Let Us Take Care of You

It can be hard to decide how to honor the memory of a recently deceased loved one, especially if that person never belonged to a church. It is easy to imagine it might be simplest to have a gathering at someone’s home or at a secular facility, like a restaurant or club.

But then you start to think of all the little details…will there be enough chairs for everyone to sit? Who will speak? How can you ensure that everyone is able to hear? Wouldn’t it be nice to have some music?

Memorial services are one of the things that churches do well, and that Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Escondido does especially well. We guide you in honoring the memory of your deceased loved one. And we are here to take care of those many details that can be overwhelming.

There is a lot of uncertainty about putting a memorial service in someone else’s hands. But we’re really good at this. Let us take care of you.

A Memorial Service is a Celebration of Life

A memorial service is a very personal occasion. In Unitarian Universalist congregations, these services are developed by the family of the deceased and the presiding minister to specially honor the memory of the individual. We often call them a “Celebration of Life” rather than a funeral.

The service may include the following elements:

• A eulogy given by the minister
• Personal remembrances offered by 2-3 speakers (family and friends)
• Readings of poetry
• A time for communal sharing
• Piano music (a pianist is provided as part of the service)

Details Are in Our Policies

We have two policies related to memorial services, depending on your relationship to the congregation:

1. Policy on Memorial Services for the Community at Large (pdf)
2. Policy on Memorial Services for Members and Friends (pdf)

What’s Next?

Please contact our office for information and scheduling. We are located in south Escondido near Felicita Park.