Program: Total Member Involvement

 For this program you will need:

A casket built of wood or cardboard

A mirror

Members to act as mouners 

Paulbearers

Guest speaker- Invite someone to encourage members to get involved in ministry. Each person has a valuable role to play. (Total Member Involvement)

(Place mirror inside of casket in such a way that when persons view the “body” they will see a reflection of themselves)

This program is suitable for: 

Helping members discover their spiritual gifts

Creating opportunities for meaningful involvement based on members’ talents

Procession -Platform personnel, Paul bearers and mourners walk in with casket to the song “Nearer my God to thee”

Words of Comfort/Intro to program -

<Viewing of body>

Opening Hymn- 350- Blest be the tie that binds

Scripture Reading: Phil 3: 13-14-

Aim/motto/ pledge (tribute):

Devotion (tribute)

Eulogy (highlight the things you believe are responsible for the death of your church congregation. Follow the format of a real Eulogy. E.g lack of participation, not being punctual, criticizing the service)

Special music- 

Introduction to Speaker-

Guest Speaker- 

Closing remarks & Closing Hymn-359- Hark! The voice of Jesus Calling

Words of Comfort

We are gathered here this evening to bury the remains of El Pasado. He is well known to all of us and has been a close associate of most of us here at (name your church). His real name is El Pasado, but he is known by numerous other names, such as “Come-late”, “won’t sing”, “lethargy”, “not-me”, “do-nothing”, “non-attendance”, “arrogance”, “egotism”, and “mediocrity”, to name a few.

The remains of this person lying here in this casket this evening will be laid to rest forever. Dear brothers and sisters and all relatives of El Pasado, there has been a false proclamation that (name of your church) is dead, but I want to assure you that (name of your church) is alive and working, but the one who is responsible for the near death experience of (name of your church) is now dead and this evening we will witness its burial. However, this service is not the traditional funeral service and so, during the proceedings, each of us will get a chance to view the last remains of the one who has contributed to that near death experience of our church. We will now ask you to quietly view the body while remaining silent as you return to your seat.

 

Viewing of “Body” (congregation gets a chance to walk to the front to view inside the casket- which is a reflection of themselves. Encourage members to view the body and return to their seats without discussing what they saw). 

After viewing of body, continue with program outline>> Opening Hymn etc.

Closing remarks:

Later in the history of the early church, when in various parts of the world many groups of believers had been formed into churches, the organization of the church was further perfected, so that order and harmonious action might be maintained. Every member was exhorted to act well his part. Each was to make a wise use of the talents entrusted to him. Some were endowed by the Holy Spirit with special gifts - "first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." 1 Corinthians 12:28. But all these classes of workers were to labor in harmony. AA 91.2

"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another discerning of spirits: but all these worketh that one and the self same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ." 1 Corinthians 12:4-12.AA 92.1
Why is it that many more do not respond to the call? Is it because they think themselves excused in that they do not stand in the pulpit? Let them understand that there is a large work to be done outside the pulpit by thousands of consecrated members. AA 110.3

 

We the AYs would like to join with (name of guest speaker) in encouraging everyone to get involved, not only in AY, but all the activities of the church.