Grief over the death of a pet is real and complicated and lacks the formal markers that are so important to us as we gather for a Christian funeral What are some of the times you’ve been delighted to have liturgical ways of marking important pastoral moments with those you love and serve? Continue reading
“For Jesus!” It sounded like a battle cry. I shouted ‘For Jesus!’ too. Continue reading
Cloaked under the guise of ministry to the grieving, Golden Gate is no more than a high end party-planner. Their mandate is to make people feel happy and have a ‘good time.’ Funeral director John Beckwith Jr. is even quoted as saying that their desire is to ‘make these families extremely happy during the worst moments of their life.’ Continue reading
I’ve been at and part of funerals that have, in the midst of very real sorrow, made that hope and joy palpable—in singing, in brilliantly told stories and preached sermons, in music. While it’s clearly grace when it works, it’s also the dint of effort and a special alchemy of gifts coming together. And so I’m curious. What stories do you have to share about truly special funerals, when you felt that joy of the good news of Christ’s resurrection in the midst of the sorrow of those gathered? Was there some special moment that made you feel it? What helped that joy and hope to come alive for you? Continue reading
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