A Guide for Planning Your Funeral
Before you begin, we suggest you read the following excerpts from the Directory for Worship in the Book of Order, PC(USA):
W-4.10000 Services on the Occasion of Death
W-4.10001 Christians and Death
The resurrection is a central doctrine of the Christian faith and shapes Christians' attitudes and responses to the event of death. Death brings loss ,sorrow, and grief to all. In the face of death Christians affirm with tears and joy the hope of the gospel. Christians do not bear bereavement in isolation but are sustained by the power of the Spirit and the community of faith. The Church offers a ministry of love and hope to all who grieve. (W-6.3006)
W-4.10002 Planning Arrangements
Because it is difficult under emotional stress to plan wisely, the session should encourage members to discuss and plan in advance the arrangements which will be necessary at the time of death, including decisions about the Christian options of burial, cremation, or donation for medical purposes. These plans should provide for arrangements which are simple, which bear witness to resurrection hope, and in which the Christian community is central. The session is responsible for establishing general policies concerning the observance of services on the occasion of death. (W-1.4004)
W-4.10003 Setting of the Service
The service on the occasion of death ordinarily should be held in the usual place of worship in order to join this service to the community's continuing life and witness to the resurrection. The service shall be under the direction of the pastor. Others may be invited to participate as leaders in the service at the discretion of the pastor. This service may be observed on any day. A request to observe such a service as a part of the Lord's Day service or to celebrate the Lord's Supper as a part of a service on the occasion of death requires the approval of the session.
W-4.10004 Form and Order
The service begins with scriptural sentences. It is appropriate for worshipers to sing hymns, psalms, spirituals, or spiritual songs which affirm God's power over death, a belief in the resurrection to life everlasting, and the assurance of the communion of the saints. Scripture shall be read; a sermon or other exposition of the Word may be proclaimed; an affirmation of faith may be made by the people. Aspects of the life of the one who has died may be recalled. Prayers shall be offered, giving thanks to God
(1) for life in Jesus Christ and the promise of the gospel,
(2) for the gift of the life of the one who has died,
(3) for the comfort of the Holy Spirit,
(4) for the community of faith; making intercessions
(5) for family members and loved ones who grieve,
(6) for those who minister to and support the bereaved,
(7) for all who suffer loss; lifting supplications
(8) for faith and grace for all who are present;
concluding with the Lord's Prayer.The service ends by commending the one who has died to the care of the eternal God and sending the people forth with a benediction.
W-4.10005 Alternatives and Options
This service may be observed before or after the committal of the body. In order that attention in the service be directed to God, when a casket is present it ordinarily is closed. It may be covered with a funeral pall. The service may include other actions common to the community of faith and its cultures when these actions do not detract from or diminish the Christian understanding of death and resurrection. The service shall be complete in itself, and any fraternal, civic, or military rites should be conducted separately. When there are important reasons not to hold the service in the usual place of worship, it may be held in another suitable place such as a home, a funeral home, a crematorium, or at graveside.
W-4.10006 Service of Committal
Members and friends of the family of the one who has died should gather at the graveside or crematorium for a service of farewell, which is to be conducted with simplicity, dignity, and brevity. The service includes readings from Scripture, prayers, words of committal, and a blessing, reflecting the reality of death, entrusting the one who has died to the care of God, and bearing witness to faith in the resurrection from the dead.
An Outline of the Funeral: A Service of Witness to the Resurrection
[Placing of the Pall]
Sentences of Scripture
Psalm, Hymn, or Spiritual
Prayer
[Confession and Pardon]
Readings from Scripture
Sermon
Affirmation of Faith
[Hymn]
Prayers of Thanksgiving, Supplication, and IntercessionPsalm, Hymn, or Spiritual
Invitation to the Table
Great Thanksgiving
Lord's Prayer Or Lord's Prayer
Breaking of the Bread
Communion of the PeopleCommendation
Blessing
Procession (Psalm, Hymn, or Biblical Song)When death occurs, the pastor and other officers of the congregation should be informed as soon as possible, in order that they might provide appropriate consolation and support to the family and friends, and assist them in making arrangements for the funeral.
Except for compelling reasons, the service for a believing Christian is normally held in the church, at a time when the congregation can be present. When the deceased was not known to be a believer or had no connection with a church, then it is appropriate to hold the service elsewhere and to omit or adapt portions of it as seems fitting. The ceremonies and rites of fraternal, civic, or military organizations, if any, should occur at some other time and place.
Family members, friends, or members of the congregation may be invited by the minister to share in the service.
This order is intended for use with the body or ashes of the deceased present, but it may be adapted for use as a memorial service. The committal may follow or precede this service, as preferred.
When the body is present, the coffin should be closed before the service begins. It may be covered with a white funeral pall.
