It’s a Facebook page for denominational pastors, and it was recommended to me by our student pastor. I’ve since offered it to several others, telling them it will entertain or make you angry.
The anger comes when you see how narrow-minded some ministers are about issues that are, in my opinion, secondary, reminiscent of the age-old question, “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?”
But the entertainment value is there, too.
One pastor said the family played “Spirit In The Sky” at a funeral he conducted and wondered what other unusual funeral songs his colleagues had heard.
Responses came pouring in.
One service had George Jones singing, “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” though it was unclear in the post who the he and she were.
Another unusual song was “Drop Kick Me Jesus Through The Goalposts of Life.” Others included “Pretty Woman,” “Dancing Queen,” “Happy Trails To You” and “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.” I suppose the epitome of this list was the LSU fight song--“Fight For LSU”--as a funeral tribute.
I once conducted a funeral and Elvis sang “How Great Thou Art.” He did fine.
Several times families have used country ballads that I was unfamiliar with, and I got lost in the complicated story lines. I normally have other things on my mind when planning and conducting funerals and don’t spend a lot of time suggesting music, unless queried. I have suggested familiar hymns when asked, believing more people can relate.
I chaired the chapel committee at Judson College for more than a decade. One day we had a speaker cancel at the last minute. I called Judson librarian George Washburn, also a local church music minister, and asked if we could have a hymn sing. This was met with great acclaim and became the most popular service we had each year. Students who regularly complained about the lack of contemporary music in chapel--we had music professors and a Flentrop pipe organ that was built especially for the room we used--told me they loved the old hymns. Many said it reminded them of church with their grandparents.
I’m convinced the same is true for memorial services. Few renditions are as moving as “Amazing Grace.” When presidents are buried, bagpipers are brought in to play this familiar tune. (Normally the bagpiper is a football field away. If you’ve ever been in an enclosed room with a bagpiper, you understand how loud this instrument is.)
A memorial service is designed to give tribute to lives of value since everyone makes a contribution, and to instill hope that though the body returns to dust, the spirit returns to God who gave it.
