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Plan a Christian Funeral
Published 14 September 2010
It is no secret that Funeral Services along with other rituals and rights of passage events have been subject to radical change with the introduction of Civil Celebrants. Although no licence or registration is required to conduct a funeral service, Christians have increasingly forfeited the end of life event to secular interests. A friend learnt recently that if his family exceeded the allocated time for use of a Crematorium Chapel they would face an extra $800 charge. The more elaborate the service, the greater the profit margin for the Funeral Industry.
Cultural Context:
Funeral practices for Christians are changing as part of a larger cultural shift and the loss of a conviction about bodily resurrection; the communion of saints and eternal life has sadly led to a loss of meaning to our Christian rituals.
Funerals have become very personal affairs and today with a well intentioned desire to reflect on the life of the person who has died families arrive at the church with an agenda of things they want included in the funeral service. A favourite poem, an amusing story, a non stop power point presentation, a list of "best friend", Service Club, workmate speakers or a favourite CD to be fitted in somewhere. While the reading of Psalm 23 or a prayer of thanksgiving is often acceptable, fewer families choose to sing hymns they don't know or that have little meaning for them. Being pastorally sensitive and wanting to help people work through their grief we can easily end up denying the reality of death or compromising the Christian Gospel. To find the path ahead it can be helpful to reflect and to be open to guidance from the past.
Early Practice: Early Christians gave more meaning to the end of life than we do today. Early funeral rites involved three stages. Preparation, procession and burial. The metaphor of journey represented one's path to God over a lifetime and the funeral was the last phase, the end of the physical journey and it was marked by preparation. Family and friends gathered around the bedside to offer prayers. (last rites) The liturgy was built on the conviction that the living and dead were all part of one holy communion of saints The deceased was a child of God, a brother, sister of Christ and all Christians were worthy to be honoured and embraced with tender affection. The body was lovingly washed, anointed and clothed in baptismal garments representing the deceased's new identity of being one with Christ in his life death and resurrection. During each phase the singing of hymns and psalms took place. Then as a completion of baptism and as part of the journey of life shared together the faithful, carried the body along the way to the place of final departure. Sometimes the procession would enter a church on the way for prayers and scripture readings. With a mixture of grief, hope and joy the "saint" would be accompanied on the "last mile of the way" to the place of union with God. At the graveside there was a commendation to God, sometimes a Eucharist and then the actual burial.
In contrast to this rich drama, today's funeral practice is much more a matter of sentiment and odds and ends arranged for the living. As it has been said it is much more "a moving from sorrow to stability rather than a celebration of the gospel that beckons us to join the procession of saints."
Other planned practices of past history included the legacy of a personal testimony to God's grace to be read at the presentation of a person's ‘Last Will and Testament.' Methodists were also known as those who died well and attention was given to the last spoken words of the deceased often used later as a powerful witness to God's presence through life and in death.
Secular request: At the time of death secular Australians still often seek a quasi-spiritual guru to lead the funeral service. After constant requests for the playing of football theme songs at funerals the Catholic Church recently decided to provide some guidelines for funeral services. A carefully framed statement outlining a service that personalises the funeral but that also describes it as an act of worship may be helpful. This does provide a starting place with unbelievers and a pastoral opportunity to explain the meaning behind the Christian practice. At this point the expectations of the church need to be as clear as those requesting help with their choice of service so that appropriate decisions between a secular or Christian service can be made.
A Christian Response: As years advance and peers decline, rather than a focus on the period after death, a birthday or anniversary can be a good time to add an extra "Celebration of Years", so that a time of deliberate thanksgiving to God and festivity with family and friends can be enjoyed together.
A Christian funeral today needs to be pre-planned. In the past the development of distinct Christian practices were woven into local customs but they reflected a clear Christian view of life and death and we cannot afford to be content with anything less. Our cultural context today is different from the past but planning a Christian funeral will be as much a matter of "message-recovery" and reformation as it is a matter of creative innovation. Rather than highlighting the achievements of a lifetime it needs to be a liturgy that gives meaning to a persons place in Christ and the hope of the Christian Gospel.
A simple Funeral Service that celebrates this aspect of life rather than a sombre, impersonal ritual dominated by the clergy need not be inconsistent with a Christian witness to the freedom and joy found in the reality of the resurrection. The promises of God and His word need to be foremost. The use of favourite hymns and music, recalling the persons spiritual journey, draping the coffin in a white shawl at an appropriate time, a suitable scripture followed by the lighting of a candle or the playing of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus have all been used. I heard of a service where the Easter reading of the open tomb was followed by a loud tapping on the lid of the coffin and how the words, "He is not here, he is risen" were used with great effect.
Another Option: A Christian Wake or Memorial Tea as an extended part of the funeral but in a separate venue where food is available is an option that provides a holistic out look and in some ways is as important as the funeral service. This relaxed; "open mike" atmosphere invites the recall of warts and all stories, photos, grandchildren performing, poems, service club speeches and holiday yarns. This is all part of a celebration recalling the fellowship and bond shared, the life achievements and legacy of the loved one. The presence of the coffin may leave some feeling uncomfortable but it can be a powerful way of making death a normal part of life and of joining in an anticipation of the future, the festive banquet when all of God's people will be reunited in the coming Kingdom.
Prepared by Rev Ted (E.A.) Curnow Sep 2010
