What to preach at a funeral?
The previous mail, including a contest to identify a quotation, was prompted by my reading the next Grove Worship booklet,How to Ready and Conduct a Funeral past Charles Chadwick and Phillip Tovey from Oxford Diocese. Aimed primarily at Readers besides as other licensed lay ministers, it is an splendid guide to the whole process of visiting, planning, conducting a funeral and preaching at it.
In relation to the sermon, it provides some really thoughtful material that considers the purpose of preaching, options for preaching strategy, and an interesting and challenging checklist.
The Roman Cosmic Order of Christian Funerals (1991) is more than definite in its direction on the funeral sermon (which it calls a homily) and we might meet it every bit helping to aggrandize the brief note from Mutual Worship on the sermon:
27. A brief homily based on the readings is always given later on the gospel reading at the funeral liturgy and may likewise exist given later on the readings at the vigil service…Circumspect to the grief of those present, the homilist should dwell on God's compassionate dearest and on the paschal mystery of the Lord, as proclaimed in the Scripture readings. The homilist should also assist the members of the associates to understand that the mystery of God'southward dear and the mystery of Jesus' victorious expiry and resurrection were present in the life and death of the deceased and that these mysteries are agile in their own lives likewise. Through the homily members of the family unit and community should receive consolation and strength to confront the death of ane of their members with a hope nourished by the saving word of God. (pp 8–9)
The Roman Catholic Church makes a sharp distinction between the homily and the eulogy (or tribute). The homily is to eye on the paschal mystery being at piece of work in the deceased and bringing comfort to the living. A lay-led funeral with 'didactics' based on the readings is anticipated by this management.
Information technology is therefore essential that the sermon explains the Christian message of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Thomas Long gives eight dissimilar styles of funeral sermon. While all try to relate the Scriptures to the funeral for the benefit of the family unit and the congregation, the approach to this job differs.
- Kerygmatic: 'In the valley of the shadow of decease, you are there.' The purpose hither is to preach the gospel. This makes funeral preaching a part of the normal work of gospel declaration.
- Ecclesial: 'Such is the company of those who seek God.' In death we are not lone, either the living or the departed.
- Oblational: 'Bring an offering and come up into his courts.' In expiry we render the deceased to God with all their life.
- Eucharistic: 'O requite cheers to the Lord.' We give thanks God for the life of the departed and for all their life.
- Therapeutic: 'In the day of my problem, I seek the Lord.' The purpose here is to minister God's healing love.
- Commemorative: 'Lord, yous have been our dwelling place in all generations.' This is the eulogistic element commemorating a life of grace.
- Missional: 'That I may walk before God in the light of life.' Life is a mission of God even in the face of death.
- Educational: 'Teach u.s.a. to number our days.' This is a message for the believing and unbelieving but needs to exist done with some sensitivity.
There are elements in this list that might appear overlapping. Withal, this is a useful typology to employ for reflection on the aim of the funeral sermon. What are we trying to do when we preach? Exercise you lot feel you want to use one style, and if and then, why?
Nosotros offer hither a series of questions that might be a helpful checklist for yous when preaching at a funeral.
What is the purpose of this funeral?
- Is it to mourn the loss?
- To call back and celebrate someone?
- To anticipate the resurrection?
- To condolement those who mourn?
- To assist people move on?
- To preach the gospel?
What is my theology of life and death?
- How are hope and faith related to expiry and resurrection?
- Am I able to live with the 'not knowing' of death?
Who is this person who died?
- One-time or young? Married? Parents, siblings, children?
- What was their social status? Work? Faith? Successes and failures?
- What primal discussion or epitome exercise yous associate with this person?
- What were the beliefs of the deceased?
Who are the people who will hear this funeral sermon?
- Family unit? Friends? Colleagues?
- How many will there be?
- How did the family chronicle to the deceased?
- Was the death expected?
- Who is existence left out?
- What is non beingness talked nearly?
- What is the faith of the family?
What is my relationship to the deceased?
- To the mourning community?
- Am I personally grieving?
- Does this remind me of other losses?
- What volition my future relationship exist with these people?
This is a fairly formidable list. It centres on the pastoral circumstances of the participants and their interconnectedness. It is perhaps virtually appropriate equally another checklist of things to be enlightened of in visiting the family. Some of it might be helpful in calculation eulogic elements into the sermon, although the preacher has to exist careful that all the statements made are accurate. While it does not provide the gospel words involved in preaching, it does provide the pastoral context for your sermon.
I call back this booklet will become a really important resource for Readers involved in this ministry building—and might be useful for those in ordained ministry building too. At that place are also two other Grove booklets on preaching at funerals: the originalPreaching at Funerals by Ian Bunting (now out of print); and the more recentSorrow and Hope: preaching at funerals by Nick Watson.
To buy this booklet, visit its page at Grove.
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