Family claims they spoke to me about a funeral--but I know they didn't.

The funeral home called just as I was coming out of worship this morning. He has a funeral Tuesday evening, and talked like I knew about this. Went on with details, and I finally stopped him and said "Who's funeral is this?" He gave me the name, and I said "I don't know that person, and I didn't know about a funeral." Then he tells me that the son of the deceased "was at your office the other day...it's that service." I tell him again that no one came to my office to set a funeral date. He says "Sure he did. He says you were real nice." And while I am real nice :), I tell him he needs to clarify with the gentleman who he spoke to, because apparently he talked with some pastor about doing a funeral, but it wasn't me.

I have no problem doing a service for someone I don't know-I do it all the time. But, if they had come to me, I would have pointed out that our building is in use Tuesday night, so it would need to be at the funeral home (he said arrangements were made to use the church). So, that's another reason I'm sure they didn't speak to me. And some other pastor is probably waiting to hear the final details about a funeral.

Of course, part of the problem is our church's stupid name. "First" is a fine name for a bank, but there are 4 "First Church"s in a three block area here. So, I constantly get calls for First Methodist, or First Presbyterian, or First Baptist. I wish I could get the church to change its name to something, oh I dunno, RELIGIOUS!! But it's more important to sound stodgy and white, I guess. I'm sure this guy stopped and spoke to the pastor at one of the other "First" churches. Two of them have women pastors, so that narrows it down.

So, now I have to figure out who should have been contacted by the funeral home, or whether I'm doing a funeral on a night when I have three other meetings scheduled. Or what is going on. Not to mention the pastoral issues--meeting with the family, making sure they're coping alright, seeing what they need. Which is still complicated if they began this process with someone else.



And I was hoping to take a nap this afternoon.

Go ahead and take a nap anyway. ;)