THE IMPORTANCE OF A FUNERAL

20052952_s.jpg

WE HAVE HAD QUITE THE FEW DAYS WITHIN OUR FUMC FAMILY AS WE GATHERED FOR TWO FUNERALS WITHIN 48 HOURS.. While I have been here only seven months, each of these ladies was special to me for different reasons. Far from being part of my professional responsibilities, to lead each of these services was a high, holy, and sacred honor. I want to thank those of you who have been so kind and generous with your words of support for your pastor during these times.

In conversation with several of you over these past few days, I think I have said something that might have come as a surprise - my observation that it is healthy for churches to celebrate funerals. I mean this not in a way of alluding to a desire for anyone's demise - far from it, in fact, for you all are beautiful people and it is a joy to share this season of ministry with you.

No, I believe firmly that funerals are an important part of a congregation's life and health for many reasons, with these being but a few:

  • Christian funerals remind us death does not have the final word.

  • Christian funerals remind us we are part of the church triumphant and universal.

  • Christian funerals remind us it is from God we come and to God we return.

  • Christian funerals remind us that God is the one who gives us those we love.

  • Christian funerals remind us those traits that are good in those we love are a product of God's grace and love.

  • Christian funerals remind us we have a role to play in supporting and comforting family and friends who grieve, even in the midst of our own grief.

  • Christian funerals remind us that our lives are part of God's story rather than God being part of our story.

  • Christian funerals remind us that as pallbearers carry us to our final physical resting place, we as people of faith within the community of a congregation carry each other through the highs and lows of life.

I could keep going, but I think you get the point - Christian funerals within the context of a local congregation ground us in the realities of God's love as manifest in creation, Christ's grace in salvation, and the Holy Spirit's sustaining presence in our lives as we seek to live lives as faithful disciples of Christ.

Make no mistake about it - we miss terribly those who have passed on to glory. However, let us also make no mistake about it - the sacred work of the church through the liturgy of what is known as a Service of Death and Resurrection to the Glory of God in honor of the person we may be celebrating that day is an essential and integral part of our journey as disciples and the life of the congregation in which we live, worship, and serve.

Grace and Peace,
Lamar

GRIST FOR THE MILLLamar C. OliverComment