Religious and Cultural Services

Asian Christian Funerals in Melbourne

Christian funerals commonly include prayer, hymns, scripture, remembrance and comfort for the family. We work with the family's church and minister and arrange the chapel or cemetery.

Christian funeral arrangements to discuss

Discuss prayers, hymns, readings and memorial content with the church and pastor.
Arrange seating, flowers and the casket around the venue.
Discuss a bilingual program or English explanations where useful.
Prepare your preferred hymns, readings and speakers, then confirm the order and timing with the pastor.

We confirm the family’s wishes and venue requirements, then set out services, funeral products and any additional charges in the written quote.

Church Service

Christian funerals can include prayers, hymns, readings and memorial content, together with flowers, the casket and arrangements for family and friends.

Church Venue

We arrange seating, flowers and the service proceedings to suit the church.

Memorial Setting

We prepare the memorial service and farewell according to the family's needs.

Floral Details

Casket flowers and floral tributes can be chosen to suit the budget, colour palette and faith tradition.

Service Elements

Procedures vary between denominations and churches. The minister, church and family confirm the final service content.

Minister and Church

If the family has a church, we liaise with the minister and church office about the venue and timing.

Hymns and Scripture

We help organise the order of service, hymns, scripture readings, tributes and photographs.

Burial or Cremation

We arrange burial or cremation according to the family's faith and wishes, together with the cemetery, crematorium or memorial venue.

How We Arrange It

Call On Sum

Tell us what has happened, where your loved one is, and any initial wishes or faith requirements.

Confirm Your Wishes

We explain the available options for cremation or burial, religious and cultural needs, the venue, funeral products and timing.

Itemised Written Quote

Services, funeral products and third-party charges are itemised separately so the family can compare and confirm each item.

On-the-day Support

We arrange the staff, venue, family participation, music, photographs and ceremony details once the plan is confirmed.

A Service of Comfort

A Christian funeral gives the family space for gratitude, remembrance and mutual support. We confirm the church's role, venue and the messages the family wishes to share.

For non-Chinese-speaking family and friends, the service may include bilingual content, translated hymns or brief English explanations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Must the Funeral Be Held in a Church?

The service may be held at a church, funeral chapel, cemetery or another suitable venue, subject to the family, minister and timing.

Can We Arrange a Bilingual Memorial Service?

Yes. We can agree on the balance of Cantonese, Mandarin and English, then plan the service with the minister and family.

Can On Sum Work With Our Minister?

Yes. We arrange the venue, timing, documents and service process, while the minister or church confirms the religious content.

Discuss Funeral Arrangements

Call or email On Sum with the family's faith, important customs, preferred venue and current timing needs.

Start with the family’s church connection

Tell us the denomination, church or minister connected with your loved one, if any. A congregation may have its own service order, music policy, venue availability and requirements for clergy. If the family does not have a current church connection, we can help the family identify the decisions that need to be discussed with an appropriate minister or celebrant.

Christian families are not all the same. Some services centre on scripture, prayer, hymns and a sermon. Others include a personal eulogy, recorded music, photographs, video tributes or family readings. We ask what reflects the person who has died and confirm the running order with the minister and venue.

What may be included

Opening words, prayer, scripture readings, hymns or worship music.

A sermon, reflection or message of Christian hope led by the minister.

A eulogy, family tributes, photographs or a memorial video.

Viewing, flowers, a cross, candles or church symbols where permitted.

A committal at the crematorium or cemetery, either on the same day or separately.

The church decides matters of doctrine and worship. On Sum manages practical items such as transfer and care of the deceased, coffin selection, flowers, vehicles, printing, venue timing, staff, cremation or burial bookings and communication between the family and service providers.

Church and venue details to confirm

Before printing an order of service or announcing a time, the minister, church, crematorium or cemetery booking should be confirmed. Ask whether the church permits a coffin to be present, how long the venue is available, whether livestreaming or recording is possible, which music formats are accepted and whether there are rules for flowers, candles or audiovisual equipment.

For burial, the service may continue at the graveside. For cremation, the committal may take place in the church, chapel or crematorium according to the family’s preference and the minister’s guidance. Read more about cremation services and burial services.

Languages and written information

We can prepare a bilingual schedule and communicate with relatives in Cantonese, Mandarin or English. This can help an English-speaking minister and Chinese-speaking relatives follow the same service plan. The written quote identifies professional services, selected funeral products and third-party church, crematorium or cemetery charges.

Last reviewed: 24 August 2026.