Funerals and Memorial Services

When A Loved One Dies...

When a death occurs in your family, you will be faced with many decisions during a very difficult time. Please contact our church office at 775-358-0925. Our staff will help answer questions you may have as well as connect you with our pastor who will work with you and your family to determine how to honor the life of your loved one.

We are happy to host a funeral or memorial service for anyone desiring a Christian service. Neither you, your family, nor the deceased needs to be a member of our church. We do not charge any fees for funerals or memorial services.

Funeral services can occur in our sanctuary, our park, a funeral home, or another location of your choice. You can have a reception in our Social Hall. Our Sanctuary is a beautiful and intimate space near the heart of old downtown Sparks with easy access to I-80.

Steps for when a loved one dies:

  1. Call a funeral home. They will guide you through this process and answer many questions.

  2. Call our pastor and church office at 775-358-0925.

  3. Make a list of family, friends, and colleagues to notify via phone about your loved one’s death.

  4. Work with the funeral home to gather information for paperwork, official agencies, and obituary.

  5. Determine a non-profit organization to whom people can contribute memorial gifts in honor of your loved one. Memorial gifts to Sparks United Methodist Church support current and future ministries in our community.

Basic Service Outline

To honor the life of your loved one, our pastor will work with your family to plan a memorial service. A basic service includes:

  • Greeting and Words of Grace

  • Opening Prayer

  • Hymn

  • Prayer

  • Lord's Prayer

  • Psalm/Scripture Readings

  • Homily by Pastor

  • Eulogies by Family and/or Friends

  • Hymn

  • Dismissal with Blessing

Popular Scriptures for Funeral and Memorial Services

Old Testament Scriptures

Psalms

  • Psalm 23 - The Lord is my Shepherd...

  • Psalm 62 - My soul waits in silence for God...

  • Psalm 84 - How lovely is your dwelling place.

  • Psalm 103 - Bless the Lord, O my soul.

  • Psalm 118:17, 19 - I shall not die, but I shall live.

  • Psalm 121 - I lift up my eyes to the hills...

  • Psalm 130 - I wait for the Lord...

  • Psalm 139 - Search me, O God.

New Testament Scriptures

  • Matthew 6:19-21 - Where your treasure is...

  • Matthew 25:31-40 - Just as you did it for one...

  • Mark 16:6 - He has been raised...

  • Luke 12:22-34 - Do not worry about your life...

  • Luke 24:5b-8 - Why do you look for the living...

  • John 3:16-17 - For God so loved the world...

  • John 6:35-40 - I am the bread of life.

  • John 10:14-18 - I am the good shepherd.

  • John 14:1-4, 18, 19, 25, 27 - Do not let your hearts...

  • Romans 5:1 - While we still were sinners...

  • Romans 8:1, 2, 11, 14, 17, 18, 28, 31, 32, 35, 39 - If God...

  • Romans 14:7-9 - We do not live to ourselves...

  • 1 Corinthians 15:1, 2a, 12, 16, 18, 20, 35, 38a, 42b, 44, 54, 55, 57 - Where, O death, is your victory?

  • 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 - If the earthly tent we live in is destroyed...

  • 2 Corinthians 5:17 - Everything old has passed away...

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - Do not grieve as others do...

  • 2 Timothy 4:6-8 - I have fought the good fight...

  • Hebrews 11:1-3 - Faith is the assurance of things hoped for...

  • 1 John 3:1-3 - See what love the Father has given us...

  • Revelation 21:1-7 - Then I saw a new heaven...

Popular Hymns for Funerals and Memorial Services

Numbers refer to the United Methodist Hymnal

  • 110 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

  • 700 - Abide In Me

  • 378 - Amazing Grace

  • 534 - Be Still, My Soul

  • 557 - Blest Be the Tie That Binds

  • 407 - Close to Thee

  • 710 - Faith of Our Fathers

  • 140 - Great Is Thy Faithfulness

  • 77- How Great Thou Art

  • 704 - Hymn of Promise

  • 314 - In the Garden

  • 488- Jesus, Remember Me

  • 133 - Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

  • 733 - Marching to Zion

  • 368 - My Hope Is Built

  • 57 - O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

  • 117 - O God, Our Help in Ages Past

  • 143 - On Eagle's Wings

  • 474 - Precious Lord, Take My Hand

  • 496 - Sweet Hour of Prayer

  • 504 - The Old Rugged Cross

  • 526 - What a Friend We Have in Jesus

  • 701 - When We All Get to Heaven

We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and your family during this difficult time.