Messianic songs for funerals

What would be different for Messianics that would be appropriate for a funeral? Do Messianics generally have music at a funeral?

netzarim said:

No non-Law music, for one.

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Is that a topic in funeral music?

netzarim said:

Why not?

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Jewish funerals don't have music. I didn't know if Messianics did or didn't.

What about non-religious music, would that sometimes work? I've been to two funerals where non-religious music were played. Something pretty or a favorite song of the deceased.

netzarim said:

Christian hymns are sometimes played at funerals ... but does anyone have any recommendations for songs with a Messianic message in them? Suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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The only song I can think of right off the top of my head is the one that is often sung in congregations as they remember those who have died in the last 12 months: Oseh Shalom. Only make sure you use one of the arrangements that is more somber, as most arrangements have it played as pretty upbeat and cheerful.
I've got over 700 messianic/Jewish songs so I'll go thru what I have and see if there's anything and let you know.
I looked and couldn't find anything suitable for a funeral at all (secular or Messianic) except for Vince Gill's Go Rest High on that Mountain. Sorry.

Quite often, in funerals, the choice of music is down to the family to decide. It can be either canned or live music but, if it is held in a Church, it depends on what Minister of the Church is willing to allow; not all will allow canned music. Private Chapels at cemeteries or in Crematoria will often have cd facilities and they do not mind any sort of music as long as it is in keeping with what is happening.

Purple Pomegranate (Jews 4 Jesus) have produced a 'hymn book' which has a number of Messianic hymns, as well as Christian ones, some of which may be useful for a funeral. For secular music what about Verdi's music from Aida 'Nabucco - the March of the Hebrew Slaves' - a real processional or recessional type of music. It is my all time favourite bit of classical music (well worth listening to even if you do not normally like classical music). A shorter, non-vocal version is Verdi's 'Marcia' from the same piece. If you are into grand entrances what about Copland's 'Fanfare for the Common Man' - it's a bit long for a processional (3 minutes) but a competent cd operator should be able to select a suitable, shorter part to play.

In choosing 'hymns' for a Messianic funeral (or for any funeral) you need to remember that the people there will be expected to sing the 'hymn' you have chosen. If most of the people present do not know the piece chosen then it may be that you are doing a solo at a time when you are grieving the loss of a loved one! The number of times people have insisted on hymns that no one knew and therefore no one sang very well, would astound you, even though they are advised on this issue by me when I go to see them! It is also worth remembering that a favourite piece of music, or a favourite song / hymn should be played as a recessional and NOT as a processional; it takes much longer for people to exit from a service than it does for the family & coffin to enter the place and so a favourite piece will get a longer play-time as people prepare to leave.

I did the funeral for the wife of Jew a few years ago and he chose 'standard' Christian hymns. When we got to the point of the Committal and then the curtain closing at the Crem., I recited the Sh'ma - he was sooooooo impressed that I had taken the trouble to do it. It was a little bridge built! But don't expect your average Christian minister to do such things, or a Church organist to be willing to play anything outside the norm.

^What he said.

Having worked for a few years at a funeral home, the choice of the music is entirely up to whomever made the funeral and cemetery arrangements. Whether there is music, or no music.

If it is at a funeral home and having a cousin who was a funeral director who is training to be a mortician, the pastor hasn't as much say as the grieving family. It's the responsibility of the funeral directors to make sure it all goes as smoothly as possible and any distractions or fights are moved off scene so as not to disturb the immediate family.

If there is a viewing or a traditional wake (some do this, some do not do), there is often very light, quiet classical music piped in through speakers and you honestly hardly notice it. It's to keep the room from having white noise and keep people from going too deep in their despair that they need medical attention.

Sometimes a funeral home will have a pianist/organist on hand. Sometimes not.

It may work a little differently in Canada or elsewhere, but that's my experience in the US.... so your mileage may vary.

Here in Germany, things are handled completely different and having a pastor or rabbi is contingent on whether you are paying kirchensteuer (tithe) out of your paycheck or not. If not, no one will come out. You're stuck with a funeral director and family members to see the dead off. They'll check and see if you were a member at any particular congregation, and sometimes you might not be - so whomever the closest pastor is to where you were is who comes out, even if they don't know you at all.
Funerals are very different and if the one I went to is any indication, there isn't much fanfare, you have a small ceremony for the family, and while the person is being buried, the family and friends all go out to eat on the dime of the widow/widower. I was shocked to hear that, but it was explained by my MIL that "If you don't eat, they worry, and it shames them if you don't participate in the mourners meal."
So, I ate what I could considering our dietary needs. About all we could have was ice cream and a drink. We had to leave early because my oldest was alone at DH's aunt's and was only a few weeks old.

MIL said she doesn't want anything like that at all. She wants to simply be cremated without ceremony and everyone to just get together and have BBQ. I looked at her and reminded her that as much as you say what you want, the actual ceremony is up to those left behind, as they are the ones who need closure, not the dead. I'm still in shock she'd choose cremation. . . but I guess she's looking at it from a financial pov and doesn't want us paying for her plot all of our lives so she won't be moved.

So, really - hymns, no hymns, Messianic music or not.. it is entirely up to the family and culture we're talking about

MessianicMommy said:

^What he said.

Having worked for a few years at a funeral home, the choice of the music is entirely up to whomever made the funeral and cemetery arrangements. Whether there is music, or no music.

If it is at a funeral home and having a cousin who was a funeral director who is training to be a mortician, the pastor hasn't as much say as the grieving family. It's the responsibility of the funeral directors to make sure it all goes as smoothly as possible and any distractions or fights are moved off scene so as not to disturb the immediate family.

