Condolence Giving

expression of love

Condolence giving is the tribute paid by the attendees to the family of the dead in funerals. The sudden funeral expenses will be a huge burden for the families who were hard up originally, so condolence giving is also the practical support to the family. Therefore, condolence giving is not only a funeral etiquette, or a tradition, but it is also a way to symbolise the relationship, is an expression of “Love me, love my dog.”.

Condolence giving extends our love between the dead to their families. This caring heart, this movement of love, is exactly responding to the core of Christianity: a love-oriented relationship.

For families with stable economic condition, condolence giving can be a media to spread our love to those in need. Recently, many Hong Kong citizens donated the condolence giving to charities, so condolence giving will be no longer limited in subsidising funeral expenses, but helping people in need. This becomes one of the meaningful actions to commemorate the ancestors.

reversal of death

Serving the poor, CEDAR have over 80 community development and relief projects supporting the poor in China. The impoverished groups are long facing the difficulty in survive. They struggle to survive in hunger, war, epidemics, oppression and injustice all day long. For the poor we serve, some are famers who cannot even have three meals a day, some are lonely and helpless orphans and widows escaping from the chaos of war, some are forced to become child bride due to poverty and are trafficked to the red-light district. They do not know what tomorrow will be like, living a miserable life under panic.

If family members of the dead are willing to support our “condolence giving” project, helping those underprivileged groups. This will be a beautiful scenery: bringing them from the edge of death to the life full of hope, withdrawing them from sadness and darkness.

Condolence giving connecting the dead, the family, the relatives and the needy in the society. The relationship that filled with love highlight the truth of Heaven: the children of Jesus Christ and the poor who He also love, can comfort, support and help each other. Father will be joyful with this heart.

After the grandma’s death, our family held the scattering of cremains for her. Our family decided to donate the condolence giving we received on that day to the poor. Although grandma has rested in peace, we hope to continue the care of grandma to others through this action, let her warmth last. Thanks CEDAR Fund for providing this opportunity for us to turn our pain into blessing.

Man, supporter of CEDAR