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Overview
Unlike weddings, funerals rarely take place after extensive planning. Often the deceased is not someone the pastor has known well, and preparations for the service of death and resurrection take place in the midst of pastoral care of the grieving, writing the funeral sermon, and the pastor’s regular duties. These circumstances make it especially hard to plan an appropriate and meaningful order of worship for the funeral service.
Christian Funerals will help pastors as they attend to this crucial ministry of the church. Drawing on the books of worship from a number of denominations and traditions, it provides several options for each of the elements of the funeral service, from gathering texts to opening prayers to scripture lessons to final prayers.
The book is bound in a way that makes it suitable for use at church services and at the grave side.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781426730146 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Abingdon Press |
| Publication date: | 12/01/2010 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| File size: | 577 KB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Christian Funerals
By Andy Langford
Abingdon Press
Copyright © 2010 Abingdon PressAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4267-3014-6
CHAPTER 1
MINISTRY AND WORSHIP AT TIMES OF DEATH
A Theological Consideration of Death
In 1997, thirty-three million persons in the United States watched on television the funeral of Lady Diana, Princess of Wales. From historic Westminster Abbey, two-and-a-half billion people around the world watched the solemn procession, heard sacred music, listened to her brother's eulogy, enjoyed Elton John singing "Candle in the Wind," and most significantly, heard the reading of Scripture and classic Anglican prayers. More people, through the power of the media, may have participated in this service of Christian worship than any other event in the twentieth century.
In 2009, thirty-one million persons in the US watched the television spectacular of Michael Jackson's memorial service. In this show, speakers occasionally mentioned God and many artists performed. Was it worship?
When powerful politicians, significant leaders of commerce, and renowned persons die, funerals and memorial services remain critical moments in the life of individuals and communities. How do Christians celebrate these moments in ways that honor the deceased and worship our God?
Just as important, however, are the smaller, quieter moments in homes, hospitals, sanctuaries, funeral homes, columbariums, and graveyards in every community. The prayers for a child not surviving birth, a memorial for a youth who died too young, the service for a beloved mother or father, and the committal of an older person with no family are just as significant and demand the same honor as those for any other person created in the image of God. Christianity proclaims that each individual is a unique child of God, no matter how famous or infamous, the age of the person, or the circumstance of his or her death. When anyone dies, at those moments the church offers God's blessing. Acts of Christian worship in the midst of death are the liturgical, formal, poetic, communal, and biblical expressions of personal and community loss and grief as well as comfort and hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
People of all cultures and faiths honor persons at their death. Evidence of funeral practices goes back 300,000 years, even before the time of modern Homo sapiens. Today, some persons and families prefer to ignore death, or treat it as a simple passage from life, or create temporary collections of flowers and stuffed animals. In every place and time, persons gather to give thanks for the person who has died, comfort the families who grieve, and give reassurance to one another.
Christians, however, mark death with unique rituals that stand at the heart of our faith. Christians at all times and in all places acknowledge the reality of death and proclaim the promise of resurrection. Gathering in the power of the resurrected Jesus Christ, pastors guide a community's worship with the right Scriptures and with the appropriate prayers in a sacred space.
The heart of our Christian faith proclaims life beyond death. Jesus Christ in the Great Three Days from Holy Thursday to the Day of Easter died and lived again for our salvation and all of creation. Whenever the followers of Jesus Christ gather, from daily prayers to weekly worship to Easter festivals, we proclaim the mystery of death and resurrection with joy and thanksgiving. In our prayers and worship, we accept the reality of death, remember the deceased, and honor those who have departed. In addition, we enable the family and believing community to witness to our shared faith. Together, persons share pain and joy, support one another, pray as one, and exhibit grief. Ultimately, we reaffirm God's covenant with us, with the saints, and with each other. For Christ's followers, salvation is first and foremost Christ's gift of life beyond death. Funerals and memorial services, along with all the services related to them, are the foundation stone of the ministry of the church.
Various ministries with the dying, a Christian funeral or memorial service, and then care for the grieving all mark significant passages in the Christian community. Faced with the reality of death, the people of God gather together to proclaim the good news: Jesus Christ has triumphed over death. Acknowledging grief and loss, the community remembers the person who has passed from the church on earth—"the church militant"— to the church in heaven—"the church triumphant." And in proclaiming the faith and acknowledging grief, God through the church grants comfort, hope, and resurrection to the whole body of Christ.
