An Order for a Funeral Service
Witness to the Resurrection
Where a different typeface is used, those leading the service may consider it appropriate to omit the section.
The minister shall say:
Friends, we have come together for the funeral of N.......
We come to mourn a relative, to honour a departed friend and to show sympathy to the bereaved.
We believe that those who die in Christ share eternal life with him. Therefore in faith and hope we come together to offer a prayer of thanksgiving and trust to God for what he has done for us in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We recall the certainty of our own coming death and judgement, and we proclaim that Christ is risen and that those who believe in him will rise with him.
A selection from the following may be used:
(John 3:16)
and
(John 11:25, 26)
The Bible says:
(Deuteronomy 33:27)
(Psalm 55:22)
(Psalm 46:1)
(1 Corinthians 13:12)
(2 Corinthians 1:3,4)
(1 Peter 1:3,4)
A hymn or psalm may be sung.
The following prayer may be used:
Father, your love is stronger than death. Those who trust in your Son receive the gift of eternal life. Help us, as we hear your promises, to believe them and receive the comfort they offer. You are the giver of hope; fill us with joy and peace in believing, so that we may have abundant life through the power of the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A selection from the following Scripture readings may be used:
(Psalm 23 A.V.)
(Psalm 103:8-18)
(Psalm 121 A.V.)
(Psalm 90)
The following psalms or psalm portions are also suitable:
Psalm 39:4-8,12; Psalm 42; Psalm 130
(Romans 8:16-18, 28, 31-35, 37-39)
(1 Corinthians 15:19-26; 35-38; 42-44; 50; 53-58)
(Revelation 21:1-7)
(Revelation 7:9-17)
(John 14:1-6; 23-27)
(2 Corinthians 4:13-18; 5:9)
(1 Peter 1:3-9)
(Ephesians 3:14-21)
An Address / Sermon may be delivered.
Let us pray:
God of all grace, who in Jesus Christ our Saviour brought eternal life: we give you thanks that by his death he has destroyed the power of death and sin, and by his resurrection opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Grant us to know and believe that because he lives, those who trust in him will live also, and that neither death nor life, nor things present, nor things to come, shall be able to separate your adopted children from your love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
O Heavenly Father, who in your Son Jesus Christ has given us a true faith and a sure hope: help us, we pray, to live as those who believe and trust in the forgiveness of sins and the resurrection to life everlasting; and strengthen this faith and hope in us all the days of our life; through the love of your Son Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
O Lord our Father, we thank you for the life of N......., for all your goodness to him, for all that he was to those who loved him and for everything in his life that reflected your goodness and love.
We thank you that in Jesus Christ for him death is past and pain is ended and that he has entered the joy which you have prepared; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God, strengthen those who sorrow; enable them to look to Jesus Christ for encouragement and hope, that through the Scriptures they may place their trust in the God who raised him from the dead.
The Lord's Prayer may be said.
Here may be sung a hymn of praise, after which the minister says:
Hear the words of our Lord Jesus Christ:
(John 14:27)
Or
(2 Corinthians 13:14)
Or
(Jude 24, 25)
##The Committal
Introductory sentences as required
(John 11:25, 26)
(Isaiah 25:8)
The Lord says:
(Revelation 1:17b, 18)
Other scripture sentences such as Revelation 14:13; Romans 14:7; Psalm 90:1-4; Psalm 136:1-3; Psalm 130:1-6; Psalm 139:1-5 can be used.
##Words of Committal
The minister may choose one of the following:
Having given thanks for the life of our brother N......., we now commit his mortal body to the ground/ to be cremated, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, [in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life] through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died, was buried, and rose again for us. To him be glory for ever.
Or
Seeing that the earthly life of our brother has come to an end we commit his body to be buried/cremated, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, [confident of the resurrection to eternal life] through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Or
Seeing that the earthly life of our brother has come to an end we commit his body to be buried/cremated, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in the knowledge that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him has eternal life.
Or
Forasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God to take from life on earth N......., we therefore commit his body to the ground/to be cremated, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, trusting in the mercy of Almighty God, to whom we shall all give an account.
Or
Almighty God, we commit N....... to the grave/to be cremated, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, trusting and believing your promise of the resurrection to eternal life, through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord who died that we might live, and who lives that we might believe.
O Heavenly Father, in your Son Jesus Christ you have given us a true faith and a sure hope: help us to live as those who believe and trust in the forgiveness of sins and the resurrection to eternal life, and strengthen this faith and hope in us all the days of our life, through the love of your son Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
Almighty God, Father of all mercies and God of all comfort, deal graciously, we pray, with all who mourn, that casting all their care on you, they may know the consolation of your love: through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Go in peace: the blessing of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.