Tomorrow I have a funeral. It's been a while. I wish that I had kept track all the years of my ministry of the names of those confirmed, married, buried, baptized, etc. I was several years into the ministry before I knew that just such a book exists. Of course, it is required that you record that in the "book" that belongs to the church, which stays there. Little did I know that there is such a thing as a clergy record book that goes with you wherever you go. If I look at those four categories, my guess is that funerals would probably top the list.
The person being buried tomorrow does not really have any connection to the church I serve. These days that is not so unusual. The only real connection was that the mother of the deceased once babysat in the church nursery. At least they want a clergy officiant. It would not surprise me if in the future that, too, becomes obsolete, at least for non-church folks.
Strange as it may sound, I do love the challenge of a funeral. It takes good interviewing and listening skills, as you talk with the family. It takes intuition and reading between the lines, and putting together thoughts and ideas that are appropriate in tone and content, something close to an accurate depiction of that person's life. It is a task that I work very hard to do well. What could be more important than honoring a life in that situation? Certainly, there is no more tender time for the family.
Like Easter and the resurrection, funerals are for me high holy moments.
No comments:
Post a Comment