VOL I: SAINTS

Table Of Contents

Special Thanks and Acknowledgments – xvii

Prologue – xxi

Memorials of Lasting Import for Survivors – 1

Preparing and Planning for a Good Funeral – 9

Four Facets of a “Good” Funeral – 11

Tributes for Saints – 15

Especially for Pastors and Worship Leaders – 31

Especially for Clergy, Chaplains, and Counselors:
An Alternate Paradigm for God’s “Plan” for Each Life – 47

Afterword – 55

Endnotes for the First Chapter – 57

Pastor’s Tributes – 65

My Tributes for Kin and Family Members – 105

Family Tribute Samples – 135

Case Study: A Mother’s Grief and Grief Work over Daughters’ Deaths – 159

Case Study: Eight Takes on One Life ~
How various Approaches and Authors are Different – 181

My Funeral Sermons: Infants, Suicides, Accidents, and Difficult or Unique Funerals - 201

Infants – 201

Suicides – 209

Accidental Deaths—Young People and Adults – 221

Unique or Unusual Circumstances – 241

Appendixes – 265

Appendix A: The Bulletin – 267

Appendix B: Funeral Communion Prefaces and Eucharistic Prayer– 269

Appendix C: Prayer Service—at / after a Visitation – 271

Appendix D: Funeral Service: Opening Prayers – 277

Appendix E: General Prayers (Following Any Tributes or a Sermon) – 282

Appendix F: Order for Graveside Committal Service– 285

Appendix G: Children’s Sermon On Death – 288

Appendix H: Special Music: “Find Us Faithful” – 292

Appendix I: Sunday Sermon after two Community Deaths (a murder and car crash)– 294

Appendix J: Soliciting Family Tribute Material with Useful Questions & Methods – 300

Appendix K: Especially for Pastors;

Advice in Offering Pastoral Care – 304

Appendix L: Eulogizing a Bad Parent – 309

Appendix M: Two Poems – 311

Appendix N: My Auto-Odyssey (a.k.a. Obituary) – 314