[Dixielandjazz] Re: Jazz Funeral Service For The Old Year

[LARRY'S Signs and Large Format Printing]

Thanks Steve
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: "LARRY'S Signs and Large Format Printing" <sign.guy at charter.net>; "DJML"
<dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 9:17 PM
Subject: Jazz Funeral Service For The Old Year


> LARRY at sign.guy at charter.net wrote:
>
> > As far as I know no one does a Funeral for the old year here.  You told
us
> > how you did them one time but maybe you could outline it again.  Sounds
like
> > something fun to do.
>
> Here is the basic outline. For the actual text of the Minister's messages,
> write me off list for the Microsoft Word Attachment.
>
> The idea is spreading in the Philadelphia area. I've had to turn down
other
> First Sunday Funerals for the old year because we are committed to this
> Church every First Sunday in perpetuity, or until either I or Rev
Ensminger
> takes that heavenly journey.
>
> Wouldn't it be great if every OKOM band in the world found a church to go
> along with this type of "First" Sunday service? The second line through
the
> church at the end is a real treat. It spreads love and joy throughout the
> congregation. Two things we could all use more of.
>
> It is the politically correct thing to do. (Unless you are an activist
> liberal member of the "free thought" society or a member of some right
> wingnut dour, hate preaching church that thinks it has the only working
> phone line to God and/or one that handles snakes in silence without music
> and/or one that starts their service off with "Satanic Blues".) ;-) VBG.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>
> SERVICE
> UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, CHERRY HILL NEW JERSEY
> THE REV. MELANIE MOREL-ENSMINGER
> Jazz Funeral for the Old Year
> First Sunday in January
>
> Welcome & Announcements
>
> Congregational Greeting
>
> Call to Worship & Celebration    Tibetan bell
>
> Prelude: Band Plays "Walkin With The King" Band Vocal
>
> Introduction to a New Orleans Jazz Funeral By Rev.
>
> Chalice Lighting:    Read words by Louis Armstrong, from his introduction
to
> Wonderful World 1970:
> "And all I'm saying is, see what a wonderful world it would be, if only we
> would give it a chance.  Love, baby, love.  That's the secret.  Yeah."
>
> Opening Hymn: (This might be played at home of deceased before walk to
> cemetery) Band Plays #162, "Down By The Riverside" Congregants Sing
Lyrics.
>
> Wake of the Old Year & Old Century:
> Band Plays Hymn #199 "Precious Lord Take My Hand"
>
> Meditation on the Old Year & Old Century
> Band Plays "Just A Little While To Stay Here" Band Vocal
>
> Ritual of Burying the Past:    Congregants are encouraged to come forward
> down the center aisle & place in the casket their burden(s) of the past
> year, returning to the seats by the side aisles.
>
> Dirge for the Past:  Like the Walk Through The Streets of the City On The
> Way to Cemetery
> Band Plays Just a "Closer Walk With Thee" while congregants file by
casket.
>
> Meditation on the New Year / Offering
> Joyful Music for Meditation:
>
> Band Plays "What A Wonderful World" Band Vocal. Rev again references to
> Louis's words that were said at the Chalice lighting. "What a wonderful
> world it would be, if only we would give it a chance.
>
> Meditation of Hope & Joy for the Future
>
> Benediction & Introduction to Second Line.
> Rev talks about the March back to the home of the deceased after the
burial.
> The Joy of it because death is viewed as a release from the trials and
> tribulations of life. The deceased is in a better place.  Explains the
> "second line" of hand clapping band followers.
>
> Joyful Send-Off & Second Line: Band plays "When The Saints Go Marching In"
> and marches around church with Congregation singing along, clapping and
> following.