| Author | Message | ||
| Wolfgang Registered user Username: Wolfgang Post Number: 203 Registered: 10-2005 |
my husbands grandfather recently died and the family wanted to have his funeral on Sabbath,the pastor called an emergency board meeting,because he didnt think they should,the service would be held during normal church services,and he was worried about visitors and what they would think,(maybe he was upset cause the family didnt ask him to do the service?)and that the funeral people would be working on Sabbath,the board members said the funeral is already set for that day and that is when it will be period. and my father in law said if its not on this day I will never be back to church again. But then somoene even brought up the fact that EGW and her husbands funeral was on Sabbath. Well the funeral was held on Sabbath,the sister church to this one, only one family came because they didnt think it was right either to be held on saturday. Thankgod Im free of that nonsense. the servie was very nice and one of the bigggest I've been too,but what buged me was the part where the officiating pastor had to get in a sermon about the state of the dead sigh.... grandpa was a liberal SDA and I never heard him once even mention EGW,he was a great man who loved the Lord and lived his life accordingly,if a visitor did come(which btw they didnt no surprise there)they would have heard just that how this man never wavered in his faith and love for God. Dawn | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 640 Registered: 12-2004 |
Dawn, I am sorry for your families loss. I am happy the service was on the day requested. Funerals on Sabbath seem to be a gray area in the Adventist Church. If you were to check the official SDA website, there are guidelines posted in a 10+ page paper on appropriate Sabbath activities. (huge sigh) You would find the same bunch staying away from a Saturday wedding as well. I have found the the Adventist funeral usually turns into a mini evangelistic effort as the Pastor KNOWS there will be family there that might be former members or "backsliders", and they are presented with a captive audience, and are able to play the guilt card such as What would grandpa want etc.etc. Often when the deceased has been a nominal member, the service is geared to the trend of their life, or the focus is on the good that they did, or how we are sure they had a walk with God despite leading a questionable Adventist life. This is especially true of those who never oficially left the church. Most of this comes from the need to try and comfort the family who because of the theology have serious doubts about assurance of salvation. It is also an opportunity to drive home the need to be good and the works theological paradigm that is Adventism. Dawn, like you, I thank God I am free of that nonsense. | ||
| Reb Registered user Username: Reb Post Number: 720 Registered: 5-2007 |
Dawn I am sorry to hear about your family's loss. I concur 100% with what Randy posted above. | ||
| Jdpascal Registered user Username: Jdpascal Post Number: 62 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'm sorry for your loss Dawn. Your description of your grandfather portrays someone who will be deeply missed for a long time. Like you say Randy, SDA churches are all over the map on Saturday funerals and weddings. I would say that there are more no’s than yes’s to these requests but more likely the members just tend to shy away from even considering such a situation. I’ve been pondering a post on this very situation surrounding the funeral for an SDA friend who passed away this past fall. The SDA church around the corner from where the family has a burial plot (not sure if he was a member there or not) was approached about holding the funeral on “Sabbath” afternoon. The response from the pastor was NO!-not going to happen in our church. I believe the phrase he used was something like – ‘it would desecrate the Sabbath’ The funeral was held in another SDA church in the same city on Sabbath afternoon but with about a 2 hour round trip to the cemetery with most of the friends waiting back at the church. The sermon was delivered by his brother, a former pastor and still SDA. It was not the traditional one to a captive (backslidden, non-SDA) audience but one (more) aligned with the Grace in Christ point of view. Apparently he heard later, very plainly, about how he missed his opportunity!! For shame!! It’s amazing how everyone comes to hear their gospel with pitch fork in hand instead of picking up a rake as they walk through the door of the church. ( well some times it is a modified rake – or was that a modified pitchfork??) Has anyone else had a "run-in" with an SDA operation over saturday funerals or weddings? | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 1334 Registered: 4-2000  |
Ellen White's third and largest funeral was conducted on Saturday, July 24, 1915 in Battle Creek, Michigan. Seventh-day Adventist churches, in the surrounding area, cancelled services on that day so that members could attend her funeral. Also, the funeral for her husband, James White, was conducted on a Saturday many years earlier. The big difference between these two funerals was that James was actually buried on a Saturday afternoon while Ellen was interred 33 days later (on Thursday, August 26, 1915). Interestingly, they symbolically threw some dirt on her casket at the Oak Hill Cemetery but then they removed her body from the open grave and placed her in a special vault awaiting interment several weeks later. Attendees of the graveside service, including members of the press, did not know that she was not going be buried that same afternoon. The White Estate claims that they don't know why the interment was delayed so long. The SDA prophetess was controversial not only during her lifetime but even in her death. Dennis Fischer (Message edited by dennis on December 27, 2007) | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1930 Registered: 9-2006  |
dawn, I am sorry for your loss, I'm glad I was never in that nonsence. Speaking of funerals though, I don't remember anyone ever having one on Sunday either. River | ||
| Madelia Registered user Username: Madelia Post Number: 178 Registered: 2-2003 |
I've known of a funeral on a Sunday afternoon in my area. But when I think of it, it was a memoriai service as the person was going to be cremated. | ||
| Wolfgang Registered user Username: Wolfgang Post Number: 204 Registered: 10-2005 |
Thankyou for your condolances,he will be missed but Im sure he is in a better place,and he wasnt having a good time anymore he couldnt fish or drive or go to walmart daily or taco bell(I'm sure the people at taco bell miss him too),so it is for the best,his little wife is who I worry about,but again thankyou,I posted because I just couldnt believe the pastor,I mean it really doesnt surprise me,but I wonder if the people of the church what do they think,does it cause them to stop and re-evaluate the craziness of it ALL? I think it did my father in law,he never has had any use for the GC,but this really bothered him. When my husband and I left that day we just thought whew are we ever glad to have shed that snakeskin. Dawn | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 7357 Registered: 12-2003  |
Dawn, I'm sorry for your and your husband's loss. Yes, praise God you are free! Colleen | ||
| Violet Registered user Username: Violet Post Number: 498 Registered: 2-2001 |
My mother's funeral was on Saturday afternoon and the current Conference President in our state presided over the services. |