The Role of the Pastor
Pastors are the people ultimately responsible to ensure that every ministry and service for every person is the best possible expression of our Christian faith. The Christian pastor's role at death includes a wide range of ministries: from counseling and praying with the dying, being present at the time of death, planning and leading services of worship, caring for the grieving, and remembering the dead and their families long after funerals and memorial services. In every case, pastors offer comfort to the dying, hope to the bereaved, and a clear Christian witness to the whole community.
Unfortunately, on many occasions death occurs without advance notice. Every pastor has received an unexpected phone call in the middle of the night, or while on vacation, or in the midst of many other obligations. Death always shifts a pastor's life and a congregation's rhythm and reminds us of the central truth of Christianity: that death does not separate us from the love of God.
Ministries at times of death present many emotional and intellectual challenges for pastors. Even in their grief, families, pastors, and other helping professionals make many decisions quickly, such as the date and time for a service of worship. Often, services must be put together with little previous preparation. Pastors and families must decide in a few hours which Scriptures to read, who will participate, which songs to sing, and many other decisions, which may even change in the last moments. For at least a few days, and sometimes for many days or even months, ministering to the dying, the dead, and their loved ones becomes the single most important ministry of the people of God and their pastors.
Pastors experience no greater honor in ministry than standing at the bed of a dying person or presiding at funerals and memorial services. In my own pastoral ministry, I have presided at services for a stillborn child, a sixteen-year-old youth who suffered a heart attack, a youth with prolonged cancer, a suicide victim, the victim of a crime, a father of young children, members of my own family including my grandmothers and father, and hundreds of older adults. In every case, the words, distinctive music, signs, and silence during these days conveyed the love of God to family and a whole congregation. Standing beside a casket, speaking to people whom one cares for deeply, and proclaiming the Gospel of Resurrection is one of the highest privileges of ministry.
On these occasions, the pastor gathers the collective memory of the family and offers God's witness to those who mourn. Ministry at the time of death at its best faces death realistically, offers God's comfort, allows grief to be expressed, and honors the deceased as a unique creation of God. Pastors offer the liturgical, theological, and pastoral guidance that enhances the spiritual growth of everyone.
Pastors know, of course, that such ministry does not begin only at a time of death. Pastors must address issues of mortality and immortality within a congregation or among the people with whom one serves throughout one's ministry. Pastors have the responsibility to teach and preach about death, dying, and resurrection. Preach a sermon series and teach a class concerning death and dying. Create a planning guide for funerals. Invite a funeral director to teach about preplanning or simply answer questions. Arrange a tour of a funeral home. Host a member of a local hospice to speak. Offer classes to encourage persons to make end-of-life plans. Ask a lawyer to speak about wills and designating memorials. Lead a Bible study on biblical views of death. Plan carefully for special services such as All Saints Day, Homecoming, cemetery Decoration Day, and other special occasions when death and resurrection are the core theme. Encourage persons under hospice care or others clearly facing their own death to begin planning for their final days and their own funeral. These are essential ministries, however, which are not covered in this resource.
The resources in this book are a collection of the best Christian resources available to assist pastors specifically in their ministries of worship with persons at the time of death. This collection of the highest quality funeral resources, along with practical advice across a wide spectrum of Christian traditions, allows pastors to choose easily among many prayers, Scripture lessons, and liturgies. The resources come primarily from authorized denominational books of worship. Full Scripture texts are also included. Pastors do not need to juggle Bibles and prayer books and other collections of resources. All the resources pastors need at a time of death are here!
When a person is dying, family and friends gather around the terminally ill person. Medical professionals, such as hospice physicians and staff, stand alongside the family. See the Ministry with the Dying on page 13 for pastoral prayers and acts of worship with persons and families in times when death is on the near horizon.
Between the time of death and the time of the funeral or memorial service, a variety of supportive ministries by church, family, friends, and other organizations may take place. See A Family Hour, Wake, or Vigil on page 36 for guidance and direction.
When death has occurred, pastors and families must consider many topics regarding Services of Death and Resurrection. Traditionally, a "Funeral" is a service at death with the body or remains of the deceased present. A "Memorial Service" is a service without the remains of the deceased. "Burial of the Dead" is appropriate for a service at the location where the remains of the deceased are buried. The majority of this book provides resources for such Services of Death and Resurrection.
General Practical Guidelines
Before looking at all the specific acts of worship included in this book, let us focus first on some preliminary issues about funerals and memorial services in particular. At almost all Services of Death and Resurrection, many of the same questions arise every time.
