For Chaplains
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To make the fullness of Christ known amid death and grief.
Below are resources to help you serve families toward that end.
A Family Guide and Professional Development
Families are better served when they receive guidance before approaching funeral directors:
A Family Guide about Funerals, Cremations and Burials
Professional Development: equipping you to guide families when a loved one passes away
Biblical Comfort
Comfort from the Psalms
GriefShare grief and loss support groups
Christian books on grief and hope
Specific Pastoral Issues
Unplanned Pregnancy and those hurting from previous abortions
Funeral Cost Support - for families in need
A Family Guide about Funerals, Cremations and Burials
When families face loss, they're vulnerable — emotionally and through inexperience. Many funeral directors are caring, but commercial pressures don't always serve families well.
This guide takes a different approach. It equips families with honest information before they encounter sales pressure, helping them understand their options and protect their budget when they're most vulnerable.
It draws on family heritage in funeral service, international insight, and personal loss.
Professional Development: advising families before they contact a funeral director
Most families receive their first funeral advice from someone with a commercial interest. We train chaplains to offer sound, independent guidance before families enter that sales environment—equipping you to protect and serve them in one of life's most vulnerable moments.
Comfort from the Psalms
The Psalms have long brought comfort to the grieving, yet many Christians don't draw deeply from their wisdom. We've selected passages from 11 Psalms that may help in your ministry, each with a link to an article, sermon, or song.
GriefShare
A GriefShare support group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief. Through this 13-week group, families will discover what to expect in the days ahead and what's "normal" in grief. Since there are no neat, orderly stages of grief, they'll learn helpful ways of coping with grief, in all its unpredictability — and gain solid support each step of the way.
GriefShare is a video-led course featuring Nancy Guthrie and her husband, with contributions from Joni Eareckson Tada and Paul David Tripp. Sessions are facilitated by churches, and sometimes in retirement villages and aged care facilities. GriefShare has helped over 1 million people in more than 25 years.
👉 Read an article about it
👉 Find out more or start a group where you are chaplain or in your church
Christian books on grief and hope
Marc has either found these books personally helpful or they are highly recommended:
The Doors of the Ocean by John O'Callaghan
"The gentle pace of the poetry and the elegant, peaceful photographs invite you to slow down and rest."
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop
"Drawing on examples from the Bible and his own story of loss, Pastor Vroegop walks through steps of lament (Turn, Complain, Ask, and Trust)."
Suffering Well by Paul Grimmond
"As I began to write this book, I thought I knew pretty much what I was going to say. But the more I read the Bible, trying to find the right passages to make the points I thought I needed to make, the more uneasy I felt."
Hope Beyond Cure by David McDonald
"Two devastating words left me feeling hopeless and lost. Tumour and incurable."
The Book of Common Courage by K.J. Ramsey
Based on Psalm 23, it is "a collection of prayers, poems, and blessings to help you find a flicker of strength in the small and hard moments of life."
We receive no commission from links on this page.
Suicide Prevention and Bereavement
Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program - Anglicare
QIP accredited training for those working with older people, meeting Suicide Prevention Australia standards. CPD points available.
👉 Learn more
Additional resources
For links to suicide prevention and bereavement support organizations:
👉 Suicide Prevention and Bereavement resources
If someone is in crisis:
Immediate danger: Call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance
24/7 confidential counselling:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 or chat online at lifeline.org.au
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au
No problem is too big or small.
House of Refuge
House of Refuge is a new movement, associated with Love Sydney. It empowers churches to support those facing unplanned or crisis pregnancy, guide those hurting from previous abortions toward healing, and protect the unborn in their community.
A House of Refuge isn't a building — it's a local church where someone can go in crisis, a safe place where the body of Christ ministers to those in need.
👉 Hear an interview about it
👉 Find out more or start a group in your church
Help with funeral costs for families in need
If families have limited means, we may be able to offer Funeral Cost Support.
Here is a brochure specifically for families in this situation.
“We love because he first loved us” — 1 John 4:19
Photo by Chris Gresham-Britt on Unsplash
Transparency and Compliance
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We work with two trusted mortuaries that are registered with NSW Health and both are owned by Independent Mortuary Services.
