COLIN GREEN | Songs, hymns, prayers, poems
COLIN GREEN | Songs, hymns, prayers, poems
Songs and hymns
There is so much to choose from and it would be my pleasure to assist you in selecting the most appropriate, if you wish. For a crematorium service one, or perhaps two songs would be sufficient. I am happy to assist you in this choice.
Traditional hymns
Here are the most commonly chosen songs in funerals I have led during the last year:
• The Lord's my Shepherd
• All things bright and beautiful
• Abide with me
• Amazing grace
• Love divine, all loves excelling
• And did those feet in ancient time (Jerusalem)
• O Lord my God (How great Thou art)
• The day Thou gavest Lord has ended
• Guide me O Thou great Redeemer
• Immortal invisible God only wise.
Other hymns have included: On a hill far away (The old rugged cross); Praise my sould the King of heaven; Be Thou my vision; Blessed assurance Jesus is mine; Eternal Father strong to save; He who would valiant be' Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty; Lead kindly light; Lord of all hopefulness; Silent night, holy night; There is a green hill far away.
Modern songs from school days
Again, some of the most popular are:
• He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
• Kum Ba Yah My Lord
• Lord of the Dance (I danced in the morning when the world was begun)
• Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
• Morning has Broken
• When I Needed a NeighbourSongs from live musicians
Subject to availability, I may be able to offer a husband and wife duo, Joolz Music, (www.joolzmusic.co.uk) who will be able to play acoustic guitar and sing most hymns as well as modern Christian songs. I am also a guitarist and able to do the same. Two modern songs which I can particularly recommend are "Faithful One", and a gentle modern version of the well-known "The Lord's My Shepherd". Both of these are highly recommended. There is a modest extra charge for this service, which we can discuss in accordance with your wishes. If you invite me to make the customary visit to your home, to prepare the service together, I can introduce you to these songs if you would like me to do so.The more unusual!
Everyone is different and this may or may not be for you, but the Co-Operative Group's Funeral Service says that there has been an increase in the number of requests for pop songs (as reported by the BBC). It appears that the current 'top ten' are:
1. Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)
2. My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)
3. I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston)
4. Simply The Best (Tina Turner)
5. Angels (Robbie Williams)
6. You'll Never Walk Alone (Gerry And The Pacemakers)
7. Candle In The Wind (Elton John)
8. Unchained Melody (Righteous Brothers)
9. Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon and Garfunkel)
10. Time To Say Goodbye (Sarah Brightman)However, some song choices are less obvious, with the more unusual requests including: Firestarter by dance group The Prodigy; Queen's Another One Bites The Dust; and the Village People's YMCA. Other odd choices include Wham!'s Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain and the theme from ITV's News At Ten.
Prayers and poems
The Bible
There are very many commonly used verses from the Bible which can help us in the service. These include the following::
• Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. Thomas said to him, "Lord we don't know where You are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John chapter 14, verses 1-3, 6, 27)
• The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23: a Psalm of David).
• Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. … And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new. (Excerpts from Revelation chapter 21, verses 1-5).
I shall be most happy to select some verses on your behalf, or look at some together with you when planning the service.
Poems
If you search the Internet for funeral poems, you'll quickly find a very large range indeed. I also have quite a range we can consider together. I have a wide range of poems to offer, some with a spiritual content and some without. Here are a few sample lines from two poems that I find particularly helpful to those who are travelling the journey through bereavement:
My Memories
On the road that all must tread
You have travelled on ahead
Out into the morning light
Out of reach and out of sight
But never far away
For every night and every day
On the wings of memory
Something brings you back to me
Some simple and familiar thing
Will start my heart remembering
By Patience Strong
We Can Choose
We can choose to grieve, for grieve we must
Or we can pretend that the road's not that tough
We can choose to pity our sad state
Or treasure the memories we know are great…
We can leave all alone the ones deep in their grief
Or sit alongside them and bring some relief
Loving each other's the way we must follow
It's not easy, but together we can face tomorrow.
By Colin Green