LEAven Blog

I attended a memorial service at church over the weekend.  A well-loved, well-known member of our congregation had died, and many came to support the family and to praise God for the hope we have in the death and resurrection of Jesus.  I am one of two organists in our congregation. After the service, I went to tell our other organist, Lisa, what a great job she had done in playing for the service (she is truly a gifted musician!).  Somewhere in the conversation, I turned to her and somewhat jokingly said to her, “You know, we should exchange lists of hymns we want played at our own funeral; since, unless something changes, one of us will probably play for the other one’s funeral!”  As soon as I said that, I realized it sounded a lot more humorous in my head than when the words fell out of my mouth!!!  The look on Lisa’s face confirmed that!

…and yet…if there isn’t so much humor in my statement, perhaps there IS some truth!  After we had finished our conversation, I got to thinking about the hymns I would want to have played at my funeral, and why those hymns mean that much to me.  I know what my three hymns would be.  Do you have an idea of which hymns YOU would choose, and why?  What message does our selection of hymns send?  Perhaps it is my musical sensibilities that are talking, but it seems to me as though these are actually very important questions that bear some consideration.  Allow me to share my three funeral hymns and why I would choose them.

Thy Strong Word (Lutheran Service Book, hymn 578) – So many lines of this hymn point directly to the powerful Word of God; both the Word as the message and the Word made flesh, Jesus.  Interwoven throughout the hymn are the different uses of “the Word”.  The power of God rings through the rafters in the recounting and rejoicing over Christ’s powerful sacrifice on our behalf.  Again and again in this glorious hymn, we hear Jesus calling out for all the world to hear that WE ARE HIS!!!!  Even at a funeral (maybe especially at a funeral), we could not help but lift our voices and our spirits in song to the heavens, rejoicing over the fact that we belong to Jesus. Even in moments of sadness and loss, we no longer fear death or the grave.  We cannot sing this hymn in timidity.  We sing in the triumph that is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Great is Thy Faithfulness (Lutheran Service Book, hymn 809) – This hymn, played at a funeral, would prompt me to remember God’s goodness and provision.  We are reminded here that God takes care of us throughout our lives.  He has never forsaken us, or left us to wander spiritually on our own. “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.” Again, at the center of the hymn is the cross of Christ. “Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth.” Jesus death and resurrection brings that pardon and peace that the world cannot give.  It is the sure and certain work of Christ on our behalf that turns our funeral moments from sorrow to hope, because that hope is built on nothing less that Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

Hark the Voice of Jesus Crying (Lutheran Service Book, hymn 826) – In funerals, there is time to remember and time to grieve.  However, most of all, there is to be the ever-present reminder that God has saved us through the person and work of Jesus Christ.  We live in hope.  We die in hope.  We mourn in hope.  We rejoice in hope.  At my own funeral, people will be sifting through the memories of our time together in this life.  However, there is no way you are leaving my funeral without being reminded again of what Jesus has done for us, and of how we are to respond to our Lord’s gracious act of salvation. As the service comes to an end, and those doors are thrown open for you to re-enter the world, those who have attended my funeral will be reminded on their way out; “Let none hear you idly saying, ‘There is nothing I can do!’, while the souls of men are dying and the Master calls for you.  Take the task He gives you gladly.  Let His work your pleasure be. Answer quickly when He calls you, ‘Here am I! Send me! Send me!’”

God’s blessings be upon us all as we finish our Lenten journey and move into the glorious truth of Easter!