Weddings and funerals

TWO MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

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Dr. Paul Manuel—2017

One of the most enjoyable tasks a minister has is conducting a wedding service, because it signals the start of life for two people and the enjoyable prospect that life holds for their future together. In addition to the legal pronouncement accompanying the service ("husband and wife"), the most important part is the charge he issues to them, although they will probably not remember it.

One of the least 'enjoyable' tasks a minister has is conducting a funeral service, because it signals the end of life for a person who may or may not have comported himself well and, therefore, has a potentially uncertain future from a minister's perspective. Thankfully, the determination of that future, whether with God or apart from God, is not a minister's responsibility. Although how that person lived often indicates how he will spend eternity, a minister must direct his remarks, which may include a brief meditation, to the living.

For the redeemed, of course, a funeral, like a wedding, should also be a celebration, as a child of God has entered eternity. In fact, there is no greater joy than the assurance of eternal life in the presence of the eternal God. It is the culmination of all goodness and blessing the Lord has in store for His people, including the certainty of a final resurrection to life.

The relative number of weddings and funerals is some indication of a congregation's health, not its spirituality but its numerical growth potential. A disproportionate number of funerals, for example, points to a church in decline and heading toward possible closure. The German Seventh Day Baptist church in Salemville PA is one such group, a loving assembly of God's people committed to serving Him but, barring some significant change, resigned to slow but eventual obscurity. The church has several factors that do not work in favor of numerical growth: a rural location, a non-traditional day of worship, and few programs, especially for children.

These wedding charges and funeral meditations are devotionals from services I have had the privilege of conducting in the course of ministry. My approach to them, like my approach to sermon preparation, is textual so each message reflects on a particular biblical passage. People will remember little of what I say, but if I can reinforce their recollection of an already familiar biblical passage, then it may come to mind again when a future need arises. Although I originally prepared these for specific occasions, I have removed mention of specific people but left the message itself intact.

Wedding Charges

"Good to Be Together" (Gen 2:18).
"My Beloved" (Song 6:3a).
"The Pursuit of Happiness" (Eccl 2:26; 3:12).
"Two are better than one" (Eccl 4:9a).

Funeral Meditations

"The Decision to Serve the Lord" (Josh 24:15).     NB: Because this meditation was very personal     (for my father, its only use), I did not revise it.
"The Continuity of God's Care" (Ps 23:1, 6).
"Through the Valley" (Ps 23:4).
"Home at Last" (Ps 23:6b).
"The Measure of a Man" (Ps 37:21, 26).
"A Temperament of Contentment" (Ps 86:12).
"God Is the Source" (Ps 90:1-12).
"Reflections on God's Protection" (Ps 91:1-16).
"Bless the Lord" (Ps 103:1-5).
"To Praise the LORD" (Ps 117:1-2).
"The Lord Is Your Guardian" (Ps 121:1-8).
"Reflections from Ps 139" (Ps 139:1-10).
"A Cheerful Look" (Prov 15:30a).
"Safe in the Arms of Jesus" (Mark 10:14,16).    NB: This meditation was for the death of an infant.
"Abundant Life" (John 10:7-10).

For a pdf of this post see here.