³Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. ⁵For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:3-5 ESV)

What is a funeral pall? In answering that question, The Altar Guild Manual states in part:

“One appointment that is desirable is the funeral pall. Decorated with a cross or another sacred monogram, the pall is placed on the coffin in the narthex when it arrives in the funeral coach, and is removed in the narthex during the recessional. Besides equalizing the appearance of differing monetary values of caskets, it symbolizes the promise of resurrection given in Holy Baptism and directs the assembled mourners to this hope in Christ . . . .

The funeral pall is 9-12 feet long and 6-8 feet wide, large enough to cover the casket and its carriage (see fig. 11.3). It may coordinate to the other paraments by being made of the same color and material or by having an orphrey [an ornamental band or border] of the same material. Today, however, most funeral palls are white since the pall symbolizes the righteousness Christians are clothed with in Holy Baptism. Adorned with a simple cross or symbol, the white pall may be used during any time of the church year. Traditionally the pall was made of silk damask or brocade, but today many high quality synthetics are employed as well . . . .  Flowers should never be placed on the funeral pall.”

Most of you at Trinity don’t know that we have a funeral pall for anyone wishing to use it. The reading from Romans 6:3-5 at the head of this letter is the Scripture reading which begins a Christian funeral service, and it speaks to the reality that a pall represents. Again, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”

The funeral pall that Trinity has was donated by Rev. Frederick Jungkuntz. It is not the common white found most often today, but it is a historically significant color. This funeral pall is a rich purple with a gold embelished orphrey. The color purple is a kingly color representative of Christ’s Lordship over death. Remember that in mocking Jesus, the soldiers put a purple robe on him in addition to his crown of thorns. The soldiers did not know just how prophetic their sinful actions would be, but in the light and empty tomb of Easter morning, the kingship of Christ over death was clearly evident.

The use of a pall in “equalizing the appearance of differing monetary values of caskets” is in line with why Christian churches have historically had their pastors wear vestments. The pastor is acting “in the stead and by the command of Christ”. His personal affluence in regard to attire is therefore masked by the vestments covering him so the focus remains on Christ’s words and Christ’s actions in giving out his gifts of grace, not the least of which is the forgiveness of sin.

Much in the same way, the pall masks the personal affluence of the deceased. Before God, there is no such thing as a rich or poor man. All people by nature are the same before God. All people from conception are totally unworthy of his grace (Psalm 51:5), and no personal or human accomplishments in this life can change that fact. Therefore funeral services that focus on human achievement or individual character traits are actually an affront to God.

Now that doesn’t mean families are wrong in using furniture quality caskets out of respect for the deceased. The question is what is the family trying to say about the person in their choice of caskets and other funeral furnishings? In other words, who is the focus on? Those questions are what a pall helps answer, for in our case at Trinity, the purple pall representing Christ’s lordship over death, as the white representing baptism, helps keep the focus on the important issue at hand. And that issue is not the human accomplishments or good character of the deceased, but the fact that the person laying in the casket was to God, neither rich nor poor, but saved by his grace!

If anyone would like to see the pall that was so graciously given to Trinity by Rev. Jungkuntz or to discuss its use more fully, please contact me at anytime.