Other Ceremonies
& Rites of Passage
Why rituals? by Robert Fulghum
From Beginning to End: The Rituals of Our Lives
“My thinking was set in motion by those who, knowing I was a parish minister for many years, have asked me for advice about ceremonies and celebrations. They wanted words to use at graduations, funerals, and the welcoming of children. They inquired about grace at family meals, the reaffirmation of wedding vows, and ways to heal wounds suffered in personal conflict. People requested help with the rituals of solitude, such as meditation, prayer, and contemplation. . . .
Rituals do not always involve words, occasions, officials, or an audience. Rituals are often silent, solitary, and self-contained. The most powerful rites of passage are reflective–when you look back on your life again and again, paying attention to the rivers you have crossed and the gates you have opened and walked on through, the thresholds you have passed over. I see ritual when people sit together silently by an open fire. Remembering. As human beings have remembered for thousands and thousands of years.”
Funeral Ceremony and Celebrations of Life
The Purpose of a Funeral Ceremony
When we experience the death of someone we love,
a funeral service fills several important needs~
- Funerals helps us acknowledge that someone we love has died.
- Funerals allow us to say goodbye.
- Funerals offer continuity and hope for the living.
- Funerals provide a support system for us, friends,
family members and the community. - Funerals allow us to reflect on the meaning of life and death.
Written by: Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D., C.T. Center for Loss and Life Transition
Healing through Funeral Ceremony
A funeral service can help us begin to truly acknowledge the reality that someone in our life has died. A Celebration of Life can encourage us to remember the person who died and share our unique memories with others, creating hope for the future. A funeral service can bring together people who care about each other in an atmosphere of love and support. This ceremony can allow us to express our inner thoughts and feelings about the life and the death, and can mark the significance of the life that was lived. This helps us find meaning and purpose in our continued living, even in the face of loss. Ultimately, a funeral service can help us embrace the wonder of life and death.
Vow Renewal
More info coming soon…
House Blessings
More info coming soon…
Rites of Passage and Life Transitions
More info coming soon…
Child Blessing
More info coming soon…