Who should plan the final service? Common courtesy and practical wisdom dictates that the pastor and the bereaved family plan together the final service of worship, including many of the following subjects. Families often appreciate when pastors offer them options. For example, instead of just asking for favorite Scriptures or hymns, in which case most families simply say what seems most familiar, a pastor may provide a family with a list of possible Scriptures and hymns. In summary, neither the family nor the pastor should plan the service alone.
In addition, at the time of a loved one's death, funeral directors and other service providers are invaluable colleagues when planning the final service. While sometimes the subject of some negative stereotypes, the vast majority of these professionals are there to serve in any way possible. A good working relationship between pastors and funeral directors serves the dying and their families well.
Making decision, however, can cause stress. Especially at times of death, many families agonize too much over making "perfect" decisions, often with little time to decide. One role for the pastor is to reassure each family that whatever decisions are reached together, the family's plans will be honored and not critiqued at a later date.
When will the service occur? This is often the first decision, and the best time is the one that best meets the desires and schedules of family, friends, congregation, pastor, and funeral home. Ask if there are scheduling conflicts with the church, cemetery, or funeral home. Services may be held morning, afternoon, or night. Some services are preceded or followed by family gatherings, receptions of friends, committals, and meals. Some services occur immediately, and others may take weeks to arrange. Ultimately, the ideal time is simply the time set after conversations with everyone.
Where will the service take place? The place of worship shapes the service in many ways. Ideally, a sanctuary where the deceased worshiped should be used. In this sacred space, the person may have marked passages of Christian life such as baptism and marriage. The cost of a service in the sanctuary may also be lower. Ready access to the symbols of faith, hymnals, and musical instruments are all valuable.
If the service is at the church, members of the staff or volunteers need to be alerted to set up the sanctuary or worship space. The placement of flowers, candles, paraments, banners, and other signs is crucial. When will the doors of the church be opened? Is the air conditioning or heat on? Who will usher?
A funeral chapel or home is also appropriate for the service. For the convenience of the family, sometimes the location and space of the funeral home works best. A family home, mausoleum, crematorium, columbarium, or even in the out-of-doors on land or sea are often also acceptable places for funerals and memorial services.
Graveside services are becoming more popular. This simple setting when the departed will be committed to the earth adds to the reality of death. The loss, however, of sacred space and symbols limits some options. Weather is also a concern, and bad weather will shorten the service.
Will the body be buried or cremated? In human history, the norm has been burial of a body in the ground where the body gradually returns to the earth. Burial of a body in a grave or tomb was historically the appropriate way to honor the dead. The gravesite may then be marked for generations to come. In a "Green Funeral" the body is buried without being embalmed or other ways to protect the body from the elements. The Jewish community requires burial, and some Christian communions, such as Roman Catholics and the Orthodox, have a strong preference for burial as a sign of respect for the dead. Yet embalming a body and placing it in a watertight casket seems to defeat the vision of returning the deceased to the earth. The cost is also higher.
Is cremation acceptable? The word cremation comes from the Latin that means "to burn" and specifically the burning of the dead. Typically, cremation involves burning the body for about four hours. The remains, called "cremains," appear as a white, chalky, and gritty powder from the bones. Does cremation have biblical warrant? In ancient Israel, the only bodies burned were those of idols, criminals, and enemies. In the New Testament, hell is described as a place of deep burning. Yet, cremation is more economical and allows the cremains to be scattered in various places. The dust of the remains can just as honorably be returned to the earth (either by gently sprinkling the ashes in a beloved setting or burying them in a small hole in an urn) or scattered on a body of water. If God can resurrect a body, God can also resurrect cremains. Most Christian communions now allow cremation, sometimes with qualifications, and the practice is clearly becoming more popular.
Many other questions need to be answered by the pastor and others planning the service. Will there be a worship bulletin? What will it include? Who will design it, print it, and fold it? See page 41 for a sample bulletin outline.
When the service is at the church or sanctuary, what colors are appropriate for the Communion table or altar, the pulpit, and other sanctuary fabrics? While some ancient traditions dictate black or white, today many congregations use many different colors including white and green as signs of life beyond death.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Christian Funerals by Andy Langford. Copyright © 2010 Abingdon Press. Excerpted by permission of Abingdon Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
Preface,1. Ministry and Worship at Times of Death,
2. Ministry with the Dying,
3. Ministry Immediately Following Death,
4. A Family Hour, Wake, or Vigil,
5. Services of Death and Resurrection (Funerals and Memorial Services),
6. Graveside Committals,
7. Ministry with the Grieving,
Acknowledgments,