Saying Goodbye

Ruth Burgess

Description

A resource book for anyone who is planning a funeral. You may be a family member or a friend of someone who has died. You may be planning your own funeral. You may arrange and conduct funerals professionally. Here you will find an abundance of words and ideas for celebrating a life in ways that are personal and honest.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Christian worship
• Christian mysticism

Informations

• Publié par: Wild Goose Publications
• Date de parution: 10 janvier 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781849522922
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Saying Goodbye is a resource book for anyone who is planning a funeral. You may be a family member or a friend of someone who has died. You may be planning your own funeral. You may arrange and conduct funerals professionally.
Here you will find an abundance of words and ideas for celebrating a life in ways that are personal and honest.
There are resources that do not assume a faith commitment, as well as resources that reflect Christian belief. Sections include:
Last months and days Dying and death Before the funeral Resources for when children have died Funerals of babies and children Funerals of adults Children at funerals Sentences and blessings for funerals Bits and pieces for funerals Ashes Stones and memorials Anniversaries and remembering Grief Life goes on Planning a funeral order Ideas for a day conference on funerals
Ruth Burgess is the author of many books, including A Book of Blessings , Eggs and Ashes , Hear My Cry and Fire and Bread (Wild Goose).

Into the freedom of wind and sunshine we let you go.
Into the dance of the stars and the planets we let you go.
Into the wind’s breath and the hands of the Star-maker we let you go.
We love you, we miss you, we want you to be happy. Go safely, go dancing, go running home …
Ruth Burgess, from Saying Goodbye
www.ionabooks.com
www.ionabooks.com
Contents of book © individual contributors Compilation © 2013 Ruth Burgess
First published 2013 by Wild Goose Publications, Fourth Floor, Savoy House, 140 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3DH, UK, the publishing division of the Iona Community. Scottish Charity No. SC003794. Limited Company Reg. No. SC096243.
PDF: ISBN 978-1-84952-290-8 Mobipocket: ISBN 978-1-84952-291-5 ePub: ISBN 978-1-84952-292-2
Cover photograph © Ewing Wallace
The publishers gratefully acknowledge the support of the Drummond Trust, 3 Pitt Terrace, Stirling FK8 2EY in producing this book.
All rights reserved. Apart from reasonable personal use on the purchaser’s own system and related devices, and the non-commercial use described below, no part of this document or file(s) may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Non-commercial use: The material in this book may be used non-commercially for worship and group work without written permission from the publisher. If copies of sections are made, please make full acknowledgement of the source, and report usage to CCLI or other copyright organisation.
Ruth Burgess has asserted her right in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this compilation and the individual contributors have asserted their right to be identified as authors of their contributions.
Contents
Contents in detail
Introduction
Last months and days
Dying and death
Before the funeral
Resources for when children have died
Funerals of babies and children
Funerals of adults
Children at funerals
Sentences and blessings for funerals
Bits and pieces for funerals
Ashes
Stones and memorials
Anniversaries and remembering
Grief
Life goes on – words for the journey
Life without end
Appendix
Sources and acknowledgements
About the authors
Index of authors
Contents in detail
Introduction
Last months and days Notice to quit Special pleading The time that’s left Dementia (observed) A prayer for Peggy Saying goodbye Last supper Walking along the shore (thoughts of Helen) Saying goodbye to Jean
Dying and death Remember me in my dying Prayer with those who are dying Dysfunctional fractions It’s time to go The Visitor In memory of Jenny, Salvationist and Anglican Vigil For my mother Prayer at the time of death A life cut short Messenger With you Nights and days (for Joanne) A phone call to Gary who died suddenly
Before the funeral In the coffin Choosing a coffin Thank you for undertakers Dancing in the streets We wait Sealing a coffin Names I do not know Talking about you (for Trudy) Gathering up treasure: a service for between a death and a funeral Stepping up a generation
Resources for when children have died Rocking chair lament Where were you? Nursery prayer Blessing of the mother’s womb A blessing for twins who have died
Funerals of babies and children Liturgy for a stillborn child He was your son For the funeral service of an unborn baby Firstborn The moment Stillborn: a liturgy Baby blessing and naming after death Funeral for when a twin dies and a twin survives Balloons and doves: a sudden death of a child Losing you (song for Nicola) Remember
Funerals of adults Funeral at the crematorium In memoriam JSB (1915–2008) Funeral service in a church Committal at a crematorium Some words spoken at the funeral of a young man murdered in Glasgow Reflection at a graveside in Mull Not grave Walking to the funeral Letter from Vicky A simple funeral liturgy An order of service for a funeral Over
Children at funerals Children at funerals Funeral words that children can understand You We are sad God bless My diary Remember Teenagers Listening and exploring A conversation
Sentences and blessings for funerals Biblical sentences for funerals Sentences and blessings based on prayers from the Carmina Gadelica
Bits and pieces for funerals We are here today This is the place We’re here because This is your time Prayer of approach at a funeral We are here with lots of questions God says to us in Jesus Goodbye and God bless you Go now A journey blessing (Psalm 121) I am with you (Matthew 28:20) What can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus? (Romans 8) Deep in the earth We wrap you round In the land Responses for a burial Responses for a cremation
Ashes Scattering dad’s ashes Non-burial at sea Scattered Into the air Into the earth As we walk Into water Ashes to stardust The communion of saints Ashes on the beach Turning the ashes High on the hills Here where you belong Elemental
Stones and memorials Prayer at the dedication of Craig’s bench, MacLeod Centre, Iona Creator God, hear us Planting of memorial trees Snowdrops Gone Memorial This is your stone
Anniversaries and remembering Still meeting you (for mum) Last night I thought she was with me again Family bereavement (I, II, III) Potatoes We re-member A year on A Mass for children who have died in pregnancy Hogmanay for Charlie I didn’t go to her grave today Liturgy for the anniversary of a death All Hallows Fallen leaves: a service for All Souls’ Tell them how much we love them
Grief Stiff upper lip Loneliness Grieving for dad I wasn’t really expecting God to speak to me in that church service Grief work Ashes My God, my God, why? Grief (for my sister Agnes) Bye love (for Enid) You are near (for Dorothy) No trite words A liturgy on a hospital ward Emptiness Grief is a thief Left My being yearns for Easter Life goes on
Life goes on – words for the journey All the nights and days Dark clouds and sunlight A journey with angels and friends Blessing and wonder Beckon us God The blessing of the common life For ever and ever We arise and go forth God our maker, our mother, our friend
Life without end We are wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) Step by step Today and every day Credo
Appendix
Planning a funeral order
Some ideas for a day conference on funerals
Helpful websites and books
Space for other ideas and readings
Sources and acknowledgements
About the authors
Index of authors

