Faith Lutheran Church Columbarium

and Memorial Garden

I am the Resurrection and the Life.   He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
John 11:25

The tradition of burial within the precincts of Christian churches goes back many centuries.   A columbarium, a sacred place where the cremated remains of the decreased are interred, has long been a feature of many churches throughout the world.    Today, Faith Lutheran Church can offer parishioners and their families this sacred place of eternal rest.

Located directly next to the Sanctuary and Parish Hall, the Columbarium and Garden were blessed and dedicated by the Pastors and Congregation of Faith Lutheran Church on June 4, 2000.

This sacred space provides a place of beauty, simplicity, solace, and prayer.   By keeping the remains of those we loved near our place of worship, it allows us to celebrate the gift we have been given in the resurrection of Jesus.

What is it?   It is a unified group of “niches” to protect vessels or urns which contain the cremated remains of the departed.   Each niche---a permanent, above-ground unit with a sealed front and a bronze memorial marker--is sold as burial space for one or two individuals.  

Who owns the Columbarium?   The Columbarium, located on church property, belongs to the church, which traditionally has been a natural repository and final resting place of its deceased members.   Inurnment of cremated remains makes this possible and has become an accepted alternative to in-ground burial.

What are the benefits to the Church?   A niche in a Columbarium is modest in cost, liturgically and ecologically sound.   The “quiet” design of a Columbarium invites solitary contemplation and meditation and provides a gathering place for families and friends to assemble in prayer, love, and remembrance.   It often creates a consoling link between life and death.

LOCATION
The Columbarium is adjacent to the Sanctuary and Parish Hall.   Planning permits expansion for years to come--from generation to generation--by placing additional niches along the exterior walls of the Sanctuary and along garden walls facing the Church.

THEOLOGY
Burial on church grounds makes a statement that the deceased was a believer in the trinity--God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit--and a recognition of our belief in the community of the Saints, the living and the dead.

LITURGY
Burial on church property sets aside a holy and dignified place for remembrance and love for our departed.   The simplicity, beauty, and permanence of a columbarium honors those who have gone before us

Options for Committal in the Columbarium

The Columbarium is reserved for the cremated remains of members and former members of Faith Lutheran Church and their immediate family.   Exceptions to this policy will be reviewed by the Columbarium Committee and by the Church Council.

The cost for the right of a single inurnment is $1000.00 and for the right of a double inurnment is $1600.00 when paid in full at time of purchase.

Operating Budget & Building Fund
Funds acquired through the purchase of niches are placed in a designated fund reserved and applied only to the actual construction cost and any short or long term maintenance to the Columbarium.   This fund is overseen by the Columbarium Committe of Faith Lutheran Church.

SINGLE INURNMENT

DOUBLE INURNMENT

INTERESTED? 

To reserve niches, e-mail Jim Kirks for an Application of Intent and give or mail it to Faith Lutheran Church office.       

YOU’RE INVITED TO BECOME A MASTER GARDENER

We’ve received many compliments on the beautiful garden designed by Tom Wilson. Faith Church has been fortunate that Jay Sylwester, Al Shumate, Dave Evans and Rebecca Zebley have served as the Master Gardeners during the past nine years.

This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity. If you have a green thumb or know someone that has a love for gardening, please ask them to respond to the Columbarium Committee’s request for Master Gardener volunteers.

The following work needs to be accomplished on a weekly basis preferably on Saturday afternoons. This schedule helps keep the garden looking its best on Sundays.

Typical duties of the Master Gardener are general cleanup of debris, blow or sweep off concrete surfaces, monitor irrigation and change program as needed, weed control, insect and snail control, prune to control plant growth, plant fertilizing, monitor and clean water feature, seasonal change of annual plants in niche unit, and replace damaged plants as necessary.

All applications need to be received by or before Sunday, April 18, 2010. The proposals will be considered at the April 25, 2010 meeting of the Columbarium Committee.

We look forward to hearing from you. A detailed description of the Master Gardener tasks is in the next section. If you have any questions about the garden and the work that needs to be accomplished, please call Nanette Sorensen.

KEEPING UP THE GARDEN

This is a set of instructions to help individuals get an understanding of the tasks that Master Gardeners are expected to perform.

1. Water Feature: Climb over the fence and walk along the edge of the water feature to the electric outlet. Unplug the top plug to turn off the water fall. It is important to stop the flow of water through the filter to keep the pump from getting accidently plugged up with debris.

Then kneel down by the filter unit and remove the lid. Lift out the net by the metal bars. Take the net to the parking lot and hose it down to remove the debris caught in the net filter.

Then kneel down by the filter housing and carefully check for any debris in the bottom of the filter box. Once the filter housing is cleaned of debris, replace the net. Carefully fit the metal unit that snaps against the front opening of the filter and push the bars into the notches on each side of the top of the filter box. Then push the rear metal bars into the notches near the rear of the filter box. Put the lid back on the filter box.

Carefully walk back to the power outlet and put the plug back in the top outlet to restart the pump for the water fall. Climb over the fence and proceed to the next task.

2. Groom the garden: If you have a leaf blower, this can save much time in grooming the garden. Start at the side nearest the rear of the sanctuary working toward the walkways. Then blow the leaves and debris through the patio and out to the east side of the alley.

If you don’t have a leaf blower, take a small rake and rake up all the dead blossoms and twigs and any other debris from the garden areas starting at the side nearest the rear of the sanctuary and working toward the walkways. Bring a large box or take a trash receptacle from the kitchen or parish hall to fill up with debris. This saves trips to the dumpster. Rake the debris off the walkways and put in trash receptacle. When it is full, take it to the dumpster. Refill as many times as necessary. Rake all the planting areas around the Columbarium and along the patio.

Pick off any dead blooms that are still on the plantings. Pick up any trash left in the garden.

3. Clean the walkways and patio: A leaf blower can be used to clean the walkways and patio. However, if you don’t have a leaf blower, use a push broom to sweep the walkways and patio. Then hose off the walkways and patio. Work your way from the doorway from the main hall to the Columbarium. Hose down the walkway around the Columbarium unit, but not the Columbarium itself. Chico water has a high mineral content and the hard water will dull the surface of the polished granite. Continue by hosing off the patio.

4. Clean the Columbarium unit: Bring a spray bottle of Simple Green and old bath towels. Spray Simple Green onto one side of the Columbarium and then wipe it down with the towel. Repeat until the top ledge and all four sides have been cleaned and polished. Remove any wilted flowers or arrangements.

NOTE: Simple Green is available at the Safeway Market Place in household cleaners section. Large bottles of Simple Green are also available at Costco and possibly other stores.

5. Clean the teak benches: Use a broom or leaf blower to clean off any debris. Spray the surfaces with Simple Green and wipe off the grime from the bench with a towel.

6. Stop and meditate: Take time to enjoy this quiet space and thank God for his many gifts. Take time to pray for someone in need and remember loved ones who have gone to their eternal rest.

Columbarium Volunteer Gardener Schedule:

Usually work in done on Saturday starting at 4:00 PM. This way the garden is ready for visitors on Sunday.

      

    
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                              Annual Report
                              Columbarium Committe Members
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                              Place
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