Ryanne Molinari

An Active & Imaginative Life

funeral

June 2, 2025

When Two Families Meet

At funerals and weddings, two families meet—perhaps for the first time. Such meetings can be either unspeakably sweet or unbearably awkward. I am not merely referring to parents meeting in-laws, but something more significant: the meeting of earthly and eternal families. When we gather to celebrate a marriage or mourn a death, we are confronted… Continue reading

literary living

Bible, brother-in-christ, christianity, eternal-family, faith, family, family-of-god, family-of-origin, funeral, God, gods-family, Jesus, reflecting-on-funerals, siblings-in-christ, sister-in-christ, wedding
December 18, 2024

Final Words & Parting Gifts: Thoughts on Pre-Selecting Funeral Music

Earlier this week, I played for a funeral. Although this is a regular part of my job as a church organist, this particular service was uniquely encouraging. The departed was clearly a remarkable lady. Her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren sang the hymns with incredible confidence, leading me to believe she has left behind a… Continue reading

literary living

church organ, church organist, faith, funeral, funerals, hymns, Jesus, memento mori, ministry, Music, organist, worship

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Five years ago, Billy and I were engaged and wondering where the Lord was calling us. We certainly didn’t expect it to be a small church in Iowa—a church that began in a barn and moved into an old acupuncture clinic, that dared to stand for truth even when it was costly, that welcomed us with open arms and lots of chocolate. I admit that I wasn’t sure what would happen to this little church, but God had big plans.

In my experience, pastors and ministry leaders often stock their libraries primarily with prose. Systematic theologies and concordances line my husband’s office. Our basement library is largely populated by Christian living resources, and our upstairs shelves are loaded with volumes on church health.

Have you read “Spirit-Filled Singing” yet? Which fruit of the Spirit do you most associate with musical worship?

From my latest blog post. 💛 May you know the astonishing love of our Lord, whose mercies are new each morning.

Instilling a love of reading as early as possible. 📚 I did have to pause Les Mis, though, because a 10 lb baby and 1,000+ page book were too much for my back to handle just now. 😬

A blessed Ash Wednesday to you all. ✝️

Spent Martin’s first nap of the day making a playlist of hymns I hope he grows to love. Thank you all for the beautiful recommendations! I hope you enjoy. 🩵

Introducing Martin Molinari 🩵

Anyone else get shy when asked to share their “boring” testimony? I hope this post encourages you that there really is no such thing. After all, coming to Christ is not the end but the beginning of the adventure! Read the full post on my blog or Substack (links in bio), and consider supporting my work by subscribing for free.