Baby Boomers have never followed tradition, and planning their funerals is no exception. Those born between 1946 and 1965, a time when birth rates increased dramatically, have always wanted to do things their way. Funeral directors are anticipating, with a bit of macabre excitement, the exit of a giant generation. Because of declining death rates, ...
Post-Mortem photography, the act of taking photographs of the recently deceased, was a common custom during the beginning of the 19th century. It eventually replaced the older and much more costly use of posthumous paintings. With the advent and popularization of the photograph came the ability for the middle class to memorialize their loved ones. ...
The late Jerry Falwell once joked that the work of the pastor was to hatch, patch, match and dispatch. I would have to agree. As a minister, perform all of those four functions in the life of the church. Hatch: I visit people following the birth of children. Patch: I visit people during and following ...
In a previous Associated Content article, I gave several illustrations I’ve used in funeral sermons. I noted in that article that I like to use illustrations to catch the attention of the listeners and, I might add, to drive home the points I’m trying to make. Here are several more great illustrations that I’ve used ...
In an Associated Content article I wrote in September of 2007, I gave some tips for preparing funeral sermons for people who had committed suicide. Because of the shock and intense emotions that inevitably occur in the aftermath of a suicide, the role of the pastor is particularly difficult and important. A suicide raises some ...
During a recent ministry course in which our curriculum required of my classmates and I to arrange and host live, but scenario-based funerals, I was reminded of how powerful Scripture can be in times of death and loss. After losing my own mother to cancer when I was 15, these Bible verses for funerals still ...