When a Christian dies, cremation is an acceptable method of dis-posing of the body. More and more Christians are using this method for environmental and economic reasons.
The Memorial Garden at Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church was established in response to these concerns. A member of Streams may have a token portion of ashes scattered during committal services and the remainder will be buried or scattered by the Pastor at a later time.
There will be no containers, urns, or identifiable remains used or buried in the garden. Once remains have been placed in the garden it will not be possible to remove them. It is to be understood that from time to time the planted areas in the garden may be renovated; soil may be re-moved; and plantings may be added, thus ashes may also be shifted from place to place.
Memorial plates will be placed on an appropriate permanent structure in the Memorial Garden giving the name, date of birth and date of death of the member. Dual plates may be established for couples. No other symbols or designations will be placed on the plates. No other memorial markers will be placed in the garden.
The Memorial Garden at Streams will be used for memorials, for remembrance, for disposition of ashes, for prayer and meditation, and for education.
Members of Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church and their families only may arrange for disposal of ashes and the placing of memorial plates. Only members with ashes scattered in the garden will have memorial plates placed in the garden. All other requests will be considered exceptions and any such requests must be reviewed by the members of the Memorial and Gifts Committee.
Anyone is welcome to pray and meditate in the garden. Benches will provide seating for meditation. It is the intention of Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church that upon entering the Memorial Garden one will feel a special sense of peace and the Presence of our Lord. Having consecrated this area by the church for this holy use, all are assured it will continue for this purpose as long as Streams is at this location.
The Memorial Garden will be available for public visitation Mon-day thru Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at which time the gates will be locked. It will be open Saturday only by request, and on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. During the day the gates will be closed but unlocked. Those who visit the Memorial Garden are asked to close the gates when they leave.
All amounts other than the cost of the plates are tax deductible. Recommended donations are as follows:
$200 for single memorial plate. (Cost subject to change without notice.)
$400 for a dual memorial plate. (Cost subject to change without notice.)
It is hoped donations by church members and others will cover the maintenance cost of the garden. Anyone is welcome to contribute to this fund which will solely be used for the perpetual care of the area, its structure, and its plantings. Friends and families of someone whose ash-es are placed in the Memorial Garden are encouraged to make a contribu-tion in memory of the deceased.
A member’s ashes may not be denied access to the Memorial Gar-den for economic reasons.
The policies and procedures for use of the Memorial Garden have been developed by the Memorial and Gifts Committee at Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church.
Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church Memorial Garden
Request for Memorial Plate
IT IS MY DESIRE…
…that upon my death, my remains should be cremated, and the cremains be placed in the Memorial Garden at Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church, Tucson, AZ .
Name___________________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________
Signature______________________________ Date______________________
It is suggested that copies of this request be placed with a family member or friends who will be responsible for such decisions, as well as with the church office at Streams in the Desert to be retained for the files.
Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church Memorial Garden
Request for Memorial Plate
Please have a plate made to be placed in the Memorial Garden as follows:
Name:____________________________________________________
Birth Date:_____________ Date of Death:___________
A donation of $_________ is enclosed.
Signed_________________________________ Date____________________
Relationship to the deceased.:____________________________
| Name: | Birthday | Death |
| Herhold, Allen | 00/00/0000 | 00/00/2021 |