Thank you for this beautiful idea. My father died last week, and we honoured his wishes by forgoing a memorial service . . . rather, we held a reception with family and a few close friends. It was indeed a very open space type of event, albeit not formally. My one sister who adhers to a formal religion said a prayer, one brother read a poem, the rest of us told stories and, yes, jokes and even a few ribald anecdotes . . . in short, everyone honoured Dad according to their beliefs and perceptions. We naturally drifted into a circle. But the missing part is the book of proceedings . . .what a wonderful gift that would have been for Mum. And it's not too late to piece it all together. Of course, our closing circle was very poignant . . . a very tearful, large, long group hug that turned into a long session of cradling each other, rocking and grieving with the people we know best and love most fiercely in the world. In the future (when next we have to meet together to celebrate a life), I'll remember to formalize it and get the book of proceedings! Thanks for the wonderful idea.
Laurel. -----Original Message----- From: c...@aol.com [mailto:c...@aol.com] Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 9:46 PM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Open Space and Memorial Services You know, I hope this isn't too off the wall and morbid, but yesterday, my wife and I attended a memorial service for one of her mother and father's friends. It was pretty typical, in a church, Lutheran prayers, etc. However, the minister was a bit irrevent about it all and shared some of the humorous personal moments about the departed. That was the best part of the service, the personal stuff. Being a former Catholic, I no longer attend Church, nor believe in that type of God, so during the prayer part, my mind wandered. And it struck me. Open space would be perfect for a memorial service. Imagine all the themes those attending could choose to discuss. And imagine the "book of proceedings" the widow or widower could recieve. What a gift. Imagine the closing circle, a powerful process indeed, certainly would lift anybody's spirit. So, just a thought, and also a curiosity. Am I the only one to think of such a thing, and has it been tried at a memorial service? Looking forward to your replies * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html =========================================================== osl...@egroups.com To subscribe, 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign up -- provide an email address, and choose a login ID and password 3. Click on "Subscribe" and follow the instructions To unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@egroups.com: 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign in and Proceed * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
