It may be that on the surface people want a non-religious service (Feb 25), but I can see one of the deficiencies of this new service is there is no pastoral care for the bereaved following the funeral.
People need to deal with their feelings of grief and their loss rather than leave them hanging in the air or simply ignore them. The Church and other faith communities regard this ongoing care and support as an vital part of the funeral “process,” which if it is not addressed can lead to further personal problems for the bereaved.
Similarly for other civil functions such as weddings, there is no preparation for a life-long relationship between the couple, nor support offered after the ceremony, unless the relationship breaks down.
Whether God should be acknowledged in these ceremonies is another matter, but perhaps the Church should promote its services more effectively and the public should re-assess whether they really want these civil ceremonies or the more complete individual ongoing care offered by the Church.
Rev Colin Baldwin
St Stephen’s Church
Alton Gardens
Prittlewell
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