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Lutheran Funeral Traditions
Basic Funerals is proud to serve members of the Lutheran Church across Ontario. Our team of funeral professionals is experienced in all aspects of arranging a Lutheran funeral service and is here to guide you through every step.
Beliefs About Death
The Lutheran faith suggests that when a person dies, they either go to Heaven or Hell. They believe that God has made it possible for people to go to Heaven if they believe and have accepted that Jesus died to save them from their sins. Lutherans believe that there is nothing a person could do in order to get into Heaven other than believe. According to Lutheran beliefs, anyone who has not accepted Jesus as their savior will go to hell and suffer there for eternity.
What Happens After Death Occurs
When a Lutheran is on their deathbed, a priest is contacted and brought in to support the dying person and their family in their time of need and to later plan the funeral with the family. The body is then washed and prepared for a funeral service according to the plans that the family and the priest have set up with a funeral home.
Is Cremation Allowed in Lutheranism?
Cremation is accepted by Lutherans and will not interfere with the holding of a traditional Lutheran funeral.
Views on Embalming
Embalming is accepted by Lutherans and is generally expected to be done especially if the family of the deceased chooses to have a viewing before the funeral.
The Lutheran Funeral Service
Families can choose to have a viewing for the deceased before the funeral service begins. Any non-religious rites should be delivered during the viewing as opposed to at the funeral service itself. The funeral service usually has the body or the remains of the deceased present in a church and involves a worship service. The worship service includes readings from the Old Testament and the New Testament, Gospels, Apostle’s Creed, The Lord’s Prayers and hymns. Holy Communion can also be provided at the funeral. If the body is present in a casket, then it should be closed and covered with a white pall, symbolizing equality of people in the eyes of God. The same applies if the person was cremated and their remains were placed in an urn during the funeral service. Eulogies are not required at funerals because of the Lutheran belief that salvation is given to people by grace of God and not their actions during life, however some people still choose to provide eulogies at Lutheran funerals.
Lutheran Churches in Ontario
First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Toronto
This church is home to a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. This church was found in 1851 and has been offering services to communities of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area ever since. This church offers services in both English and German.
St. John Lutheran Church in Ottawa
This church one of the oldest churches in Ottawa since it was founded in 1895. It has been serving communities in Ottawa and other surrounding areas for over 100 years. They provide worship services as well as other activities for all members of the community. This small community has been involved in sponsoring refugees around the world and helping raise money to build schools and wells in Africa.
We proudly serve families across most of Ontario, offering accessible cremation and funeral planning by phone and online.
In-person meetings are available by appointment at our conveniently located establishments.
