HELLO!

In the early church, as buildings were being erected for the newly institutionalized and legal movement known as Christianity or “people of the Way” as some called them, the baptism font was an important feature to be considered and determined. Some churches designed them as a cross, others as a womb, the theological reasons feel obvious. What is less well known and more theologically insightful were fonts designed as a tomb. The oldest font known to still exist, from a 3^rd century house church in present-day Syria, is shaped like a coffin. Water in a tomb-shaped font signifies the grave as well as the triumph over death. Churches identify the tomb with being joint heirs with Christ in his dying and rising. Can you imagine a new church build, where the baptism font resembles a casket? Why would the early church do this?

I was thinking of this as I presided and preached at a funeral for a 20 year old yesterday. The service was held outside, behind a hotel, 150+ friends and family gathered to celebrate a life that ended far too soon. 15 minutes into the service, approximately 15 friends of the young man we were celebrating, remembering, showed up together, all wearing black, looking most uncomfortable, which we can all understand. For all of them, it was their first funeral, and we all know they will never forget it.

When did you first become aware of your mortality? I am not a psychologist but I hunch the reason I can talk about death without the trauma many associate with end of life is both because I did not experience a traumatic death growing up and because my late mother took me to so many funerals in Halifax, as she knew so many people in her role as coordinator of all the majorette groups in HRM. She did not take my father, nor my brothers, nor her very religious mother, nor her friends. She took me, from the age of 11 right up until I was ordained. We would attend the funeral together, in Roman Catholic churches, Protestant ones, Jewish Synagogues. For a man on our street, whom no one liked, we were the only people at the funeral home, for this man’s wife’s funeral service, just us, the husband, and the funeral director. I will always remember that funeral. While death is not something that brings me anything but anxiety, and while it has become more of a reality at age 62, it is not a topic I avoid. I suspect one reason my mother never put anything off, was she knew life was a fragile gift, that could end at any moment. My late father never wanted to discuss death, I suspect there were many things he would have attended to, had he had death more “top of mind”. I am neither morbid nor ghoulish. I don’t stop and stare at accidents or obsess about “why did s/he die”. But I do think about life as fragile, and thus I am propelled to ponder what is most important, necessary, what is the purpose of this gift from God?

Hoping this blog brings life, life in abundance. Peace, Kevin

PS Here is a recording of today’s funeral service for Judy Chaulk. Please keep the family in your prayers. Our church offered wonderful hospitality. https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZVLdr5ZGKfpaeS2BhVNT5nDPYvOz8Ap75Xk