Ceremony or Service?

They call it a “briefing”, it’s a short overview on whatever the Subject Matter Expert is there pitching. I had a briefing today at the monthly Chaplain meeting. It’s a great group of people that provide so much for Service members and their families, from Spiritual comfort and advice to food if needed.

I got there at a break in the schedule so that I wouldn’t interrupt things and there was one presentation before the briefing. The Chaplain was going over Memorials, funerals we would call them. He talked about the difference between a Memorial Ceremony and a Memorial Service.

The Memorial Ceremony is just that, a ceremony. Everyone involved is required to be there, it is defined by the pomp and circumstance that only military can provide. The formations, the rituals, the dress, all are executed with planned and rehearsed precision. There can be some religious elements, but they are not really a big part of the Ceremony.

The Memorial Service is a voluntary function and will have a deeper emphasis on spiritual things. It is more of what we would experience in a civilian funeral.

This begs the question. Is church involvement a Memorial Ceremony or a Memorial Service. Is it just about being there because we are supposed to be there? Do we feel that it is requires our attendance, getting our card punched? Or am I there as a volunteer, because I want to be there?

I think that a lot of folks come every Sunday to a Memorial Ceremony, and as such they are pleased when the ceremony happens with the expected rituals and rhythms. I want so badly for them to come to a Memorial Service. To do so may require them to step out of the comfort zone, to become emotionally involved, to “dive in”. That can be scary, it’s hard to do, but the benefits are pretty amazing. Give it a try, forget the Ceremony and come the Service. (Yes, you still get your card punched!)

Straw Hats @ Walmart

So, Tuesday finds snow on the ground in Tennessee and straw hats in Walmart. Not for sale at Walmart, on heads! It was time to restock the Diet Coke so I stopped by the Walmart that is so conveniently right beside the hotel. It's nice and cold today with about 4" of snow on the ground so as I walked into the store I figured that I would head to the restroom for a quick stop.

The door opened as I got close and it was held by a kid about 5 years old with a straw hat on, then right beside him appeared another young lad with a matching straw hat. One kid with a straw hat is somewhat unusual in my vast Walmart experience, two kids together in straw hats has now exceeded my expectations of any Walmart trip.

The hats are flat on the top, wide brim all the way around, I spot another hat, it's on Dad, he has a younger child with a "scarf" type hat on, turns out it's a young girl. Dad has a nice long beard. I flashback to a highway sign I saw the first day I was headed to the base. The picture on the sign showed a horse and carriage with a warning "Next 5 Miles". Putting it all together I have encountered either Mennonites or Amish at the restroom door of Walmart. It is certainly a clash of culture.

I ran into them several times as I shopped. It reminded me of "traditions". The nice folks at shopping at Walmart have held on to some very old traditions. You can argue whether they are better off or not, that's not where I'm going. I'm thinking about the fact that we often hold on to traditions just because they are traditions, not because they are of any real value. I was talking recently to a friend who leads worship at a church and there is someone there who dislikes an element of how my friend leads worship. It is not a question of whether he is leading in a scriptural manner, it's not a question of his "ability" from a vocal standpoint, it's not even about new music verses old standby music, it's about how he dresses while leading.

Sadly, when dealing with folks at churches the issue is not the real issue, "who's in charge" is the issue. The stated "issue" is just a means to say "I want things MY way". It's sad because what generally happens is the person who is concerned about being in charge ends up running off those who are giving their lives to further the kingdom of God. Sometimes it's because fellow elders don't step up and deal with one or two folks who want to be in charge.

I'll be praying for my friend, I'll be praying for his elders to do what God would have them do, not what someone wants them to do for their own sense of power. Maybe I'll buy my friend a straw hat. That should make it all better.