Funeral Hymns?

[VeryTiredGirl]

I was listening to some of KFUO's archived shows yesterday (April 13), and came across one that was discussing funeral hymns. The pastor leading the show mentioned that it is good to have funeral hymns, Scripture readings, etc, picked out before you die, so that your wishes can be respected-and so that you can choose hymns that speak to your faith-which is your final will and testament, so to speak, to your family and friends.

Have you put any thought to what hymns or other songs you'd like played at your funeral? If so, why did you choose that particular song?

[VeryTiredGirl]

My family are not churchgoers, so if I were to predecease them, the hymns I would want sung would be songs that would speak to the faith that I was baptized into, worshipped in and tried to live in.

I have definitely chosen my closing hymn-Go My Children, With My Blessing. It talks about being joined to Christ in Baptism (In My love's baptismal river I have made you Mine forever), being nutured by His word and supper (Here you heard my dear Son's story, here you touched Him, saw His glory), and confession of the Trinity. It closes with a final benediction, a final promise of God's favour.

Beyond that, I'm still looking for hymns that would be meaningful to me. My Confirmation hymn was "We Were Baptized in Christ Jesus". I would probably like that one sung. If I live long enough, the song I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry would be a good one.

I've recently been to a number of funerals, and some of the songs I've heard there that I've considered putting in my own plans include I Know That My Redeemer Lives, For All the Saints Who From Their Labours Rest and Jesus Christ is Risen Today.

At the funeral of Cnst. Peter Schiemann, an RCMP officer killed in the line of duty 6 weeks ago, the hymn All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night was sung. It had been the lullaby his parents had sung to him every night during his childhood. In the days after the funeral, I heard repeated mention of the hymn, especially stanza 3: "Teach me to live that I may dread/The grave as little as my bed/Teach me to die that I may/Rise glorious at the awe-some day. " Even the secular news media was talking about the text of that stanza.

[RedneckAnglican]

A Mighty Fortress is our GOD was played at my mom's funeral as an honor toward her Lutheran Heritage...I think that is going to be played at mine...

[VeryTiredGirl]

A Mighty Fortress is our GOD was played at my mom's funeral as an honor toward her Lutheran Heritage...I think that is going to be played at mine...

Which tune do you like? On Reformation Sunday at church we sing the tune with all the quarter notes and little bit faster tempo (LBW 229). At the seminary I volunteer at, they sing the version that moves a little bit more slowly and has lots of half notes (LBW 228). Tunes available here http://www.lutheran-hymnal.com/lbw/lbw01.htm if you're not sure what on earth I'm talking about ;).

[RedneckAnglican]

The longer "half-note" version is the one that appeals to me...especially at the last verse where the organ has let all the stops out and the Church is absolutly shaking...yes...I'm into 16th century "heavy metal"...

[VeryTiredGirl]

The longer "half-note" version is the one that appeals to me...especially at the last verse where the organ has let all the stops out and the Church is absolutly shaking...yes...I'm into 16th century "heavy metal"...

You would love our seminary's opening worship services. The organist is internationally trained on the organ, and at age 30 is a virtuoso. He was playing the organ one Reformation on one of the biggest pipe organs in Canada, and he was playing so hard and with so much vigor, he blew out the organ's computer, and had to finish the rest of the concert adjusting everything manually.

Another time, he was playing the pipe organ in a church, and I had to slip to the washroom. The church proper and organ loft was on the upper floor of the building, and the bathroom and a kitchen were in the basement. He was playing a hymn, and all the of the fixtures in the basement were vibrating from the organ's rumblings.

[SPALATIN]

For me it would be the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah and Old Rugged Cross. I would stay away from ON EAGLES WINGS as it would elicit too much of an emotional response. I would also go with "In the cross of Christ I Glory"

[RedneckAnglican]

You would love our seminary's opening worship services. The organist is internationally trained on the organ, and at age 30 is a virtuoso. He was playing the organ one Reformation on one of the biggest pipe organs in Canada, and he was playing so hard and with so much vigor, he blew out the organ's computer, and had to finish the rest of the concert adjusting everything manually.

