After deciding whether or not to use the church or the funeral chapel, one must now decide what type of services to have conducted. At a Funeral Service the casket is present. At a Memorial Service it is not. Both services are very similar except in this aspect. Because the casket is not present at a memorial service it is easier for the congregation to focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the sure and certain hope of eternal life. Because the casket is present at a funeral service, it is easier for the congregation to focus on the death of their loved one and his or her life. Both of these issues are dealt with at both services. It is only an issue of focus or emphasis.

There are four usual ways of conducting the services for the burial of the dead:

A) A memorial or funeral service followed by a graveside committal service. (This is the most formal and traditional.)

B) A private graveside committal service followed by a memorial service. (A very close-knit family might choose this to allow time to mourn together.)

C) A memorial or funeral service only. (Perhaps the gravesite is out-of-town or the body was cremated)

D) A graveside service only. (A less formal, simpler service is possible. Also, non-religious people often feel more comfortable with this.)