Pastoral Care Blues

I am the Angel of Death again..... :(

Back when I first started working here at the church, one half of my job was being the assistant to the Sr. Adult/Pastoral Care minister. As his assistant, one area I had responsibility in were the "bereavements". I was responsible for reporting deaths to the church staff, getting out funeral information as soon as it was made available, adjusting the departed's record on the church database, and other pastoral care duties for the person and their family. The bereavement stuff was actually one aspect of that job that I liked least. I really don't think I handle death too well. Some weeks I felt like the Angel of Death [someone actually called me that!], because there would be so many deaths. :( It would sometimes really bum me out and make my heart ache. I even had fellow employees tell me they would cringe every time they got an email from me, b/c I would either be reporting sick people or dead people. :( Then my position changed, and I no longer had duties in Pastoral Care.

But now I temporarily have these responsibilites again since the lady who was in that position quit. And today has been a really sad 'angel of death' day. A very sweet, active, and well known Senior Saint passed away this morning, so I have been scrambling all day trying to get information out to the necessary people and help get various items done for the funeral next week before the weekend. And this time its a little hard for me because this is the first time I actually know the family. :( I know it is a happy time for the woman, b/c she is finally home. She is now with her Savior, singing praises to the King of Kings [she was a long time member of the church choir :)]. I know her family is comforted by that. It is still sad for every one here on earth.

It has made for a melancholy Friday.