Several years ago, a pretty well-known singing group made a monster mistake at a funeral service.
This group traveled all around the USA singing and sharing Christ. One of the men in their home church back in Texas told them that he prayed for them, supported them greatly and loved to hear them sing every chance he could get. As a matter of fact, he loved them so much, he put them in his will and contacted the group to tell them that he wanted them to come back and sing at his funeral service one day when he died. He said his will would pay their expenses for their trip and give them a generous offering as well. It was all written down in black and white.
The group agreed to do that and told his wife that, when that day comes, just call us, and we will come home.
Several years later, that very day came. The wife was very upset but remembered to call the singing group on the road to get them to come back home for the funeral. She said, "It will mean so much to him.
And his favorite song of all was, "Jingle Bells". Then she added, "He wants you to sing that song at the funeral. "
The group was a little shocked to hear that they would be singing "Jingle Bells" at the funeral, but they worked hard on a beautiful, slowed-down, four-part harmony version of the Christmas song and presented it to a surprised congregation at his funeral.
After the funeral, the wife came up to the group and said, "Thank you for coming to sing at the funeral. But I have to tell you something. I was confused and upset when I called you and gave you the wrong name of the song. It was a song about bells, but it wasn't "Jingle Bells"........it was "Ring the Bells of Heaven!"
- Dr. Larry Petton