The Session tasked the Prayer Garden Subcommittee with researching establishing a Prayer Garden at Yorkminster and to survey the congregation on the level of interest in adding a Columbarium Ministry at Yorkminster.
Several Internet web sites have provided background information on columbarium, construction alternatives, inurnment and consecration of remains, memorial plaques and operational issues from other churches. These links do not represent an endorsement of the products represented thereon by Yorkminster Presbyterian Church; we are providing the following links if you would like to know more about columbaria.
Sample of churches with columbaria:
- Massanetta Springs Presbyterian Conference Center
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http://www.massanettasprings.org
See >About Us >Columbarium - Blacksburg Presbyterian Church
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Blacksburg Presbyterian Church
http://www.civic.bev.net/bpc
email: bpc@bburg.bev.net - First Presbyterian Church of Nashville, Tenn.
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http://www.fpcnashville.org
See >worship >funerals - First Presbyterian Church of Abilene, Texas
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http://www.fcpc.net/columbarium.asp
email: fcpc@abilene.com
Companies with columbaria business lines:
- Armento Columbarium
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Armento Columbarium, Buffalo NY (855) 276-3686
http://www.armento-columbarium.com - Everest Columbarium
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Everest Columbarium, Lewisville NC (336) 945-0221
http://www.everestcolumbarium.com - Eickhof Columbaria
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Eickhof Columbaria Inc., Crookston, MN (800) 253-0457
http://www.eickhofcolumbaria.com - Columbarium Planners
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Columbarium Planners, Inc. – made a presentation to the YPC Memorial Garden committee
http://www.columbarium.com - Homecoming, Inc.
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Homecoming Inc., Columbarium Systems, Products & Services – made a personal presentation to the YPC Memorial Gardein committee
http://www.homecominginc.com - Cremation.com
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Cremation.com - Legal Issues
http://www.cremation.com - Cremation Society of Virginia
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739 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Ste 503
Newport News, VA 23606
(757) 643-8945
http://virginiacremations.com
Landscape Architects with Columbaria experience:
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Wm. H. Spell, LLC (804) 673-6970
http://www.spelllandscapearchitects.com -
Higgins & Gerstenmaier, PLC (804) 740-7500
http://www.1hg.net
Other items of interest
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of-- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high, untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
-- John Gillespie Magee, Jr., No. 412 Fighter Squadron, RCAF (1922-1941)
An American/British fighter pilot, Magee flew with the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II. He came to Britain, flew in a Spitfire squadron, and was killed at age 19 on December 11, 1941, during a training flight from the airfield near Scopwick, Lincolnshire. The poem was written on the back of a letter to his parents which stated, "I am enclosing a verse I wrote the other day. It started at 30,000 feet, and was finished soon after I landed."
- A Prayer for Scattering (example)
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As we return to the earth and sea from whence we came, Divine creator of all in heaven and on earth, we bring before you these last earthly remains, returned to you, to do with as you will, and to set free for all eternity; and to remind us that forever they shall live in the wind and the waves and on the earth in substance.
Even though the spirit is already with you, we ask that you receive these ashes of the one that you created, that you might create again from them life anew.
Your comments are welcomed; please contact the Prayer Garden Subcommittee member of your choice or leave a note in the church office for the committee: Mike Walsh, Chair; Dennis Dicus, Becky Davis, Charlene Diggs and Co-Pastor Feild Russell (ex-officio).