Key to symbols Prayer Liturgy Responsive prayer Song Letter Reflective prayer Meditation Reflection Poem Creed Reading Practical
For Lynda, who kept on asking
Introduction
Saying Goodbye is a resource book for anyone who is planning a funeral. You may be a family member or friend of someone who has died. You may be planning your own funeral. You may arrange and conduct funerals professionally.
This is a book full of words and ideas for those looking for ways of celebrating a person’s life which are personal and honest.
Not everyone attending a funeral will have a conventional religious faith. There are resources in this book that do not assume a faith commitment, as well as resources that reflect Christian belief.
Whilst a number of complete liturgies are included, most of the material in this book consists of the stuff that liturgies are made of: responses, readings, rituals, actions, biblical reflections, poems, songs and prayers.
There is a section on the involvement of children in funeral services. And there are words that could be used when scattering or burying ashes.
At the back of the book there is an Appendix with a section on planning an order of service for a funeral, some ideas for a day conference on funerals, lists of helpful websites and books, and some empty pages for you to collect any other ideas or readings that you come across and want to remember.
I am grateful to all the contributors to this book for their rich and varied material and for their helpful and supportive correspondence. The quality of contributors’ writing is a delight. This book grew out of a larger book, and a volume containing resources for baptisms, naming ceremonies, civil partnerships and marriages will follow.
Thanks are due to the Wild Goose Publications team: Sandra Kramer, Jane Darroch Riley, Alex O’Neill and Susie Hay. A huge thank you to Neil Paynter for his legendary attention to detail and for his awareness of what works and what ‘sings’. Thanks to Ewing Wallace for photography. Thank you, too, to Elizabeth Wild, Ruth Harvey, Pat Welburn, John and Molly Harvey, Lynda Wright, Sally Foster-Fulton and Brid Fitzpatrick for wise advice.
One of the contributors to this book told me: ‘I am passionate about people having a good funeral.’ I share this passion. I hope this book further resources us to lovingly and honestly tell people’s stories and to say goodbye.

When it is my time to go
I want you to tell my story as it was,
to give God thanks,
and to throw my ashes to the elements –
to the fir