Christian Funeral Rites And Their Importance

For a devout Christian, a funeral ceremony is a celebration of the deceased’s journey into eternal life hereafter. It is for this precise reason that such services are very uplifting, as they are an assertion of the belief that the deceased has found a permanent abode in the House of the Lord.

According to the Christians, death is an entry into the world of continual bliss and permanent exit from this world of pain and agony. That the soul is enjoying the bliss of heaven and is with the Lord Himself is a comforting thought that lessens the extremity of the trauma that death brings to the family. The Christian funeral ceremonies are organized with the same spirit.

Usually, a Christian funeral service is conducted by the pastor. The funeral service usually takes place at the church which the deceased visited regularly. Though the service does not have a casket usually, but when it is being conducted in a funeral home, casket is generally present. Usually, Christian funeral ceremony does not have the practice of exhibiting the body of the dead person.

The proceedings in such a funeral ceremony are more like a memorial, in which religious songs and similar prayers are sung and texts from Holy scriptures are read out. A brief message is delivered by the pastor, after which a mass prayer is held.

Next the family members and relatives share their sorrows with the gathering, and the people express their feelings and respect for the deceased and share their ruminations on how the deceased affected their lives and left a lasting memory. These days, people also put up a slide show containing snapshots from the life of the dead person or play a pre-recorded video taken from the deceased’s lifetime.

The conclusion of the service is the serving of refreshments at a reception conducted usually inside the church itself. People do not go for a graveside service usually, but some families that make an exception to this.

Death is a sensitive time. After all, funerals present the family with a need to transition into moving on with life. Get the best casket for your loved one’s burial. Unique version for reprint here: Christian Funeral Rites And Their Importance.