Another time, he was playing the pipe organ in a church, and I had to slip to the washroom. The church proper and organ loft was on the upper floor of the building, and the bathroom and a kitchen were in the basement. He was playing a hymn, and all the of the fixtures in the basement were vibrating from the organ's rumblings.

WOW!...sorry I missed it...

[Tetzel]

Now the Green Blade Rises

Behold a Host Arrayed in White

A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth

On my Heart Imprint Thy Image

[filosofer]

As old as I am, they would need about 4 hours - to sing all my favorites!

Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty - TLH 1
Chief of Sinners Though I Be - TLH 342
Lord Jesus, Think on Me - TLH 320
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less - TLH 370
For All the Saints, Who from Their Labor Rest - TLH 463
Built on the Rock the Church Doth Stand - TLH 467
Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness - TLH 371
Salvation unto Us Has Come - TLH 377
In the Cross of Christ I Glory - TLH 354
My Faith Looks Up to Thee - TLH 394
Blessed Be the Tie That Binds - TLH 464

Second part of the service: :clap:

Thy Strong Word - LW 328
I KNow That MY Redeemer Lives - TLH 200
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name - TLH 339
At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing - LW 126
Be Still, My Soul - TLH 651
Lift High the Cross - LW 311
Jesus Lives! The Victory's Won - LW 139
I'm But a Stranger Here - TLH 660
Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing - TLH 50 (first tune)

------------

This should get them warmed up to the idea of Christ-focused celebration and victory! Then they can continue singing for about another two hours (leaves an hour for a sermon).

Scripture readings:

Lamentations 3:19-32
Psalm 51
Psalm 91
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
1 Corinthians 15:1-58
John 11:1-45

[KagomeShuko]

If you know me and hymns. . .picking favorites is impossible. It always seems I'm learning a new hymn, which, I probably am. I fall in love with hymns constantly. And sing them. And know them. And amaze people THAT I know them (I don't know why).

It pretty much goes in my church that if I don't know the hymn, the rest of the congregation probably doesn't know the hymn. (There are a few hymns that others know that I don't, but it's usually not that way.)

It'd take DAYS to sing all my "favorites."

I haven't a clue what I'd want at my funeral right now - except, maybe, as one stated, "I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry."

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[ByzantineDixie]

I honestly don't care what they play at my funeral...anything the family likes and makes them feel better is fine. I won't be there--so my likes don't need to factor into the equation. However, there are already strict instructions on the books to keep me wired to a CD player when I am in "the home" so that I can listen to my favorites. :D -----R

[KagomeShuko]

I honestly don't care what they play at my funeral...anything the family likes and makes them feel better is fine. I won't be there--so my likes don't need to factor into the equation. However, there are already strict instructions on the books to keep me wired to a CD player when I am in "the home" so that I can listen to my favorites. :D -----R

24/7/365 JMT, Rose? :D ;)

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[ByzantineDixie]

24/7/365 JMT, Rose? :D ;)

Stein Auf!
Bridget

LOL!!! Oh, I'd let a little Peter Jon Gilquist and Franklin Tate, maybe some Matt Maher and Tom Booth in the mix but, mostly JMT. Mama loves her JMT. :D -----R

[KagomeShuko]

Rose listens to JMT like I listen to Lost And Found. . .I listen to them more than I realize ;) But I need to find my other CDs right now, too. . .LOL. . .so there's also a good reason I've not listened to lots of other stuff recently.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[VeryTiredGirl]

For me it would be the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah and Old Rugged Cross. I would stay away from ON EAGLES WINGS as it would elicit too much of an emotional response. I would also go with "In the cross of Christ I Glory"

Is an emotional response necessarily a bad thing?

[VeryTiredGirl]

WOW!...sorry I missed it...

I love hearing him play. He's also a pastor now; his congregation got a very talented man.

[VeryTiredGirl]

Now the Green Blade Rises

Behold a Host Arrayed in White

A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth

On my Heart Imprint Thy Image

I'd never heard of Now the Green Blade Rises; those are pretty lyrics.

[VeryTiredGirl]

As old as I am, they would need about 4 hours - to sing all my favorites!

Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty - TLH 1
Chief of Sinners Though I Be - TLH 342
Lord Jesus, Think on Me - TLH 320
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less - TLH 370
For All the Saints, Who from Their Labor Rest - TLH 463
Built on the Rock the Church Doth Stand - TLH 467
Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness - TLH 371
Salvation unto Us Has Come - TLH 377
In the Cross of Christ I Glory - TLH 354
My Faith Looks Up to Thee - TLH 394
Blessed Be the Tie That Binds - TLH 464

Second part of the service: :clap:

Thy Strong Word - LW 328
I KNow That MY Redeemer Lives - TLH 200
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name - TLH 339
At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing - LW 126
Be Still, My Soul - TLH 651
Lift High the Cross - LW 311
Jesus Lives! The Victory's Won - LW 139
I'm But a Stranger Here - TLH 660
Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing - TLH 50 (first tune)

------------

This should get them warmed up to the idea of Christ-focused celebration and victory! Then they can continue singing for about another two hours (leaves an hour for a sermon).

Scripture readings:

Lamentations 3:19-32
Psalm 51
Psalm 91
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
1 Corinthians 15:1-58
John 11:1-45



That would be quite the worship service. If I had all the hymns I love sung, it would be a very long service indeed; they may as well start right after Breakfast if they hope to be done by Lunch. :D That's part of the reason I haven't written anything out for sure; I can't decide on just three or four hymns!

[VeryTiredGirl]

If you know me and hymns. . .picking favorites is impossible. It always seems I'm learning a new hymn, which, I probably am. I fall in love with hymns constantly. And sing them. And know them. And amaze people THAT I know them (I don't know why).

It pretty much goes in my church that if I don't know the hymn, the rest of the congregation probably doesn't know the hymn. (There are a few hymns that others know that I don't, but it's usually not that way.)

It'd take DAYS to sing all my "favorites."

I haven't a clue what I'd want at my funeral right now - except, maybe, as one stated, "I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry."

Stein Auf!
Bridget

Probably it amazes people because stereotypically, young people don't like hymns; they want the rock and roll stuff, or else the praise and worship music.

I love the Borning Cry song. We will sometimes sing it at baptisms. I usually cry when we sing it. *sniff*

[VeryTiredGirl]

I honestly don't care what they play at my funeral...anything the family likes and makes them feel better is fine. I won't be there--so my likes don't need to factor into the equation. However, there are already strict instructions on the books to keep me wired to a CD player when I am in "the home" so that I can listen to my favorites. :D -----R

Four young Mounties were shot and killed up here in March. One of them had told his sister years ago that if he were to die, he wanted to be buried with a flashlight and a bag of chips, because he'd get hungry and he didn't like the dark. ^_^

[KagomeShuko]

Probably it amazes people because stereotypically, young people don't like hymns; they want the rock and roll stuff, or else the praise and worship music.

I love the Borning Cry song. We will sometimes sing it at baptisms. I usually cry when we sing it. *sniff*
I love "I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry" and I've always said that when I have children, I'll sing it to them as a lullaby, too.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[theologia crucis]

filo, you have great taste in hymns!

At my funeral, I want lots of hymns sung, too.

A Mighty Fortress
Eternal Father, Strong to Save
Salvation Unto us Has Come (all ten english verses, and if possible, the other four German verses translated as well!)
The Church's One Foundation
(maybe:) He's Risen

But, I want me to be the least focus of the whole service. I want the focus to be on Christ, and what He has done for us. In short, I want the preacher to proclaim our crucified and risen Lord with all his best effort! I will just be asleep in Christ, awaiting the resurrection in His good time...

[DogMom]

I once thought I'd like to have Thy Strong Word and Sing with All the Saints in Glory, but as long as they don't do "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead" I'll be happy.
:D

[Protoevangel]

I honestly don't care what they play at my funeral...anything the family likes and makes them feel better is fine. I won't be there--so my likes don't need to factor into the equation. What Sister Rose said.

I won't be at my funeral, so I don't really care what they play.

What I do want is the cheapest possible service. I want my life insurance money to go to take care of my loved ones, not to put me in a fancy box.

[VeryTiredGirl]

I once thought I'd like to have Thy Strong Word and Sing with All the Saints in Glory, but as long as they don't do "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead" I'll be happy.
:D

ROFL! That's a good way to look at it.

[VeryTiredGirl]

What Sister Rose said.

