Ready-to-use funeral services for difficult situations. Each service is set in a ministry context and includes a sample sermon, Scripture text, and prayers. Miscarriage, Premature Delivery, Stillbirth, Infant Dies in Sleep, Infant is Fatally Injured, Infant Dies In Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Infant Dies Due to Mistreatment, Child Drowns, Child Dies of Serious Illness, Child Dies in Accident, Child Dies Due to Mistreatment, Youth Dies as Driver in Car Accident, Youth Dies as Passenger in Car Accident, Youth Dies of Serious Illness, Youth Murdered, Youth Dies Accidentally, Youth Commits Suicide, Youth Dies as Victim of School Violence, Student Dies in Hazing, Student Dies of Untreated Mental Illness, Student dies of accidental overdose, Adult Dies of a Serious Illness, Adult Dies in Prison, Adult Completes Suicide, Adult Dies in Random Act of Violence, Adult Dies in Work Accident, Older Adult Dies in Nursing Home, Older Adult Dies of Serious Illness, Older Adult Dies Alone The Just in Time! series offers brief, practical resources of immediate help for pastors at an affordable price.

The blogger behind Confessions of a Funeral Director—what Time magazine called a "must read"—reflects on mortality and the powerful lessons death holds for every one of us in this compassionate and thoughtful spiritual memoir that combines the humor and insight of Smoke Gets in Your Eyes with the poignancy and brevity of When Breath Becomes Air. We are a people who deeply fear death. While humans are biologically wired to evade death for as long as possible, we have become too adept at hiding from it, vilifying it, and—when it can be avoided no longer—letting the professionals take over. Sixth-generation funeral director Caleb Wilde understands this reticence and fear. He had planned to get as far away from the family business as possible. He wanted to make a difference in the world, and how could he do that if all the people he worked with were . . . dead? Slowly, he discovered that caring for the deceased and their loved ones was making a difference—in other people’s lives to be sure, but it also seemed to be saving his own. A spirituality of death began to emerge as he observed: The family who lovingly dressed their deceased father for his burial The act of embalming a little girl that offered a gift back to her grieving family The nursing home that honored a woman’s life by standing in procession as her body was taken away The funeral that united a conflicted community Through stories like these, told with equal parts humor and poignancy, Wilde offers an intimate look into the business and a new perspective on living and dying

The pastor fills a unique role in wedding service planning. This slim volume helps the pastor offer care with sensitivity while addressing the spiritual needs and complexities of weddings in today’s world. Following a brief introduction to a variety of wedding situations, including interfaith and second marriages, the author provides prayers, litanies, Scripture readings, and meditations for every aspect of the wedding service from processional to declaration of intention, Scripture and other readings, prayers, exchange of vows and rings, unity candle and other uniting rituals, and more. The Pastor’s Wedding Toolkit includes guidance on: Local Legal Requirements Church Policy Statement Pastor’s Policy Statement Interfaith Marriages Second and Subsequent Marriages Wedding Information Form Basic Music Guidelines Brief Wedding Meditations on: A Christmas Wedding The Music of Love The Genesis of Marriage To Blossom in Marriage To A Well Known Young Couple There Is Love Renewing Your Vows And more . . .

Ready-to-use funeral services for difficult situations. Each service is set in a ministry context and includes a sample sermon, Scripture text, and prayers. Miscarriage, Premature Delivery, Stillbirth, Infant Dies in Sleep, Infant is Fatally Injured, Infant Dies In Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Infant Dies Due to Mistreatment, Child Drowns, Child Dies of Serious Illness, Child Dies in Accident, Child Dies Due to Mistreatment, Youth Dies as Driver in Car Accident, Youth Dies as Passenger in Car Accident, Youth Dies of Serious Illness, Youth Murdered, Youth Dies Accidentally, Youth Commits Suicide, Youth Dies as Victim of School Violence, Student Dies in Hazing, Student Dies of Untreated Mental Illness, Student dies of accidental overdose, Adult Dies of a Serious Illness, Adult Dies in Prison, Adult Completes Suicide, Adult Dies in Random Act of Violence, Adult Dies in Work Accident, Older Adult Dies in Nursing Home, Older Adult Dies of Serious Illness, Older Adult Dies Alone The Just in Time series offers brief, practical resources of immediate help for pastors at an affordable price.

A carefree and idyllic childhood during the Depression allowed author Shirley Odle, born Shirley Cross, to become a free-spirited and self willed young lady. While growing up in Washington, she benefited from the hard work and perseverance of her loving parents. They provided a strong family life for her, her sister Margie, and her brother Bob. One day, a chance invitation to a church service from a fellow employee of her father, changed her family and reset the course of her life. In this action packed memoir, she recounts her childhood experiences and teen years in loving detail. Introducing her college sweetheart Glen Odle, she recalls their shared experiences as he is drafted into the service during WWII. Marrying him in San Francisco, she follows him around the United States in exciting and challenging circumstances. Returning to the Pacific Northwest, Shirley continues her life story, sharing tales of her children and their growing up years. Through the years her belief in God remained, but Gods plans and Shirleys plans clashed, creating a life-long struggle. Guilt, forgiveness, and obedience spiral. God has been the centerpiece for her life, but sometimes the ups and downs of daily life baffled her. Show Me the Way to Go Home is Shirley Odles honest and heartwarming story of her life and the role God has played in each step of the way.