The members of the Pastoral Care Funeral Reception Committee at St. John’s, Concord offer our heartfelt condolences to you and your family. We are here to help you extend the hospitality of St. John’s to all those who have come to your loved one’s funeral.

If a reception in the Parish Hall is what you wish, please call the church office (610-459-2994) to have our reception coordinator call you. It is important that a member of the family or a designated friend be actively involved and available for questions and confirmation of plans. Please look over the three options below for planning receptions.

1. Cookie Reception: This reception provides homemade cookies/bars served with hot tea, coffee, lemonade, and iced tea. The complimentary cookies and refreshments are lovingly provided for your guests by Pastoral Care and members of our congregation. About 3-4 cookies/bars per guest are provided.

2. Afternoon Tea: This reception provides tea sandwiches, scones, and cookies/bars, with hot tea, coffee, lemonade and iced tea. The complimentary cookies/bars and tea, coffee, & lemonade refreshments are lovingly provided by Pastoral Care and members of our congregation. The cost of tea sandwiches and scones (which must be ordered from a local tearoom) is extra. About 3-4 tea sandwiches and a scone per guest are suggested. As in the Cookie Reception, 3-4 cookies/bars are provided.

For the first two receptions, a fee of $175.00 is required to cover the cost of paper napkins, disposable tablecloths & table skirts; sexton services (cleaning and table set-up & break-down); and coordinator fee. The fee must be in cash to facilitate the purchasing of necessary items and paying for services.

3. Full Catered Meal: If you wish to have a catered, sit-down meal, our funeral reception coordinator can provide you with a list of local, full-service caterers. The funeral reception coordinator will be available to answer questions for the caterer and help with use of the Parish Hall facilities. The name of the caterer chosen must be provided to the church office at least 24 hours in advance of the reception. The caterer will be responsible for providing tables, linens, china, flatware and glassware. Parish Hall and Kitchen usage guidelines will be provided. As per the guidelines, the caterer is responsible for setting-up and breaking-down tables, chairs, serving tables, and for leaving the kitchen clean. A fee of $125.00 (in cash) is required for the funeral reception coordinator and sexton services. The family is responsible for all arrangements with the caterer. The funeral reception coordinator is available to open up the Parish Hall, the kitch en and to be a general "go to" person between the church and the caterer.

We hope the following will help you decide which reception is best for you:

For the cookie and afternoon tea receptions, Depending of the numbers of guests served, we set up two 3’ x 8’ tables, long-side against long-side to form a large rectangle or four 3' x 6' tables to form a larger rectangle. This table is skirted and covered in white. White cocktail napkins are provided. The food is set-up on this table for guests to serve themselves. White china plates and cups and saucers will be used.

Five to seven 48" round tables are set up and covered in white paper tablecloths. Eight chairs are placed around each table, with scattered chairs around the Parish Hall. This would be adequate for a reception for 40-60 people. Hot and Cold beverages are served at the back of the Parish Hall by the kitchen, at the serving window and on a covered buffet table.

For catered, sit-down meals, the Parish Hall can fit up to twelve 60" round tables (this would seat up to 120 people). The Father Battin Room, near the main hall and kitchen, could be used to set up the food for a buffet line. The Parish Hall can hold up to twelve 48" round tables (this would seat up to 96 people) with the buffet table at the back of the Parish Hall.

We have 2 men’s and ladies’ rooms (one each in the front entrance of Parish Hall, and one each in the back by the kitchen). The back rest rooms are handicapped accessible.

We have a full-service kitchen, with freezer, refrigerator, dishwasher, and gas-range and double oven.

Flowers given by family and friends for the service can be used as a centerpiece for the buffet table, or you can provide a centerpiece of your choice.

Please call the church office, 610-459-2994 to reach our funeral service coordinator.