A Contemporary Handbook for Weddings & Funerals: And Other Occasions

by Aubrey Malphurs, Keith Willhite (Editor)

Weddings and funerals, like few other occasions, offer pastors the opportunity to give direction and encouragement to individuals when their hearts are more open to God . . . and to those individuals attending these events who may otherwise never hear God's message. This handbook, a compilation of tested ideas and resources by pastors, provides just the tool pastors need—young pastors will appreciate the advice of experienced ministers to help them get started, and veteran pastors will benefit from fresh ideas that add meaning to services they've performed dozens of times. Includes difficult situations like the death of a child and second marriages.

Genres: Church Ministry, Leadership

368 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2003

Reviews

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really practical and helpful. I read it and compared it to Hughes “The Pastor’s Book” and found Hughes to be much better, although this book is a good companion to Hughes book.

[PsychoSchematics · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful tool for making your ceremonies more modern, and relevant to those you are ministering to. In addition to weddings and funerals, covers the Eucharist (Lord's Table), family or child dedications, Baptism, ordinations and installations and others. All from a Protestant (Baptist, Methodist, Non-Denominational) flavor. Useful with some tweaking for most faiths and those wanting ceremonies without religious overtones. A great tool to use with this book is "The Rituals Resource Book: Alternative Weddings, Funerals, Holidays and Other Rites of Passage" by Susan M. Mumm as well as "The Rites I and Rites II of the Catholic Church". I also find useful "The Book of Common Prayer: and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church (Episcopal)".

If you find yourself put off by any of these titles, you're missing the point. I'm not talking about cherry picking your God. I'm talking about devising a ritual that truly reflects your relationship and your choice of "oath" with your God, and not just going through the motions.

Would enjoy hearing your thoughts on this.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing profound, but an incredibly useful resource especially for training pastors to perform weddings and funerals.

[David Stutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had given me some great direction and info.

[Buddy Draper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding resource for a number of different events that would include a pastor.