This month we have had both a wedding and funeral. On Saturday, February 6th Zach and Jordin Broberg tied the knot with Grant Long officiating, and just this past Friday, February 12th we held a memorial service for Ruth Lowery. That is a week packed with organization, planning, preparation, anticipation, reflection, resolution and relief. It has been a busy time for the Broberg and Lowery families, and others too.

It is important to be present at both weddings and funerals and I go to both, though I would choose a well planned funeral over a wedding any day of the week. Is this just one more twist in my backward, warped and corrupt mind? Well probably, but there is something to it, let me explain.

When we show up at weddings and funerals, we are acknowledging several realities. Our presence is a clear expression of our interdependence with one another in God’s church. Being at a wedding or funeral says that we understand it is true that when one member of the body rejoices or suffers, we all rejoice and suffer with them. We are there with one another to mutually participate in that suffering and rejoicing.

We also acknowledge that what happens at weddings and funerals is important, even when we don’t have a close connection with the folks who are involved. We announce with our presence that what is being said and done is of ultimate value and is worthy of our attention. And so we make it clear that we care for our brothers and sisters by being there. We may not know the groom, the bride or the deceased well, but we still express our concern for them and their families.

But most important, we show up because we remember that God is attending too. When we witness the groom and bride exchange vows, we really are witnessing God putting two people into a lifetime covenant as one new person. God really is present and active and what is said and done in that ceremony is real and is really his doing.

During a funeral, when a recounting of the work that God has done in and through the life of our brother or sister is given, we are reminded of his presence in his church. A Christian eulogy is a restating of how God has acted to shape our brother or sister more into the image of Jesus, and how he has worked through them to shape all of us as well. Hearing these words brings us to praise and thanksgiving to God. We are reminded of who he is, what he has done and therefore who we are supposed to be.

The proper context for Christian weddings and funerals is always worship. We are drawn to remember God as the central actor and object of attention in these events. The groom and bride are upfront, but it is God who is the star of the show. The deceased and their family are in our view, but it is God gets our attention.

Now, why would I like a funeral better than a wedding?! At funerals we are drawn to remember the good work God has done in another, and so we give thanks and to praise. We look backwards to God’s demonstrated faithfulness and this reorients our own living. A life lived faithfully is always cause for Christian celebration, through the resurrection of Jesus, once for all! It just doesn’t get better than that! See you Sunday, Hoj