It is 4:30 in the afternoon and I have returned after the funeral. It really was an experience. The day was filled with traditions that needed to be explained to me.

I arrived at 8:15 at the church just as they were unloading the hearse. Then the new traditions began. When the casket had been pulled out by the pallbearers, they bent down once, twice, and then on third time tossed the casket up into the air and caught it on their shoulders. The three tosses signify the deceased leaving this world. They will do this two more times during the funeral. While they were carrying the body in, the band was playing various African versions of hymns. The casket was placed near the lectern and surrounded by flowers. The mourners all filed past the casket single file. The body was visible through a plexiglass cover that is placed over the top of the open casket. The crowd was huge. The whole nave was filled and chairs filled the courtyard. I joined the pastors in the sanctuary as we watched the mourners, then at the end the pastors gathered around the casket. Each pastor paused at the head of the casket before leaving to prepare for the procession.

The mourners traditionally dress in black or red on the day of the funeral depending on the tribes involved. On Sunday for the thanksgiving service they will dress in black and white. Changing times mean that some people are blurring those lines. Often the funeral clothes for a family come from the same piece of cloth so that they are all wearing matching funeral clothes.

I will not talk about all the funeral details but one interesting thing was that they collect an offering. Two-thirds of the offering is designated for the bereaved family to help with expenses, etc.

After the funeral, before they leave church, the deceased's autobiography is read and then a eulogy written by their spouse, Then the body is tossed again and the procession goes to the hearse.

The hearse slowly leaves the church lead by formally dressed attendants. It almost reminded me of pictures I have seen of funerals in New Orleans. Trumpets were being played as they marched toward the street. There they boarded the bus for the trip to the cemetary. I have pictures and video to show of all this.

At the cemetary they get out again and escort the hearse to as close as they can get to the grave. The graves are very close together and carrying the coffin is dangerous. The pictures will help you understand. The rite by the grave was the same as ours but included two hymns.

After the burial, the mourners attend a huge outdoor  reception. When the pastors arrived we were paraded around the area to wave and greet the people. The last to be greeted were the family members. After we were seated, emissaries from the family visited us and shook our hands. Once the head of the family is seated, all the guests begin to go and greet the family row by row. The emissaries then will return the greeting. All the while donations are being collected to defray expenses. An emcee is telling jokes throughout much of this time. Then African drummers played some traditional music. Food was distributed to all the guests. At that point we needed to go because it was already 2:45.

We ate the food at an outdoor spot with a beer and added some "Light Soup;" The funeral food was a toasted sandwich and some fried chicken that was fried in hot spices. The soup was a spicy vegetable broth with a whole Tilapia in it. It is a wonderful combination of flavors that was light and wonderful. The Tilapia was tender and fresh. Two days of good food in a row.

Tomorrow is the Lord's Day and I will preach at the same place that the funneral was held today. As we gather at altars far removed from each other we are still one in Christ. The Lord keep you safe until we are once again at the same altar.

Pastor