They are where your loved one is cared for with dignity. The locations are:
5/186 Hartley Road, Smeaton Grange NSW 2567 — near Narellan and in South Western Sydney
1/5 Joule Place, Tuggerah NSW 2259 — on the Central Coast
If an unattended cremation (or direct cremation service) is required, and the family provides written consent, when most practical, we usually propose that it take place at:
Macarthur Grange Chapel and Crematorium, 6/186 Hartley Road, Smeaton Grange NSW 2567
Alternatively, we are able to work with a local crematorium in the areas that we service.
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Our Registered Business Address:
1/5 Joule Place, Tuggerah NSW 2259
Our ABN: 32 193 287 266
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PRIVACY POLICY
Introduction
Marc and Friends ABN 32 193 287 266 (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring compliance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and store your personal information. By providing your personal information to us, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not provide your personal information or use our services.1. Collection of Personal Information
We collect personal information to provide, improve, and promote our services. The types of personal information we may collect include:
• Name, address, phone number, and email address;
• Payment details such as credit card information;
• Information related to the services you have requested;
• Feedback, preferences, or communication history with us;
• Sensitive information where required, such as for health-related services (with your consent).We will only collect personal information by lawful and fair means, directly from you, unless it is unreasonable or impracticable to do so.
2. Use of Personal Information
We use your personal information to:
• Provide the services or products you request;
• Respond to your inquiries and communicate with you;
• Process payments and manage billing;
• Improve our services and customer experience;
• Comply with legal obligations and protect our legal interests;
• Conduct research and share personal stories—if you provide your personal story via our survey and give explicit consent, we may publish your story (with your name or pseudonym as provided) as part of our research findings. Light editing for clarity or brevity may be undertaken, while ensuring the essence of your story is maintained.
• Carry out direct marketing purposes (you can opt-out at any time).3. Disclosure of Personal Information
We may disclose your personal information to:
• Third-party service providers (e.g., payment processors, IT support);
• Regulatory bodies or government agencies, where required by law;
• Other organisations with your consent.If you provide your personal story and consent to its publication, your information will only be shared publicly as described in section 2.
We take reasonable steps to ensure that these third parties comply with the Australian Privacy Principles and use your information only for the purposes for which it was provided.
4. Data Security
We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, loss, and unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. These measures include:
• Secure storage systems;
• Access controls and encryption;
• Regular security updates and audits.When your personal information is no longer required, we will securely destroy or de-identify it.
5. Access to and Correction of Personal Information
You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you and to request corrections if it is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date. To make a request, please contact us using the details below. We may require proof of identity and will respond within a reasonable time.6. Overseas Disclosure
We may store or process your personal information outside Australia. When we do so, we take reasonable steps to ensure that overseas recipients comply with the Australian Privacy Principles.7. Cookies and Online Tracking
Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your online experience. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies, but this may affect the functionality of our website.8. Complaints and Queries
If you have any concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact us using the details below. We will investigate your complaint and respond within a reasonable time.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).9. Changes to this Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The latest version will be available on our website, and we encourage you to review it periodically.Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, or wish to make a request, please contact us:
Email: hello@marcandfriends.com.au
Phone: 1300 136 473Effective Date: 24 February 2025
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At Marc & Friends, we are committed to providing excellent service. However, if you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our service, we encourage you to let us know so we can resolve the issue promptly and improve.
How to Make a Complaint
You can raise a complaint by:
Email or phone 1300 136 473
Please include:
Your name and contact details
A description of the issue
Any relevant dates, receipts, or supporting documents
How We Handle Complaints
Acknowledgement: We will confirm receipt of your complaint within 2 business days.
Investigation: We will review the matter carefully, which may involve speaking with relevant parties or reviewing records.
Resolution: We aim to provide a fair response within 5 business days. If more time is needed, we will keep you informed.
Escalation
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may seek guidance from a relevant external body, such as NSW Department of Fair Trading.
We value your feedback and appreciate the opportunity to resolve concerns professionally and fairly.
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