Where are the Cemeteries?

Walking the manicured cemetery of St. Peter's Anglican Church (St. Albans, United Kingdom) quieted my spirit. Graves of departed saints surrounded the entire church. Their headstones shared departing thoughts:

   "Entered into rest"
   "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on            thee."       
   "The things that are seen are temporal but the things that are                unseen are eternal."

Those graves remind the people entering the church each Sunday that lessons learned inside the church are not only for this world but are preparation for our eternal home. I need to be regularly reminded that this life, because of my life in Christ, is the beginning of eternity.

Jesus constantly reminded His disciples that this temporal life would be short-lived but through Him this life could be connected to the next life through our death and resurrection with Him.

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24 NIV) 

Where I live, few churches have cemeteries. Where are they? Have we lost the message they were meant to convey?
 

Sharing the journey with you,