Earthed in Hope - Print.
Discover a profound resource that enriches funeral ministry, addressing the spiritual, cultural, and practical dimensions of death and dying from a Pakeha Anglican perspective.
This book
- Is a comprehensive resource that offers insights and practical suggestions for all involved in funeral ministry.
- Takes an inclusive approach that is relevant for Anglican ministers and those from other church traditions, and enhances diverse funeral practices.
- Addresses contemporary issues and tackles modern challenges in funeral services, including pluralism and societal denial of death.
- Provides guidance on effectively ministering to grieving individuals and families.
- Highlights successful, life-centred funeral practices developed in New Zealand.
- Encourages deep contemplation of the spiritual significance of funerals and the rituals surrounding them.
- Emphasises the importance of proclaiming Christian hope amidst grief and loss.
Features
- A thorough exploration of funerals in contemporary society.
- Practical suggestions for leading meaningful funeral services.
- Focuses on the unique context of Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Addresses key questions surrounding funerals, grief, and the nature of death.
- A well-organised layout: Clear headings, subheadings, and a helpful index for easy navigation.
Soft cover: 300 pages
Published: 26 November 2014
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 inches
Colour: Black and White
ISBN: 9781502488251
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Alister G. Hendery offers a rich resource that bridges the gap between contemporary funeral practices and deep-rooted spiritual traditions.
This comprehensive guide serves as an invaluable tool for ministers, celebrants, counsellors, and anyone supporting the bereaved.
With sensitivity and insight, Hendery addresses pressing questions about the role of funerals, the societal denial of death, and the unique challenges of ministering in a pluralistic culture.
Exploring the evolution of funeral practices in New Zealand, he highlights innovative approaches that have emerged, particularly the shift towards life-centred funerals led by celebrants.
Through practical suggestions, spiritual reflections, and cultural considerations, Earthed in Hope empowers funeral ministers to meet the needs of the grieving in a contemporary setting while emphasising the Christian hope that underpins these significant rituals.
Whether you are leading a service for a child, navigating the complexities of suicide, or encouraging personal involvement in caring for the dead, this book offers the guidance and support necessary to approach these challenges with compassion and grace.
Embrace the journey of death and dying with confidence and understanding, fostering hope for the bereaved and honouring the memories of those who have died.
Reviewers comments
“A quick scan of death notices in a newspaper reveals the fading influence of Christian faith in this country. Many funerals now are held at a crematorium or a funeral director’s chapel. Some of these funerals will be taken by a minister of religion; but increasingly funeral directors and celebrants have taken over the traditional roles of a minister of the church. We live in a world where there are multiple views on “what comes next" after death, mostly at variance with the theological witness of scripture. Even church funerals often celebrate the life which has ended, rather than proclaiming Christian hope in the midst of grief and death.
This is the terrain surveyed by Hendery, a Pakeha Anglican priest. His writing is marked deeply by his trust and hope in God’s grace and equally by his long pastoral experience.…" Anne Priestley
“…For those concerned with funeral ministry there is much in this book that will repay careful reflection: how God and Christian hope are presented, the avoidance of euphemisms and idealistic eulogies, ritual at and after the funeral, funerals following suicide, funerals of children and children at funerals. Hendery states: We need to be able to look death in the face and be willing to wrestle with the theological, spiritual and emotional demands that this takes. Earthed in Hope offers significant help for those who are serious about doing this." John Meredith, Touchstone June 2015
“The book is honest and sensitive, acknowledging issues of spirituality ‘verses’ religion, and recognises that so much