Formal Condolences

Something that has changed greatly during my ministries is condolences. Formal condolences have become the exception rather than the rule, at least in my own community. Here is a photo I took this morning, of a family formally receiving condolences. They were asked to come to the front of the Church and stand in a line, while the whole congregation came forward to offer their condolences to each one. It was the death of a Church deacon.