Grief

Cemetery Christmas Carols for loved ones A good idea?

by Mark E Crossley
12/28/18
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This year for me I did something a little different, in previous years I had gone with my elderly grandmother to visit my grandfather around Christmas time however now my grandmother has since been reunited with my grandfather I wondered what else I could do around this festive period. 

This random thought came into my mind, as my grandmother was on end of life care I used to play her songs very quietly as she was departing this world into the next, I had been to see her at the chapel of rest, played some songs there before we took her to her final resting place, we have annually bought something to put on the Christmas tree in memory of the grandparents each year. 

For many, Christmas can be a difficult time when loved ones have passed away but for me going with my grandmother to the cemetery to visit my grandfather was never a morbid affair so this year my thoughts changed I started to play the song ‘Jealous of the Angels’ by Donna Taggart, followed by a number of carols that my grandparents liked on my phone on loud speaker but not too loud so their neighbours could hear this too. 

John 14:2-3 “2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am”. 

We shared many Christmas with the grandparents on earth, both had a faith in God and on that basis other believers and non-believers could around Christmas time instead of taking flowers that in affect just die off, cry or just sit there for a period of time take your mobile phone and just start with the opening song ‘Jealous of the Angels” followed by a number of Christmas carols maybe a nice way to visit your loved ones at their final resting place so in future years is this something you would consider doing having a mini Christmas Carol Service for them? 

If you visit relatives on a regular basis perhaps you could just play some songs quietly on your phone as you visit their final resting place. 

All cemeteries pay fees for the person to be buried there so at Christmas time perhaps it would be nice if those who manage the cemetery could erect a Christmas Tree, place some decorations in the trees, something for just a couple of weeks or a local vicar could hold a short service for loved ones buried at the cemetery as a way forward to transform the way we remember our relatives at this festive season who have moved onto the next world where we will join them one day. 

Should local clergy trial this and see what kind of demand there is for this?

Could local street pastors perhaps put on a service as a way of ministering to others? 

What do you think to these ideas?