Ideas
| When there’s no body I conducted a funeral service recently for a family where Grandma had left her body to medical science |  |
| Prayer ministry shawl This is something that a friend has shared with me. After her Dad had died, a couple from her local church came around with a squishy, slightly irregular parcel | |
| Remembering on Mothers Day It is such an obvious idea in a church context, but for the last few years, we have always had a candle stand out on Mothering Sunday for people to light a candle as they come back from communion. | |
| Monthly Memorial Service in accessible language We have had a monthly memorial service in my parish for some years. | |
| When children don’t come to the funeral Some families don’t feel able to bring young children to family funerals. When this happens, I ask if there is a family member or friend who might take a few photos | |
| Poppy prayers This simple script for a prayer using poppies can involve everyone in prayers at a Remembrance service. Ensure as far as possible that everyone is given or takes a poppy as they arrive for the service. | |
| Value of tweets/social media in eulogies When visiting a family in preparation for a funeral, the deceased’s daughter told me about the tweets she had posted and received following her dad’s death | |
| Blue Christmas idea tried and tested We followed the idea of Blue Christmas from Mary Hawes’ article and liturgy on this website a few years ago | |
| Book for conversations in the second half of life The Church of England’s National Adviser in Adult Education and Lay Development commends ‘Seasons of my Soul’ | |
| Blessing a Chapel of Rest In recent years I have been asked to bless Chapels of Rest for two local independent undertakers | |
