New resource helps with funeral plans

‘Preparing for my funeral’ is a new resource developed by the LCANZ’s Committee for Ministry with the Ageing, which is designed to take away some of the stress of preparing a funeral for a family member or other loved one.

This two-part resource provides you with a guide for ideas on preparing for your funeral and comes with a planning sheet to complete with all those important things you want others to know about your wishes.

Dr Tania Nelson, LCANZ Executive Officer – Local Mission, who oversees Ministry with the Ageing, said the resource was developed from a guide produced by an LCA pastor for use with his parishioners. ‘When the Committee for Ministry with the Ageing heard about the guide, we felt it was too good to keep to ourselves’, she said. ‘So, after considerable collaboration, we’ve printed a practical booklet that can assist in what can be a difficult conversation.

‘Preparing for my funeral has been written as a personal guide. It is also a helpful resource for the children and support-people for ageing friends or relatives or for those who are supporting a dying loved one. It is important to give thought to what could happen as you approach the end of your life and what decisions may be required as you age and become frailer.

‘I am reassured by the words of Luther when he described preparation for death throughout life: ‘A Christian is a person who through faith begins to pass out of this life into heaven as soon as he leaves baptism. For him, Christ is already the Way, the Truth, and the Life and does not cease to be these things till his last hour. Indeed, a Christian always proceeds on this way, led by the truth, to the goal of eternal life. He has already caught the vision of the other shore and the haven of rest and is so prepared that whether he dies on the way, this morning or tomorrow morning, or in one, two, or ten years, in spirit he has already crossed over through Christ.’

The booklet can be downloaded from the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/events-training-resources or you can contact Ministry with the Ageing at cma@lca.org.au to request a copy to be sent to you.