From ancient times Christians have been buried in the consecrated grounds of their churchyards. There is comfort in knowing that the remains of the faithful rest in peace, committed into the hands of the loving God.

Casket burials require a great deal of land. Many cemeteries have been forced to move from church-yards to privately owned burial grounds far from the center of town.

      Recently, cremation has become an acceptable way of dealing with final remains. In Our church, about 80% of the services for the dead now involve cremations and a memorial service.

     In response to requests from Union Church members, a committee was formed in the Fall of 2001 to consider the establishment of a memorial garden. The Pastor and the Administrative Council approved the resulting plan, and the garden was created in the spring of 2003.

 What is the Memorial Garden?

    A memorial garden is dedicated to the memory of those we love. It does not look like a cemetery. It resembles a peaceful garden, a place of tranquil beauty, set aside for the interment of ashes and as a site for solace for those who would come there to remember, to meditate, to pray.

    The Union Church Memorial Garden is located on the south side of the church. The garden is enclosed by a wrought iron fence.

Manner of Internment

     Cremated remains are interred in the Garden, but there are no tombstones or grave markers. Flowering plants, shrubs, ground cover, and inviting benches are present A granite monument displays names, birth dates and death dates.

     Our Christian faith teaches us that the human soul is immortal, continuing its spiritual existence after the death of the body. For many of us, it is a comfort to have a place to honor the continuing relationship with our loved ones who have died before us. The Union Church Memorial Garden is such a place.

 Manner of Interment

       Cremated remains may be buried in a biodegradable linen bag or loose in the soil so as to become assimilated with the earth. Remains may not be scattered on the surface since they remain intact for a long period of time.

Interment location is designated by the committee. The ground cover is lifted for the burial and then re-placed, the area being restored to its natural condition.

 Eligibility

       We believe that God welcomes all individuals into the world and welcomes them again as they leave it, therefore, any person who has a relationship with this parish is welcome to have his or her cremated remains placed in the Union Church Memorial Garden. In addition, families may memorialize a loved one in the Union Church Memorial Garden even though the re-mains are not interred there.

 Costs

        The cost for inclusion in the Union Church Memorial Garden is $500. This includes interment expenses, the inscribing of the name and dates on the monument, the preparation of a page in the Book of Remembrance, and perpetual care for the Garden. The expense may be waived or adjusted at the discretion of the Pastor. Inclusion costs may be prepaid at any time.

Gifts and Donations

         The Memorial Garden Fund of Union Church is dedicated to the perpetual maintenance of the Garden and to help ensure burial for those in need. Gifts to the Fund are welcome at any time. These may be made in honor of or as a memorial to an individual. All gifts are recorded in the Book of Remembrance.

 Administration

         A burial site is a sacred trust incumbent upon future generations for preservation and honor. Perpetual care of the Garden will be provided under the responsibility of the church Trustees.

Remembrance

         The Garden includes a granite monument listing the names and birth and death dates of those interred or memorialized there.

         Because the Garden is designed with its own ornamentation and landscaping, no individual markers, memorials, plaques, or commemorative plantings are permitted. Similarly, no fresh or artificial flowers, flags or other decorations may be placed there.

         In addition to the granite monument, a Book of Remembrance is maintained in the church as a permanent record. A page is provided for each person and may contain vital information, a photograph, an obituary, and a brief biographical sketch.

More Information

           For further information about the Union Church Memorial Garden, please contact the Church Office at         207-495-3599.