AFTER DEATH... Funeral Arrangements
Precious Memories
Months earlier, I had asked Mom about her favorite hymns so I knew exactly what we would have the congregation sing. My nephew and niece both played the piano so they agreed to provide accompaniment during the service as well as while guests arrived. Since most of the guests were church going folks, they knew the hymns we picked. We all really raised the roof when we sang them. My brother and sister shared their special memories. I gave a short sermon on John 3:16, the Bible verse that changed Mom's life. Then I showed her video interview. It was a heavenly, uplifting time of worship and remembrance.
Private Worship and Reflection
On the Sunday between the memorial service and burial ceremony, the relatives came to a special worship service we held in a Japanese "longhouse" style party room next to a beautiful fishpond and waterfall. This peaceful setting was located on the top of the parking garage of our high-rise apartment building. We gathered up ukuleles, guitars, and other instruments. We sang hymns and praise choruses together. Then I let Dad tell his story of surviving the Pearl Harbor Attack and how he decided to become a minister afterwards. I closed our private worship with a challenge to all the grandchildren to make their life count for something the same way their grandmother and grandfather had done.
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