Every person should, while he is healthy, consult with the Rector concerning his own burial. Specific directions concerning various options in the service can be written down and filed in the church office, and are a tremendous help to the clergy, not to mention a great comfort to the deceased's next of kin.

Death is the Christian's final act of life in this world, and it is the occasion of the Church's last ministration to its members. Therefore, the clergy should be notified immediately, along with the next of kin, in the case of death or impending death.

The clergy should always be contacted before the funeral director is called.

The order of the Burial of the Dead may be read in the Church Proper, or at graveside. Services in funeral parlor chapels are inappropriate for churchmen. These chapels are provided to meet the needs of people who do not have their own church from which to be buried.

The congregation is encouraged to have funeral visitations in the chapel, where the body may "lie in state" until the service hour.

The use of flowers in the church at a funeral is under the direction of the parish Altar Guild. A funeral pall is owned by All Saints' and, while the body of the deceased is in the church building, the casket shall be covered with this pall. The parish also owns a pall to be used to cover cremain urns and boxes.

The same rules apply to music at funerals as to music at weddings.

The Christian dead should be buried with as much dignity as possible. The celebration of Holy Communion, as part of the services of the Dead, is one of the oldest customs of the church. In fact, the Requiem Mass is the most ancient and distinctively Christian funeral custom, and is a great source of comfort and spiritual strength the bereaved. Holy Communion may be celebrated at the time of the reading of the Burial Office or some other time, for example in the morning before the funeral. The latter procedure is recommended, if many people are expected to attend the funeral who are not familiar with Episcopal worship. It is perfectly appropriate to have the interment portion of the service at the cemetery or memorial garden before the service in the church.