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Family History Documents and Artefacts => Graveyards and Gravestones => Topic started by: KennyH on Monday 27 January 25 11:22 GMT (UK)
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My church likes to form groups to make new friends, deepen your interests, or learn a new skill, all while growing in your faith.
Most groups meet once a week and are excellent for adding meaning and community into the flow of your life, even if you can’t make it to every meeting.
People to discuss the past weekend's message, study the Bible or fellowship and participate in a hobby.
I like taking tombstone photos for those people who submit requests on Findagrave.com and I'm going to start a group to see if others would like to help but also have to tie the group back to the Bible in some way but I'm struggling with ideas on doing that. Any ideas?
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I see you are in the USA. Have you discussed your idea with your church? Perhaps advertising within other churches within your locality may be a possibility.
There may be people who are willing to take photos but don't perhaps want to become involved in any religious aspect
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How about also learning about gravestone symbolism which you could give a religious or Biblical link then see if find anything similar on the headstones you photograph?
Not sure if your church has stained glass windows but I remember my Confirmation class had to study the church windows and learn about them (both the Biblical stories represented but the symbolism in them and in the rest of the church).
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Firstly, I think this is a great idea what you are doing on Find a Grave as this may encourage descendants who see your memorials to want to visit the Church and hopefully - who knows - even to attend a service. :) It could be viewed as a type of Church outreach work in a genealogical sense with you using your 'gifting' of genealogy interest and a camera.
God can use our talents and interests in many different ways, after all.
Re your question, perhaps you could start a memorial book of your photos or entries? If possible you could try to find out a little about each named person and attach a relevant Bible verse to each person in addition to an inscription (if they have one) and location, if it is known .
So if you find that Fred Bloggs was a parent and he had worked at sea you might attach a Bible verse on his page relating to parenting or the sea, etc. if someone can do calligraphy perhaps they could be assigned to the task. This memorial book could be made available to people who may visit your Church.
Your group might also attach flowers on your Find A Grave memorials with pertinent Bible verses.