Funeral Teas at Fraserburgh URC
•Descargar como PPTX, PDF•
0 recomendaciones•666 vistas
About 8-10 years ago a group of volunteers within the church began to offer funeral teas for a family following a funeral. Today, the refreshments consist of sandwiches, current loaf, a sausage roll and a choice of tea or coffee.
Recomendados
Más contenido relacionado
La actualidad más candente
Destacado
Similar a Funeral Teas at Fraserburgh URC
Similar a Funeral Teas at Fraserburgh URC (20)
Más de Lawrence Moore
Más de Lawrence Moore (20)
Último
Último (20)
Funeral Teas at Fraserburgh URC
- 1. Funeral Teas Fraserburgh United Reformed Church
- 2. In brief… •The church provide light refreshments for the family following a funeral •Funeral normally held in church but not always
- 3. Background •Been going for about 8-10 years •Initially a way to raise funds for the church •Take place in the hall adjoining the church
- 4. Process •Contacted by the Undertaker •Contact volunteers •Order food from local bakers •Prepare the hall •Serve refreshments •Clear up
- 5. What works? •Dedicated table linen and silk flower arrangements •Allocation of helpers to serve tables •Separate helpers working in the kitchen
- 6. What else? •Hospitality to family before the service •Teas available immediately after the service •Food boxed and offered to the family
- 7. What is going on? •Support for family •Chance to speak to wider community •Reminder that the church is there •Help keep costs down •A ‘dry’ alternative
- 8. Is it mission? •Caring through action •Give of time to help others
Notas del editor
- Fraserburgh is situated approximately 40 miles north of Aberdeen and is a coastal town. The population is about 12,500 people.
- The example of mission that ‘just works’ is the provision of light refreshments for a family following a funeral. In most instances the Teas are provided for funerals that are held in the church but that is not always the case and teas can be provided when the funeral service has taken place at a different venue.
- To give a bit more background information. A group of ladies in the church began offering funeral teas about 10 years ago. It initially began as a way to raise funds for the church. Teas are served in the hall which adjoins the church.
- There are two main undertakers within the town and both know that the church is willing and able to provide this service. If the family want the church to provide the funeral teas then the undertaker contacts the teas coordinator The coordinator will then contact volunteers to see who is available to help. We currently have 17 people on our volunteer list. At this point volunteers would also be asked if they would be willing to make a loaf of sandwiches Sausage rolls (1 per person) and current loaf (sliced) are ordered from a local bakery and delivery is arranged for 30 minutes before the end of the service. Sausage rolls are delivered hot and placed straight into the oven to keep warm On the morning of the funeral the hall is prepared. Table and chairs are set up, tables are set and the sandwiches and current loaf is plated Teas begin to be served when people arrive and continue until the last person leaves. No time limit is given but people generally leave within a couple of hours. The final stage is the clear up, putting away table and chairs and leaving the kitchen ready for the next event,
- To ensure the hall and tables look welcoming the church has dedicated table linen that is only used for funeral teas. Table cloths are mainly white with thistles on them. There are small silk flower arrangements for each table. People who are serving teas are allocated tables to serve, meaning people are served quickly when they sit down. There are two additional teams of people. The first works in the kitchen preparing the tea and coffee and the other does the washing up. The number of volunteers required depends on the number of people teas are being provided for and this has been refined over the years.
- If members of the immediately family arrive before the service, they can take a seat in the hall and are offered hospitality while they wait. Because the hall is adjoining the church, teas are available immediately after the service. Any food that remains is boxed up at the end and offered to the family.
- What is going on? This is an opportunity for members of the church to offer support to a family at a time of sadness. It is also a chance to speak to the wider community, maybe seeing people who were once associated with the church and whom they haven’t seen for a while. Caring for a bereaved family in a very practical way, and providing this service to all in the wider community helps to remind people that the church is still there and active in the life of the town. We currently charge £3.50 a head for teas. This is less than other churches or commercial organisation so helps keep the additional costs associated with a funeral down. The cost of the teas was agreed at a Church Meeting There is no alcohol served at the funeral teas and for some families this important and makes the church a better location to provide hospitality.
- One could ask whether providing funeral teas, at a cost to the family, is mission. There are two key things happening that I think make this mission. Volunteers from the church have the opportunity to show that they care through action, rather than just simply words. Families have commented on how helpful everyone serving is and the fact that nothing is too much bother. Currently, all sandwiches are donated by the people who make them. Volunteers all give freely of their time. When you take into consideration the time taken to set up, serve and clear up afterwards this would amount to 3-4 hours per person.