List of Suggested Readings for Funerals
Old Testament* Job 19:23-27 I know that my redeemer lives
Psalms The following psalms are appropriate for singing or reading in the service.
Isa. 25:6-9 God will swallow up death forever
Isa. 26:1-4, 19 God will keep them in peace
* Isa. 40:1-11, 28-31 Comfort my people
* Isa. 40:28-31 Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength
Isa. 43:1-3a, 18-19, 25 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you
Isa. 44:6-8 I am the first and the last
Isa. 55:1-3, 6-13 Ho, everyone who thirsts
Isa. 61:1-4, 10-11 The spirit of the Lord is upon me
* Isa. 65:17-25 I create new heavens and a new earth
Lam. 3:19-26, 31b-32 The Lord's steadfast love
Dan. 12:1-3 Many of those who sleep in the dust shall awake
Joel 2:12-13, 23-24, 26-29 Return to the Lord with all your heart
Zech. 8:1-8 Children playing in the streets of the city
* Isa. 65:17-25 I create new heavens and a new earth
Lam. 3:1-9, 19-23 The Lord's steadfast lovePs. 16:5-11 The Lord is my chosen portion
Epistles
* Ps. 23 The Lord is my shepherd
Ps. 27:1, 4-9a, 13-14 The Lord is my light and my salvation
Ps. 39: 4-5, 12 Lord, let me know my end
Ps. 42:1-6a As a deer longs for flowing streams
Ps. 43 Give judgment for me, O God
* Ps. 46:1-5, 10-11 A very present help in trouble
* Ps. 90:1-10, 12 Teach us to number our days
Ps. 91 The one who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
* Ps. 103 Bless the Lord, O my soul
Ps. 106:1-5 O give thanks to the Lord
Ps. 116:1-9, 15 The Lord has heard my voice
Ps. 118 Open the gates of righteousness
* Ps. 121 I lift up my eyes to the hills
* Ps. 130 Out of the depths I cry to the Lord
* Ps. 139:1-12 Where shall I go from your spirit?
Ps. 145 I will extol you, O God my King
Ps. 146 Hallelujah! praise the Lord, O my soulRom. 5:1-11 Hope does not disappoint
Gospels
Rom. 6:3-9 Baptized into Christ's death, raised to live with him
* Rom. 8:14-23, 31-39 Nothing can separate us from the love of God
* Rom. 14:7-9, 10b-12 Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's
1 Cor. 15:3-8, 12-20a Christ raised from the dead
1 Cor. 15:20-24a In Christ shall all be made alive
* 1 Cor. 15:20-26, 35-38, Death is swallowed in victory
42-44, 50, 53-58
1 Cor. 15:35-44 The natural body and the spiritual body
1 Cor. 15:50-57 We shall all be changed
* 2 Cor. 4:16-5:1 Visible things are temporary, invisible things eternal
2 Cor. 5:1-10 From God we have a house not made with hands
Eph. 1:11-2:1, 4-10 Saved by grace through faith
Phil. 3:7-11 Knowing him and the power of his resurrection
Phil. 3:20-21 Our citizenship is in heaven
Col. 3:1-17 Set your minds on the things that are above
* 1 Thess. 4:13-18 The comfort of Christ's coming
2 Tim. 2:8-13 If we died with him, we shall also live with him
Heb. 2:14-18 Christ was tested in every way
Heb. 11:1-3, 13-16; 12:1-2 Faith, the pilgrimage, the cloud of witnesses
1 Peter 1:3-9 Without seeing Christ, you love him
1 Peter 3:18-22; 4:6 Christ's ministry to the spirits in prison
1 John 3:1-3 We are children of God
Rev. 7:2-3, 9-17 These are they who have come out of the great tribulation
Rev. 14:1-3, 6-7, 12-13 Rest for the saints
* Rev. 21:1-4, 22-25; 22:3-5 A new heaven and a new earth
Rev. 22:1-5 The Lord God will be their lightMatt. 5:1-12a The Beatitudes
Matt. 11:25-30 Hidden from the wise, revealed to infants
Matt. 25:1-13 Wise and foolish bridesmaids
Matt. 25:31-46 The Last Judgment
Luke 7:11-17 Jesus raises the son of the widow of Nain
Luke 18:15-17 We enter the kingdom only as children
* Luke 23:33, 39-43 Today you will be with me in Paradise
John 3:16-21 God so loved the world
John 5:24-29 Whoever hears and believes has eternal life
John 6:37-40 Anyone who comes to me I will never drive away
John 6:47-58 Whoever believes in me has eternal life
* John 11:17-27 I am the resurrection and the life
John 11:38-44 Lazarus raised from the dead
John 14:1-6, 25-27 Let not your hearts be troubledChurch Universal Numbers 438 - 444
Funeral Numbers 526 – 53
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