I won't be at my funeral, so I don't really care what they play.

What I do want is the cheapest possible service. I want my life insurance money to go to take care of my loved ones, not to put me in a fancy box.

That's true. My casket will be covered with a funeral pall, so I really don't care if it's a cardboard box.

That being said, I do want someone to slap a sticker on it so that it looks something like this: http://tinyurl.com/aorjg ^_^

[VeryTiredGirl]

But, I want me to be the least focus of the whole service. I want the focus to be on Christ, and what He has done for us. In short, I want the preacher to proclaim our crucified and risen Lord with all his best effort! I will just be asleep in Christ, awaiting the resurrection in His good time...

That's part of the reason I want to put my wishes out from the start, because my family could all too easily make it 'all about me', which I don't want.

[Protoevangel]

That being said, I do want someone to slap a sticker on it so that it looks something like this: http://tinyurl.com/aorjg ^_^
That's great! :D

[SPALATIN]

The only thing the Pastor will be allowed to say about me is that I was born a sinner. That I believed Jesus Christ was the Son of God sent down to fulfill law and prophecy and then paid the price for that sin. He (me) still sinned but he knew where to find the forgiveness. The rest is to be about Christ and him crucified.

[VeryTiredGirl]

That's great! :D

I've even been tempted to make one up on the computer and put it with my funeral wishes. My mom knows I'd love a casket like that, but she also knows to buy cheap, since she's only going to be putting an empty shell in the box.

[VeryTiredGirl]

The only thing the Pastor will be allowed to say about me is that I was born a sinner. That I believed Jesus Christ was the Son of God sent down to fulfill law and prophecy and then paid the price for that sin. He still sinned but he knew where to find the forgiveness. The rest is to be about Christ and him crucified.

That will be quite the funeral sermon.

[RedneckAnglican]

pull out of the "shell" everything someone can use (corneas, kidneys, liver, heart [well probably not my heart...way to much red meat] everything)...then cremation...then dump me in the woods where I'll do some good...any money goes to the Church and someother charities (after the family is taken care of)

[VeryTiredGirl]

pull out of the "shell" everything someone can use (corneas, kidneys, liver, heart [well probably not my heart...way to much red meat] everything)...then cremation...then dump me in the woods where I'll do some good...any money goes to the Church and someother charities (after the family is taken care of)

Actually, your heart could still be of use, by way of heart valves and aorta. Both are tissues retrieved after the heart has stopped beating, unlike a heart transplant, which requires brain death but beating heart. Just make sure your wife knows your wishes. The family has to sign the final consent form before organ and tissue donation occurs.

[RedneckAnglican]

she knows...I think it's a good idea to have all of this spelled out...that's why I keep this stuff in an e-mail in my yahoo account...that way it's always there and she can get at it...

[VeryTiredGirl]

she knows...I think it's a good idea to have all of this spelled out...that's why I keep this stuff in an e-mail in my yahoo account...that way it's always there and she can get at it...

Excellent way to do it. Always keep the communication open, and keep your wishes in writing somewhere that they're easy to find. When the moment actually comes to make the decision, it's sometimes easy to forget in the emotion of the loss.

[RedneckAnglican]

Excellent way to do it. Always keep the communication open, and keep your wishes in writing somewhere that they're easy to find. When the moment actually comes to make the decision, it's sometimes easy to forget in the emotion of the loss.

That's why I keep it in an e-mail...my whole house could burn down and the e-mail will still be there...

[VeryTiredGirl]

That's why I keep it in an e-mail...my whole house could burn down and the e-mail will still be there... Very smart idea. I hadn't thought of that.

[reverie_maiden]

O Living Bread from Heaven, because it is a very beautiful song...and it talks about serving with holy fear, death, our spirit, and bowing down before God when we get to heaven. It sums up my faith and life for God in just one song.

[VeryTiredGirl]

O Living Bread from Heaven, because it is a very beautiful song...and it talks about serving with holy fear, death, our spirit, and bowing down before God when we get to heaven. It sums up my faith and life for God in just one song.

That is a lovely hymn.

[catzinjammies]

Any of Bachs motets, but I really like Jesu meine Freude and Komm, Jesu komm.
Those will put people's minds where they should be, not on me!

CIJ