At a wedding, I may feel like a necessary accessory along with the flowers, rented tuxedos, and candles, but at a funeral, I sense people sincerely look to me for help. People are more open and responsive, appreciative of help given — more than at any other time.
Calvin Ratz

I love funerals. Not that I enjoy death, it's just that I agree with Solomon, who said, "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting" (Eccles. 7:2). After talking and praying with the bereaved, I go home feeling I've made a difference; I've touched people at the point of their deepest need.

Burying the dead is part of pastoral turf. How we handle it goes a long way in determining our acceptance in a community and the depth of our spiritual impact on a congregation. Any strengths I muster can lose their power if I can't help people who are bereaved.

A well-handled funeral can be the best opportunity for genuine public relations a church and its pastor can have. It doesn't lead to instant ...