Funerals

Here's something that seems to be common knowledge but somehow got by me.  A friend said that she wanted an "Episcopalian funeral" in a Presbyterian church directed by her Presbyterian pastor.  Apparently the Episcopalians don't eulogize the dead at their funerals.  They read scripture, talk about the resurrection, but not about the person.  In other words, it's a worship service with a dead body.

Of course, Presbyterian services are considered worship services too but we celebrate the person's life.  Sometimes well.  Sometimes poorly.  I attended a miserable Methodist funeral this week-end where a clueless pastor dropped our jaws.  On the other hand, my own pastor is renown for uplifting funerals. 

Funerals are for the living but we all have an idea about what we would want for ours.  My experience is that most people want "How great thou art".  I like Isaac Watts' "My shepherd will supply my need" based on the 23rd psalm but it's not in any hymnal and isn't something a congregation could sing. 

The only thing I've told Giggles is that I don't want her to pay for an obituary.  If I'm news, the paper can report.  If not, I'll go quietly into the night.