End-of-Life Planning
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:6
Trinity is committed to walking hand in hand with you as you travel on your faith walk. You hear God’s Word. You are strengthened and comforted by fellow believers. You celebrate life’s joys together. You navigate the difficulties of life together with the body of Christ. As each of our lives comes to a close, Trinity is with you, proclaiming the Gospel message of an eternity of joy. With this in mind, Trinity offers several services, from funeral service pre-planning to a new columbarium at our Mission campus location.
Trinity's Columbarium
A final resting place for inurnment of ashes for Trinity members Columbarium Lease InquiryFrequently Asked Questions
What is a Columbarium?
Who is eligible to be inurned in the columbarium at Trinity Lutheran Church?
The columbarium is usually reserved for members, and others, who are part of Trinity’s faith community. Trinity’s pastoral team will consider other situations on a case-by-case basis.
What is the average cost of a direct cremation in the Kansas City area?
What is the cost of a niche at TLC and what is included?
Are there financing options?
May a purchaser sell or transfer the lease agreement of a niche?
Can I put more than one urn in a niche?
May I choose the location of the niche?
May other items be inurned in a niche?
Are flowers allowed?
Does one actually own the niche?
What if a decision is made at a later date not to use the niche?
May ashes be removed from the Columbarium?
Who may officiate at an inurnment service?
What if the church building is sold?
How do I reserve a niche?


As you age you gain life experiences that you may wish to share with others. The Legacy project being offered by the Senior Ministry will give older adults a vehicle to accomplish this. Legacy interviews are approximately 20 minutes in length, facilitated by an interviewer, which will provide you with a vehicle to record your life of faith and faith stories, lessons and views, to be given to family and loved ones. Faith stories will be recorded on a DVD and then given to you.
The Legacy project is designed not to give a biography of your life, but to offer insights as to what makes you unique, offering a deeper understanding of who you are and whose you are. Biographical stories will undoubtedly come into play but should be given as support to what has caused you to believe what you do and how that has materialized in your life. With some preparation, the interview can aid you in reviewing your life and evaluating where you are in your faith walk. It can also aid our church members in knowing each other better. The Legacy diary is similar in purpose to the Legacy interviews. There are things you can do in written form that time constraints may limit in the recorded interview. There is no length restrictions to the diary. It may also be possible to include a few photographs.
Leave your legacy. Tell your loved ones who you are and whose you are.
Trinity Senior Ministry is providing a unique service to older adults: recording your faith legacy for loved ones. Interested people can record their thoughts in the form of a 20-minute video. You are also invited to write a diary of your faith journey, which Trinity will produce. Either or both are available to Trinity older adults.
You are welcome to make your own questions as long as they pertain to you and your faith journey. The following are possible questions to be used. Try to budget your time so that you can be sure to have a recording that gives the message you want to send. Life experiences can be helpful but don’t let them take up all your time. Grab a sheet of paper and jot down some notes.
- How did you come to your Christian faith? As a child? As an adult? Through marriage? Other? Explain.
- Was there anyone or any institution that was especially instrumental in you becoming a Christian?
- How would you explain the essence of your faith to your loved ones?
- How has your faith been important in your life? Perhaps a few examples would be good.
- In what ways do you feel God has made good use of you?
- Tell of an especially moving or life changing moment in which faith played an important role.
- What is the message you would like your loved ones to remember from this talk?
Legacy Diary
Those writing the diary will be responsible for the final written and edited text put in an electronic document that can be sent to the church office. Trinity staff will not be responsible for editing the copy. We encourage family members to share in the writing of these diaries for those who consider this a challenge. It can serve as an additional bonding time. In some cases it may be possible to include a few photographs. Trinity will take it from there. There is a minimal cost for the booklet to cover paper and printing expenses. We expect that to be less than $2 per copy. You may have as many copies as you like. The questions provided for the Legacy interview may be used a guide for your diary. Enjoy reviewing your journey.
You will receive a DVD of your interview with rights to make as many copies as you wish for loved ones. You may receive as many copies of your diary as you wish.
The cost for the DVD is completely free. Free will donations to offset costs are always accepted. The cost of the diary is minimal and less than $2 per booklet.
Interviews will be approximately 20 minutes long and will be facilitated by an interviewer. There is no limit to the length of the diary.