If there is a viewing or a traditional wake (some do this, some do not do), there is often very light, quiet classical music piped in through speakers and you honestly hardly notice it. It's to keep the room from having white noise and keep people from going too deep in their despair that they need medical attention.

Sometimes a funeral home will have a pianist/organist on hand. Sometimes not.

It may work a little differently in Canada or elsewhere, but that's my experience in the US.... so your mileage may vary.

Here in Germany, things are handled completely different and having a pastor or rabbi is contingent on whether you are paying kirchensteuer (tithe) out of your paycheck or not. If not, no one will come out. You're stuck with a funeral director and family members to see the dead off. They'll check and see if you were a member at any particular congregation, and sometimes you might not be - so whomever the closest pastor is to where you were is who comes out, even if they don't know you at all.
Funerals are very different and if the one I went to is any indication, there isn't much fanfare, you have a small ceremony for the family, and while the person is being buried, the family and friends all go out to eat on the dime of the widow/widower. I was shocked to hear that, but it was explained by my MIL that "If you don't eat, they worry, and it shames them if you don't participate in the mourners meal."
So, I ate what I could considering our dietary needs. About all we could have was ice cream and a drink. We had to leave early because my oldest was alone at DH's aunt's and was only a few weeks old.

MIL said she doesn't want anything like that at all. She wants to simply be cremated without ceremony and everyone to just get together and have BBQ. I looked at her and reminded her that as much as you say what you want, the actual ceremony is up to those left behind, as they are the ones who need closure, not the dead. I'm still in shock she'd choose cremation. . . but I guess she's looking at it from a financial pov and doesn't want us paying for her plot all of our lives so she won't be moved.

So, really - hymns, no hymns, Messianic music or not.. it is entirely up to the family and culture we're talking about

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In the UK you normally get the Minister who is on-call or who is nearest to the style of Church the deceased attended, or just an arbitary Church the family choose to do their service. There are normally no checks on membership except that if you are a Church Member some allow the services of the Minister for free (excluding the Anglican Church which has no official Membership list and therefore normally charges for all funerals). The Minister normally receives the standard rate that is determined by what the Anglican Church sets. Currently, in the UK, the standard fee is £160 for which the Minister is obliged to make sure all the service arrangements, either in Church and/or at the Crematorium, or at the graveside, are carried out properly. This often includes doing the Eulogy from information provided by the family if the person is not a Member of the Minister's normal congregation as well as providing pastoral care to the family. The extent to which this happens is variable, depending on the Minister but...if he/she does a bad job they are not likely to be suggested to non-Church goers seeking a Minister to perform the service, so it is in their interests to do it properly and caringly. For Anglicans the fee goes into the Diocese funds - for most others it is for their personal account, as the work for non-Members is seen as the Minister doing another job (and it is therefore taxable income) to be accounted for meticulously!

If I go before Yeshua returns, I'm thinking of bagpipe music at my funeral. Just not Amazing Grace. I like it but its what everybody thinks of with bagpipes. Maybe something like this:

Royal Scots Dragoon Guards ~Time To Say Goodbye ~Scotland. - YouTube

MessianicMommy said:

I'm still in shock she'd choose cremation. . . but I guess she's looking at it from a financial pov and doesn't want us paying for her plot all of our lives so she won't be moved.

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Why is that shocking, is it out of character for her?

xDenax said:

Why is that shocking, is it out of character for her?

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Maybe because, in The Book, the burning of the body was often associated with punishment for criminals, for some who incurred G_d's fiercest anger and for defeated enemies. It was also used, more frequently, by pagans as a sacrificial offer to their gods.

The Book doesn't say one way or the other is better, or worse, but for me the connotation that it was a sign of punishment or G_d's fiercest anger, means that I will ask for my body to be buried, as is most often the case in The Book.

I think it is very much a personal choice that one hopes those left behind will observe with due care and love for the deceased.

xDenax said:

Why is that shocking, is it out of character for her?

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Yes, it is a bit out of character for her and knowing her family history. They had extended members killed by firing squad or in the camps. Even this far removed from that history, it just didn't seem a choice she'd make.

netzarim said:

I decided on a selection of instrumental hymns as the family decided on having light, background music that would be repeated multiple times throughout the viewing, so I grabbed a bunch from hymnpod.com ...

I like Osea Shalom & Time to Say Goodbye, but I couldn't find versions with a mood that fit with the ones I found already - perhaps next time and no Amazing Grace

Thanks to all for your suggestions and input!

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What about Oseh Shalom by Dan Nichols and Eighteen? The album name is Kol HaShabbat-Voice of the Sabbath

Avinu Malkeinu by Inheritance...album name Kalimera
I have to take this one back. I was listening to it as I was posting, when the bridge in the music vocalizes di, di, di, etc., which might stick out at a funeral as inappropriate... my apologies.
This is a very slow arrangement, very beautiful, otherwise.

sevengreenbeans said:

Avinu Malkeinu by Inheritance...album name Kalimera
I have to take this one back. I was listening to it as I was posting, when the bridge in the music vocalizes di, di, di, etc., which might stick out at a funeral as inappropriate... my apologies.

This is a very slow arrangement, very beautiful, otherwise.

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Some funeral songs do seem to be more festive and not somber in light of the fact that not everyone is looking to be sad during the passing of a life into the Lord's prescence....just like many funerals ask for others to wear bright colors.