Funeral and Graveside Services
Calvin Ratz
At a wedding, I may feel like a necessary accessory along with the flowers, rented tuxedos, and candles, but at a funeral, I sense people sincerely look to me for help. People are more open and responsive, appreciative of help given — more than at any other time.
Calvin Ratz I love funerals. Not that I enjoy death, it's just that I agree with Solomon, who said, "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting" (Eccles. 7:2). After talking and praying with the bereaved, I go home feeling I've made a difference; I've touched people at the point of their deepest need. Burying the dead is part of pastoral turf. How we handle it goes a long way in determining our acceptance in a community and the depth of our spiritual impact on a congregation. Any strengths I muster can lose their power if I can't help people who are bereaved. A well-handled funeral can be the best opportunity for genuine public relations a church and its pastor can have. It doesn't lead to instant church growth, but it breaks down barriers and builds an attitude of respect and appreciation. It's a positive point of contact with people who have drifted away from the church. Whenever I've gone to a new congregation, I realize my first funeral is a chance to let the people see a side of me not obvious from the pulpit. Parishioners are initially skeptical about a new leader. They're wondering what the new pastor will be like and how much they can trust him. When they see me conduct a funeral service, people notice whether I care about them as individuals, even in their darkest moments. Exciting and Exacting
These pastoral responsibilities are both exciting and exacting. I consider them exciting because they provide opportunities to get ...
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