No smoking is permitted anywhere in the building. No alcoholic beverages are permitted anywhere on the premises. These policies apply to all church services, gatherings, receptions.