Please Remember My Name . . . At My Funeral: And bring some Chocolate Chip cookies with you - Softcover

Zobel, Fred

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1468534882 ISBN 13: 9781468534887

Publisher: AuthorHouse, 2012

Synopsis

How would you like to be remembered at your funeral or memorial service? Perhaps you don't care although that's hard to believe. Would you care if the officiating person even mentions your name or anything about a few personal accomplishments or family relationships? As an emloyee of a funeral home following retirement from the United Methodist Church, the author witnessed numerous funeral services led by various clergy persons of different faith groups. Some services were well thought out and brought hope and healing to surviving persons. However, a number of those services indicated the opposite-services that were lethargic and impersonal by officiants who hardly mentioned a word about the deceased person including their name. It was almost as though the deceased person barely entered or exited their life's journey without any impact. The title of the book comes from some of those reflections while employed at the funeral home. The first part of the book provides some insights about funeral services, reflections on grief practices and cultural mores, and the raising of several issues that challenge a sometimes impersonal, pernicious, and apathethic clergy as to how grief ministry is provided. The book also provides several examples of outstanding clergy care and pastoral support during times of mourning. The second part of the book contains a few humorous thoughts on several practical issues that he has encountered. The book concludes with thoughts about the nomadic and traveling lifestyle that he and his wife have enjoyed for the last six years.

About this title

About the Author

The author is a retired Navy Chaplain and United Methodist minister. While serving in the Navy and civilian churches, he officiated at or assisted other clergy with numerous funeral/memorial services. Following retirement from the ministry, he worked as a non clergy employee of a funeral home and witnessed multi services from a different perspective. While employed, the author began to seriously formulate ideas about this book, particularly from the viewpoint of a clergyman observing how we view grief as a society, and how clergy provide grief ministry. The author has been married for almost 50 years to his wife, Mary, and they have three loving, passionate, independent minded, and loyal daughters. Their daughters are married to sons in law who are loved, and even liked, by the author and his wife and, hopefully, the feeling is mutual. They have been blessed with eight grandchildren. The author was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida and educated at Pensacola Jr. College, Troy University (B.S. in Psychology), and Candler School of Theology, Emory University(Master of Divinity). Under the Navy's Postgraduate program, he attended Iliff School of Theology attaining a Master of Arts in Religion degree with an emphasis in Ethics and Church and Society. The year of study awakened him to the exciting and dynamic world of ethics and how it relates to society as a whole. He will always view the professors at Iliff with gratitude for their challenges and guidance. Both the author and his sister, Jane, have always shared a love of travel and adventure. Fortunately, they've been able to accomplish both, and continue to do so today. He closes his pastoral prayers with thanks for his favorite food, Chocolate Chip cookies.

Edition details

• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1468534882
• ISBN 13: 9781468534887
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 108