Commemorating life events

So ... I was at a funeral the other day (this is not a joke) and it was an interesting experience. Two thoughts occurred to me:

1. The funeral was for a stillborn baby, so very sad – but it was beautifully done by the parents, who chose several contemporary songs for everyone to listen to, interspersed with some lovely readings/poems. They also had a large photograph of the hands of the parents and brother intertwined with the tiny baby’s hand, as a focal point for the service standing behind the tiny coffin.

The ceremony seemed to be a great example of the non-religious (or non-churchy), but deeply spiritual age in which we live. I was actually experiencing first hand something of what we’ve been learning about over the last year on my course, and it highlighted the importance of contemporary music (with no singing, Steve), prose and art in achieving spirituality.

But .. was it spiritual? The minister included a Bible reading, but the main ‘spirituality’ came from the music. Interestingly, Heaven was mentioned in one of the songs. But was this a form of ‘church’ (as defined by Rowan Williams in the Mission-shaped Church foreword)? Was the possibility of resurrection life through Christ celebrated?

2. The other thought was ... how on earth could I expect to achieve in a ‘geocaching church’ the commemoration of one of life’s certain events in quite such a tasteful but fully Christian way? Will people always expect to gather together in a church building, or would they just gather anywhere to celebrate or commemorate life’s major events with (or perhaps as) the body of Christ, the church?

Comments on a postcard, please ….

(And, yes, leaving co-ordinates for a final resting place did briefly cross my mind!!!)