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Accompany Them with Singing--The Christian Funeral
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$ 22.00
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$ 25.00 |
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| Item Number |
704039 |
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Item Description...
Overview
Reviews the beliefs, customs, and rituals associated with Christian funerals; discusses the growing acceptance of cremation and memorial services; and explains how to plan a spiritually meaningful funeral service.
Publishers Description
Thomas Long begins this fascinating volume by describing how the Christian funeral developed historically, theologically, and liturgically, and then discusses recent cultural trends in funeral practices, including the rise in both cremations and memorial services. He describes the basic pattern for a funeral service, details options in funeral planning, identifies characteristics of a "good funeral," and provides thoughtful guidance for preaching at a funeral. Long also notes a disturbing trend toward funeral services that seem theologically right and pastorally caring, but actually depart from the primary aims of the Christian funeral. He argues that a new, less-theological and less-satisfying service that focuses on the mourner has begun to erode the Christian view. He contrasts the ancient grand community drama with today's trend toward body-less memorial services that focus primarily on the living and grief management. This is a loss for the church, he argues, and he calls for the church to reclaim the classic metaphor. |
Item Specifications...
Pages 224
Dimensions: Length: 1" Width: 6.25" Height: 9.25"
Weight: 1.04 lbs.
Binding Hardcover
Release Date Oct 1, 2009
Publisher Westminster John Knox
ISBN 0664233198
EAN 9780664233198
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Availability 9 units.
Availability accurate as of May 27, 2012 12:12.
Usually ships within one to two business days from Johnson City, TN.
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
 | Christian, Read this Book Jan 5, 2010 |
Thomas Long has written the quintessential book on the theology of Christians funerals, if not a primer on the theology of Christian dealing with death. Starting with the premise that `Christians do not live and die in the abstract (p15)' Long first examines background of Christian funnels and does so not as a seminarian, or a scientist, but as a liturgist, a pastor, and as a Christian. Throughout the book, the author with his flair for hymnody, tackles with great sensitivity, the issue of death and funerals for the Christians.
Often times railing against the Neoplatonism which has long endured in Christianity, the author draws a line in the sand against those who insist in seeing the body as nothing more than a shell. In doing so, he is forced to deal with the tension found in Scripture of waiting for the resurrection and immediately being with God upon death. His solution is rather unique and convincing.
He draws together Christian Tradition with the subject of death by connecting the death of a Saint with the baptism. He has a strong liturgical use for baptism and often times casts the death and the funeral of a passed Christian in this light, and does so without theological issues which surround baptism. Long sees the Funeral of a Christian as the story of the Gospel itself.
He acknowledges that for many Americans, death is like pornography in the way in which it is handled (p22), but Long takes it from the back room and brings it into full view in a manner consistent with his desire to see funerals treated as a vital part of the Christian liturgy. Spending time in developing the idea for a better theology of funerals and death, he doesn't let the reader wonder if all of their loved ones were buried in a wrong manner, but simply beckons the Christian to change the styles for the future. He sees the funeral as `the enactment of an alternative narrative, one in which the living God, the God we know in Jesus Christ, speaks the last word.' (p94) Long doesn't want this last word muted or ignored, but lived and cherished for the word of hope which it is. For him, the Christian funeral `is not purely meditation; it is dramatic action.' (p122)
The book is divided into two sections, Background and The Church's Ministry in Death. In the former, Long lays out the case for a Christian funeral to be rather Christian while in the latter, the author discusses the actual funeral - from good marks to planning to deal with difficult ones. His section on planning is detailed and highly valuable for those without proper training - and with proper training - in such things. He is always a pastor in dealing with this material.
One should not be able to make it through this book - the stories contained therein, the words of Long - and not feel some sort of emotional connection to the material. The stories, quips, insights - the life which Long has provided in this work magnificently draws the reader in, and if the reader has hope, it is quickened immeasurably. | | | | A fine and very recommended read for those who want to better understand the Christian funeral Dec 16, 2009 |
| It is the final remembrance of one's time on Earth. "Accompany Them With Singing: The Christian Funeral" discusses the modern Christian funeral and what it means. Evaluating how longstanding traditions has been pushed away in modern years, author Thomas G. Long discusses what a Christian funeral should be, and his disappointment in what it has become. "Accompany Them With Singing" is a fine and very recommended read for those who want to better understand the Christian funeral. | | | | Gourmet food for thought.... Dec 2, 2009 |
| I am a Roman Catholic cleric who has assisted and officiated at many funerals. I found Dr. Long's insights to be invaluable to me. Reading his book rejuvenated my imagination of my role in the funeral even within the limits of Catholic liturgical practice and has improved my preaching. He offers many multi denominational sources and examples as well as a very clear picture of his concepts. I recommend this volume to my colleagues: Catholic and non Catholic alike. | | | | A Road to Better Funerals Dec 1, 2009 |
While recognizing that pastors are still doing Christian funerals, Long offers us alternatives which will more richly proclaim the Gospel hope of resurrection. In a pastorally sensitive way, Long compares funerals to theatre. All involved have a role to play, including the deceased. "While it is true that the gospel is proclaimed in the words of a funeral, it is also true that the gospel is proclaimed in the actions of the funeral." Because of this, "Because the funeral is a piece of drama, it is crucial to enact the gospel script, that is, to be sure that it is the Christian narrative being performed at a funeral, not some other story. In this there are four necessary holy elements:
A holy person - a sinner of God's own redeeming.
A holy place - the church where the good news of Jesus is regularly proclaimed.
A holy people - while not all at a funeral may be Christian, all have gathered for a holy purpose.
A holy script - the good news of victory of Jesus Christ over the power of death.
While the body of the deceased may not always be present, their normal presence helps say that we are traveling companions on the way of Christ. While there are often good reasons for not being in the church building, normally being in the sanctuary helps us proclaim the consistent message of God's victory in Jesus. While the community of faith cannot all be at every funeral, our presence is part of the gathering of the saints on both sides of death. While it is important that an individual has died, who should be honored and remembered, the message of the church is that in Jesus, while death is real, it does not have the final word.
The book includes helpful chapters on planning the funeral and preaching at funerals. Music, cremation, military and civil services, as well as funeral directors are some of the important issues addressed in this book. I particularly appreciated the section on "The eight purposes of a good funeral sermon." Many will find the appendix on difficult funerals helpful. While pastors are the prime target audience for this book, others in the church may find it helpful. In particular, funeral directors may find it worthwhile to read. With over 200 pages, this is a book with some depth. The importance of the church's ministry demands such a book for those who conduct funerals.
R. Karl Watkins, Pastor
Lake Park and Harris United Methodist Churches
| | | | Don't officiate another funeral until you read this book! Oct 15, 2009 |
This book is great; I wish I read it before I started officiating funerals. I feel the need to identify a few major points in the book that distinguish it from other books on the topic, but every page of this book is instructive. If you officiate funerals, don't officiate another one until you read this book.
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