How to Plan a Pentecostal Funeral: Complete Step-by-Step Checklist

The First 24 Hours: Three Calls That Set Everything in Motion

When a Pentecostal or evangelical believer dies, the immediate planning sequence starts with three phone calls that trigger three parallel tracks of coordination:

Call 1 — The church office. Notify the senior pastor or the church administrative staff. This triggers the pastoral care response: a minister or deacon is dispatched to the family for prayer and spiritual support, and the church office begins checking sanctuary availability. Provide the deceased's full legal name, membership status, the name of the servicing funeral home, and the authorized family planner's contact information.

Call 2 — The funeral home. The funeral director coordinates body transport from the place of death (hospital, hospice, home) to the mortuary and begins the legal paperwork — death certificate filing, burial permit, and disposition authorization. If you have not pre-selected a funeral home, ask your pastor or church deacons for recommendations. Many Pentecostal congregations have working relationships with specific funeral homes that understand the denomination's service requirements.

Call 3 — The family network. Designate a single family point of contact to manage incoming calls, relay information, and coordinate travel for out-of-town relatives. Do not try to manage this yourself while also handling the church and funeral home — delegate it early.

Days 1–3: The Planning Phase

The Funeral Director Meeting

Within 24 to 48 hours, you will meet with the funeral director for the arrangement conference. Before this meeting, establish a budget ceiling. Know that embalming is commonly used for open-casket viewing (standard in many Pentecostal homegoing services) but is not legally required in most US states; for immediate burial or cremation, families can often decline it and ask about refrigeration. Request the itemized General Price List before discussing packages.

Key decisions at this meeting:

• Burial vs. cremation (ask the pastor about the church's pastoral position if you are unsure)
• Casket selection (or confirmation that the family will source their own casket)
• Open or closed casket
• Body preparation standards (clothing, grooming, cosmetic presentation)
• Transport to the church and cemetery

The Pastoral Consultation

The pastor or bereavement staff typically contacts the family within 24 hours to schedule a formal planning session. This meeting covers:

• Service date, time, and duration (most churches cap homegoing services at 60 minutes)
• The liturgical order of service: processional, scripture readings, music, tributes, sermon, prayer, recessional
• How many speakers are permitted and what time limits apply
• Music selection (sanctuary rules restrict the service to worship music, gospel, and hymns)
• Whether a pre-service Family Hour or visitation will be held
• Whether there will be a gospel invitation or altar call
• Church facility fees and the pastor's honorarium

Bring a written list of your family's preferences for music, speakers, and scriptures. The pastor has final authority over the sanctuary service, but most pastors accommodate family requests that fall within the church's theological guidelines.

The Order of Service: How a Pentecostal Homegoing Flows

The standard homegoing or funeral service in an Assemblies of God, Church of God, Church of God in Christ, or independent charismatic church follows this liturgical structure:

1. Prelude — Soft worship music as the congregation is seated (5–10 min)
2. Processional and final viewing — Clergy lead the family in; open-casket viewing if applicable
3. Gathering sentences — The minister opens with scripture declarations (John 11:25-26, Job 19:25)
4. Invocation — Prayer acknowledging the loss, inviting the Holy Spirit, thanking God for the deceased's life
5. Old Testament reading — Typically read by a deacon or church elder (Psalm 23, Isaiah 25:6-9)
6. New Testament reading — Read by a family member or church officer (1 Corinthians 15:53-58, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
7. Reading of condolences and resolutions — Church clerk reads selected sympathy cards and church resolutions
8. Personal tributes — 3–4 prepared speakers, 2–3 minutes each, no open mic
9. Musical selection — Solo, choral piece, or small ensemble to prepare for the sermon
10. Sermon / gospel proclamation — Delivered by the senior pastor (12–18 min), focused on the resurrection hope
11. Prayer of consolation — Commending the family to God's strength
12. Recessional — Clergy lead the family out as a triumphant hymn is sung

After the recessional, the procession moves to the cemetery for the graveside committal — a brief service with a committal prayer, the lowering of the casket, and often the casting of earth by family members.

The Repast: Fellowship After the Burial

The repast is the communal meal following the graveside service, typically held at the church fellowship hall, the family home, or a rented venue. In Pentecostal culture, the repast is not a formal dinner — it is a warm, communal gathering where the church family feeds the bereaved family and begins the transition from public mourning to ongoing support.

Planning the repast:

• Assign a coordinator (hospitality ministry leader, church mother, or close family friend)
• Plan food for 20% more than RSVP'd attendance — drop-ins are standard
• Arrange for setup to happen while the family is at the graveside
• Designate someone for cleanup — the family should not be scrubbing dishes after burying their loved one
• If using the church kitchen, confirm access and any catering restrictions with the church office

Denomination-Specific Notes

Assemblies of God: Generally flexible on cremation (individual conscience), music selections, and service format. An altar call may be part of the service, so ask the pastor about the format in advance.

Church of God in Christ (COGIC): Strong emphasis on traditional hymns and live worship. Open-casket viewing is highly valued. The bishop or district superintendent may attend if the deceased held a church office. Dress standards lean formal and modest.

Church of God (Cleveland, TN): Similar to COGIC in structure. The officiating pastor's authority over the service is strongly respected. Military honors can be coordinated for veteran members.

Independent charismatic/non-denominational: The most variable. Service format depends entirely on the lead pastor's preferences. Some lean traditional; others run contemporary worship-style services with video presentations and praise teams. Ask early and assume nothing.

For a printable, step-by-step planning checklist that covers every stage from the first phone call through the repast, the Evangelical / Pentecostal Funeral Guide consolidates all of the coordination above — church, funeral director, family, and cultural obligations — into a single framework with built-in timelines and budget worksheets.