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Ministers with experience performing other rites, especially those who have worked as wedding officiants, might be surprised by how similar planning a funeral or memorial ceremony can be. But if you’re new to these skills, don’t worry, they all get easier with practice. Remember, there’s a reason you were asked! Meet with the deceased’s friends and family First, meet with the deceased’s friends and family. A helpful place to begin is determining what the tone and feel of the ceremony will be. Will it be a lighthearted celebration of life, a quiet time to grieve, or something else? It’s useful to ask what the family likes (or doesn't like) about funerals or memorials in general, and which of those elements they’d like to include or avoid. Decide if it will be formal or informal, religious, spiritual, or non religious, and if they want to include any special readings, scripture, or music. Ask if other friends and family members wish to speak at the ceremony, and how long they want the service to last. Then, learn as much as you can about the deceased: What favorite memories do they have of the deceased? What were their proudest accomplishments and happiest moments? What music or hobbies did they love? What was their sense of humor like? How did they live their life? If possible, ask family members to bring photos to your meeting (or other objects that remind them of their loved one) to help them share memories and to give context to the ceremony. Before the end of your meeting, make sure you know where and when the service will be held, and who will be your primary point of contact moving forward. Ask how they prefer to be contacted -- compassion is key! Draft and practice the eulogy Next, use all of the information you’ve gathered to draft a eulogy and ceremony script. Your script will include what you plan to say at the service and other important details, like the names and order of others who will participate (either by reading poems or scripture, performing music, or simply speaking from the heart). Your first draft will probably need some work -- that’s ok! Read the eulogy out loud to hear how it sounds when spoken. Edit and practice as needed, until your delivery is smooth and natural. Share an early draft with your point-of-contact for feedback. Make changes as needed and continue practicing. You don’t need to (and shouldn’t) memorize the speech, but the words should feel familiar and comfortable to you before the service. Make copies of all special readings Make a copy (or two) of any readings that are selected for the ceremony. Having your own copy is helpful because you’ll know the approximate time each person needs to speak, and you’ll have a backup copy to share in case they forget theirs. Anything you can do to make their day easier is important. They may ask you for suggestions of what to say or read. An internet search for appropriate scripture, poems to say goodbye, or heartful songs will give you many options, and you can even consider something written by the deceased’s favorite author or musician. Some people might enjoy reading works written by the deceased themselves, including letters. Show up early Plan to show up early -- at least 30 minutes early. Allow yourself plenty of time to help prepare for the service. Seeing you calm and collected before the ceremony will give the family peace of mind.

The role of a minister / officiant at a funeral or memorial service is to help friends and family honor the life and death of a loved one. Ministers give friends and family an opportunity to mourn in whatever way they need to in order to heal. They do this by practicing compassion, listening carefully, and showing up prepared, ready to deliver an authentic and meaningful eulogy. Being able to gracefully navigate last minute changes, difficult emotions, and unexpected mishaps is also essential. A good funeral requires the sensitivity and comfort only a minister can provide. Families have just lost loved ones, either tragically taken or have suffered through long illnesses. They are searching for comfort. No matter how old a person has lived or how long a family has prepared for the departure of their loved ones, it is still "too sudden" for many family members. There are times in the minister’s life when they called upon him to comfort the family. These may be during times of disasters, senseless deaths involving crimes, a death of a child, the loss of the main provider in the home, wartime casualties, etc. Family member often are looking for answers or reasons why this has just happened, as well as seeking comfort. The role of the minister is vital during these crucial times. A ministers role is more than just speaking words of comfort, it is listening and being there when family members need a minister the most.

