SADLY, the Herald family is in mourning for one of its own, Jean Bishop, who died suddenly a week ago from cancer.
However, tears aside, the purpose of this column is to sing the praises of friend and fellow Rotarian, Pastor Reggie John, and his church – Gate Ministries – which is run from a humble, converted warehouse behind the Herald offices.
Unfortunately, we all get to a certain stage in life when funerals outnumber bachelor parties and this seems to be it for me.
Funerals are hardly joyous affairs, but somehow – thanks to Reggie and his church team – Jean’s seemed to stand out as more heart-warming and comforting than most.
Why? Because the entire ceremony was about Jean, emphasised by the open casket (which might not be everyone’s cup of tea).
On the contrary, other funerals (not all) seem to be more about using a convenient gathering of mourners as an opportunity to market the church and its own interpretation of the ‘afterlife’.
This is not to start a debate about whether ‘God created man… or whether man created God’ (note the capital ‘G’ out of respect).
Rather, having had a taste of many funerals, it’s a personal observation that some ministers are ‘leadeth to temptation’ and tend to go on a recruitment drive.
One church (no names, no pack drill) even handed out fliers which could only be interpreted as advertising. The minister also waffled on for ages and eventually one had to wonder who the ‘star’ of the show was.
The lasting impression of the service was a sore bum.
No doubt many will see this column as ‘blasphemous’, but the intention is not to ridicule any church or religion, only to give a heads up to those earthly ‘disciples’ that they too can be chastised for going astray.
Another sore point – Monday was Halloween night and several ‘holier than thou’ people phoned in to East Coast Radio to lambaste anyone who dared to celebrate, accusing them of glorifying ‘Satan’, ’evil spirits’, ‘ritual sacrifices’, etc.
In truth, most kids will only remember dressing up in funny costumes, ‘scaring’ neighbours into giving them treats and having a lot of fun.
Unless some ill-informed minister stands up at church on Sunday to threaten them with hell and damnation, kids and parents will be none the wiser, whatever the ancient origins of the tradition.
Long, long ago Halloween might have had some religious connotation. Today it’s just another excuse for a party.
HAVE YOUR SAY
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