Funerals & memorials
We'll walk this with you.
A small church, a kind pastor, and a service that honors the person you loved. You don't need to be a member, and you don't need to have anything figured out. Just call.
Families usually reach Pastor Hal directly. Call or text any time, day or night, and he'll call you back.
No membership. No fee. Everyone welcome.
You don't have to belong to this church, or any church. We believe everyone should feel welcome here and be able to deepen their relationship with God through the sacraments. Pastor Hal takes no fee whatsoever. Families simply give whatever they wish to the church, and every dollar goes to the upkeep of this beloved 1919 building.
If someone has just passed
You don't have to do anything tonight.
In the first hours, the funeral home you choose will guide the practical steps. When you're ready, call Pastor Hal. He'll come to you, listen, and help you think about the service. Nothing needs to be decided before that conversation.
- Any funeral home is fine. Tell them you'd like the service at Riverside, or with Pastor Hal, and they'll coordinate with him.
- There is no fee and no paperwork to start. A phone call is all it takes.
- If you'd rather write than talk right now, use the form at the bottom of this page and he'll reach out.
Most of the families Pastor Hal sits with have never been inside this church before the week they call. Riverside has stood over the Housatonic since 1919, and the people who built it carried their cemetery up this hill stone by stone rather than leave their loved ones behind. Remembering well is something this congregation has always done.
A service here is quiet, personal and unhurried. There is no production. There are the hymns your family knows, the words that need saying, the bell given in 1919 rung for the person being remembered, and a room full of people who came because of them.
What Pastor Hal will ask
A few things worth gathering before you talk
None of this is required. It just helps him shape a service that sounds like the person you lost.
Their story
Full name, dates, where they grew up, work, family, the things they loved. A few stories, funny ones included.
Faith and church
Whether they had a church home, a favorite scripture, or hymns they'd want sung. If they didn't, that's fine too.
Who will take part
Family or friends who'd like to read, share a eulogy, or carry the casket. Pastor Hal will help anyone who's nervous.
The practical pieces
Which funeral home, burial or cremation, cemetery plans if any, and whether you'd like to gather afterward in the hall.
What a service looks like
A typical order of service
Usually thirty to forty-five minutes. Every piece is optional, and the order bends to fit your family.
- 1Gathering music and the ringing of the bell
- 2Words of welcome and a prayer
- 3A hymn (Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art are the ones most families choose)
- 4Scripture, often Psalm 23, John 14, or a passage the person loved
- 5Remembrances from family and friends
- 6A message from Pastor Hal about the person and about hope
- 7Prayers, the Lord's Prayer, and a closing hymn
- 8Commendation and blessing, then the committal at the graveside if there is one
A photo display, a favorite song, or a military honor guard can all be included. Just say so.
Options
The service your family needs
Funeral in the sanctuary
With the casket present, followed by the procession to the cemetery. The sanctuary seats 72 with room at the back.
Memorial service
Held days, weeks or months later, after a burial or cremation elsewhere, when the family is ready. Many choose this.
Graveside or funeral home
Pastor Hal officiates at any cemetery or funeral home in the valley if the church isn't the right setting.
Celebration of life
Less formal, with music and stories at the center. The hall downstairs, with its kitchen, is always available for a reception afterward.
Outdoors by the prayer garden
For a larger gathering than the sanctuary holds, we have hosted memorial services outside beside the prayer garden, on the grounds above the river. Weather permitting, it is a beautiful setting.
After the service
Grief doesn't end on the day, and neither does the church's care.
Pastor Hal stays in touch in the weeks that follow. Families are welcome on Sunday mornings whenever they'd like company, and on the first anniversary he'll remember your loved one in prayer if you'd like him to. You won't be a stranger here.
Questions
Things families ask
Do we have to be members of Riverside Community Church?
No. Most of the families we serve are not members. Everyone is welcome, and no one is asked about their church background before we say yes.
How much does a funeral at the church cost?
There is no fee. Pastor Hal does not charge for officiating. Families give whatever they wish directly to the church, and those gifts go to maintaining the building.
Which funeral homes do you work with?
All of them. We are not affiliated with any funeral home. Families in Oxford, Seymour, Southbury, Shelton, Naugatuck and Beacon Falls have used Riverside with their own director.
Can Pastor Hal officiate somewhere other than the church?
Yes. He leads services at funeral homes and cemeteries throughout the valley, as well as in the church.
Is there a cemetery at the church?
There is a historic cemetery beside the church, but it is privately run by a local family and is not part of the church. We understand only a handful of plots remain. Pastor Hal is glad to officiate at any cemetery your family chooses.
How soon can a service be held?
Usually within a few days, working around your funeral home's schedule. Memorial services can be held whenever your family is ready.
Can family members speak or choose the music?
Please do. Eulogies, favorite hymns or songs, readings and a photo display are all welcome. Pastor Hal will help you put it in an order that feels right.
Can we gather at the church afterward?
Yes. The fellowship hall downstairs has a kitchen and seating and is always available to families. Coffee and refreshments there are a tradition here.
How many people does the church hold?
The sanctuary seats 72, with standing room at the back. For larger gatherings we have held memorial services outdoors by the prayer garden, and the hall downstairs can take overflow.
Get in touch
Talk with Pastor Hal
If you're reading this late at night, you don't have to write anything. Call Pastor Hal in the morning. He'll take it from there.