What’s the difference between a funeral, a memorial service, a viewing, and a wake? All of these terms are common, but what do they really mean? Memorial services are remembrances of the deceased. Bodies, caskets, and cremated remains are not present at memorials. They’re often held before or after a formal funeral or burial (or in place of a funeral service). These ceremonies are usually a mix of formal and informal elements, and can be solemn occasions or celebrations of the deceased’s life. Anyone can lead a memorial service. Funeral services are usually formal and typically include a burial or cremation, although a funeral service might take place a day or two before the burial. Bodies, caskets, and cremated remains are present at funerals. For this reason, they almost always take place at a funeral home, cemetery, or columbarium. Because they tend to be formal, funerals are most often performed by ordained ministers and other clergy. Wakes and viewings are informal events that allow friends and family to mourn a loved one in the presence of others. Bodies, caskets, and cremated remains are present at these events. They’re often held at the deceased’s home but sometimes take place at a funeral home. Different cultures have different traditions for wakes and viewings. For example, ancient Celtic and Irish wakes were long parties that took place over a full night. Anyone can lead a wake or viewing.

"They are forever free who renounce all selfish desires and break away from the ego-cage of 'I', 'me', and 'mine' to be united with the Lord. This is the supreme state."-Bhagavad Gita Humility, or being humble, is being respectful, submissive, and modest. It is the opposite of pride and arrogance and is considered a virtue by most major religions and philosophical traditions. We are most often humiliated when we lack humility. The challenge is that our nature compels us to want to feel powerful and important. Admitting that we are neither can feel like going against our will to survive. A person who practices humility becomes teachable and more easily acquires wisdom. They become a better listener and a more valuable friend. He or she is also better able to recognize personal traits or faults, which leads to a willingness to improve. It's obvious why humility is an important aspect of most world religions. It opens our hearts and mind to the will of God. Humility in Hinduism "The seeker after truth should be humbler than the dust. The world crushes the dust under its feet, but the seeker after truth should so humble himself that even the dust could crush him." -Mahatma Ghandi Central to Hindu belief is the idea that one must let go of the ego in order to be united with the Atman (the true self) and Brahman (God). Selfish desire or the want for fame or power are worldly yearnings that distract us from the ultimate goal. Hinduism does not denounce the fact that power, position, and possession are ambitions that run deep. Worldly success is necessary for raising a household and taking care of civic duty responsibly. It is not wrong to be successful but ultimately wealth, fame, and power are exclusive. If I own something, it is not yours. Those who are successful are not automatically lacking humility, but when people make money or social status their chief ambition and pride, things become problematic. As one acquires, he also acquires the want for more. The drive for more and more becomes insatiable. As Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita: Krishna's words highlight the struggle with our "self," as well as the broader message of the Gita. Eknath Easwaran, a spiritual teacher who was mentored by Mohandas Ghandi, wrote that the Gita's message concerns "the war within, the struggle for self mastery that every human being must wage if he or she is to emerge from life victorious." Humility according to Hinduism is not crawling around in the mud cursing oneself, but rather a struggle for shedding the ego cage, and recognizing and feeling oneness with the rest of the world, completely free from bias or any idea of inferiority or superiority. Humility in Islam "The true servants of God the Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, reply with (words of) peace." - the Holy Qu'ran 25:63 Humility is taken very seriously in Islam. The word "Islam" can be translated as "submission to God." When Muslims are praying, they typically bow on the ground in a position that acknowledges human lowliness compared to God. Humility is identical to submission to Allah. The seventh chapter in the Qu'ran reads, "Call on your Lord with humility and in private, for Allah loves not those who transgress beyond bounds." (7:55) God is immaterial, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Therefore the only way to approach him is in complete humility because without him humans have nothing and are nothing. Ibn Al-Qayyim, a Sunni Islamic jurist and theologian from the 13th century summarized the Islamic idea of humility in these words: Humility requires that we know God and be thankful for the fact that everything comes from Him through His grace and mercy. To do this, we should place heavy emphasis on praising and thanking Him constantly. We must also view ourselves as creatures