A common misconception is that funerals must be led by a Minister of Religion (representing a faith community) or a Humanist (expressing a non-religious world view). Ministers of Religion are bound by religious statutes and often feel duty-bound to proclaim their unique message of faith as part of the funeral service. Sometimes a Humanist can be …
Funeral Service – Celebrant, Minister or Humanist? Read More »
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions put in place, funeral services have had to adapt. With restrictions on traditional gatherings, after service wakes, and even the singing of hymns, it has been difficult for many families to give their loved ones the send-off they would have liked. However, with an array of technology …
5 Ways To Make A Funeral Special Despite Covid-19 Read More »
Memory, when effectively used, can give strength and vitality in the face of grief. Photographs and songs can be powerful vehicles for solace and provide valuable links to those we love. A forgotten scent, a song or a photograph can bring something of the past in the present in ways the spoken word cannot. When …
Transitional moments in life encourage us to ask the big questions. What is the meaning of life? What happens to us when we die? All perfectly natural. Ideas and concepts that seem hard for us to grasp can be effortless to understand when illustrated. Therefore parables, fables and analogies are helpful ways to enhance our …
Our words are important, but as Peter Drucker once said, “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said,” – and I couldn’t agree more. When it comes to honouring a life, we perhaps place a little too much emphasis on what is said about the person, rather than taking as much care …
My 15-year-old son recently asked me to buy him a new phone charger. After some persuasion, I agreed. I started scrolling up and down Amazon and suddenly realised there were so many. Which one do I pick? Some of them were unbelievably cheap, and I was tempted to go with the price, but then, just as …
I read a book some years ago called The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I have recently watched the film of the same title. It is a story about a young thirteen-year-old living in New York, who survives an explosion that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, he is cared for by the family of a friend. …
Tell me, what does your life look like? How do ‘they’ hear it? What are your tastes? How does it feel? What makes you laugh, and what makes you sad? What are your dreams, the things you yearn for? Where do you come from? What did you do? … Let me in. Who am I …
Everything has a rhythm – a beat. Discovering the rhythm and beat in a funeral or a wedding ceremony helps me be more ‘in tune’ with the participants, as well as with the ritual and words I speak. In music, ‘rests’ are very important; they serve more purpose than just separating the notes. They also …