who are comparatively weak and easily destroyed. In other words, humility is identical to recognizing how powerful and omnipotent God is as well as accepting our own weakness. Humility in Catholicism "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves" -Phillipians 2:3 St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a French Abbot born in the 10th century, defined humility as, "A virtue by which a man knowing himself as he truly is, abases himself. Jesus Christ is the ultimate definition of Humility." Therefore, in order to become humble, we must look to the one who is the perfect example. The Gospel of John focuses on Jesus's humility. When Jesus came to Jerusalem, the people "took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord-- the King of Israel!" (John 12:13) Even though Jesus was the King of Israel, his kingdom was in Heaven, not on Earth. He came as a humble King not on horse or chariot, but on a donkey. Even though Jesus was the son of God, he did not exalt himself or consider himself equal with God. Instead, he claimed that he could do nothing by himself, that whatever power or authority he had was God's (John 5:19). He also would not accept glory from men (5:41); his teachings were not his, but Gods (7:16); and he was not following his will, but the will of God (6:38). Since Christ is our example, we should mimic what he does. Whatever glory we think we have belongs to God. When we teach others about the Bible, the teachings are not ours, but God's, whose wisdom is greater than our own. Our triumphs and victories come from God. Humility is a crucial aspect of salvation. When we come to Christ, we come as sinners who need salvation and are entirely unable to save ourselves. Therefore, we must have a humble spirit, acknowledging his grace and mercy and the fact that he exchanges our worthlessness for His infinite worth. Connecting The Definitions Of Humility Each religion provides valuable wisdom into the virtue of humility. Taken together, a truly humble person would be one who has cast away the inflated ego that was a barrier to truth and God (Hinduism); one who submits to the will of God, because He is the supreme authority (Islam); and one who recognizes that all things come from God and to him all credit and glory are due (Catholicism). While each of these religions approaches humility in slightly different ways, one does not need to be Hindu to read and learn about humility from the Hindu perspective. The same goes for a Muslim or a Christian. We should seek knowledge, listen, absorb wisdom, and find ways to apply that wisdom in a way that fits with our beliefs Catholics, Hindus, Muslims, and peoples of any religion may have different definitions of God, but why should this prevent them from learning about each other? Acknowledging that each religion has something good and wise to offer would be an act of humility. Being Humble Humility is difficult to acquire because we instinctively avoid things that humble us. Like many things, this difficulty can be overcome one step at a time. Here are a few things you can do everyday to practice being humble: Admit when you're wrong. No one likes to accept their own mistakes, but doing so builds character and sets a good example for others. Practice admitting to the little mistakes with minor or no consequences. This prepares one for the big mess-ups, which will inevitably happen. Avoid taking credit. When we accomplish things, we naturally want to share the news with others. This desire for recognition and praise is not wrong, but too much of it inflates the ego. Instead, keep some achievements hidden from others. It will do you good, and any who discover you didn't step in and take credit will have more respect for you. Learn from those around you. There will always be people who have advanced beyond us in certain ways. Don't envy or resent them, learn from them. Help someone. The best way to become humble is by being humbled. By serving or helping someone, we send the message that their needs are more important than our own. There are many more ways to practice humility. To make lasting change, gradually fold humble actions into your everyday life. Don't try to do too much at once because you will only burn yourself out. Too much humility can be a bad thing. The best way to make permanent change is to make proper humility a habit.

The simple answer is yes Michigan Marriage Code Michigan law states that a "minister of the gospel" may officiate at weddings. The language used may give the impression that the right is restricted to clergy of a specific religion, but it's actually just an older phrasing than most states use today - ministers of any religion are afforded equal rights in Michigan. Any clergy-person authorized by his or her religious organization to solemnize marriages may perform weddings in Michigan. This includes ministers who have become a minister by getting ordained online. In Michigan, individuals authorized to perform marriages are granted that power via section 7 of article 551 of Michigan's state code. Below, you will find an excerpt of this code. Online ordained ministers regularly officiate legally valid marriages in the State of Michigan. Certificates can be provided at any time.