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  The Funeral Service within a
Celebration of Holy Communion
   
Structure
 
  ¶
  The Gathering
    [Sentences]
    [Introduction]
    [Prayer]
    Prayers of Penitence
    The Collect
     
  ¶
  The Liturgy of the Word
    Reading(s)
    Gospel Reading
    Sermon
     
  ¶
  Prayers
     
  ¶
  The Liturgy of the Sacrament
    The Peace
    Preparation of the Table
    Taking of the Bread and Wine
    The Eucharistic Prayer
    The Lord's Prayer
    Breaking of the Bread
    Giving of Communion
    Prayer after Communion
     
  ¶
  Commendation and Farewell
     
  ¶
  The Committal
     
 ¶
  The Dismissal
     
  For Notes, see here.
     
     
    The Funeral Service within a
Celebration of Holy Communion
     
  The Gathering
   
  The coffin may be received by the minister (see Note 7 here). One or more sentences of Scripture may be used.
     
    'I am the resurrection and the life,' says the Lord. 'Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.'  
   
John 11.25,26
     
    I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
   
Romans 8.38,39
     
    Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.  So we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.                                             
   
1 Thessalonians  4.14,17b,18
     
    We brought nothing into the world, and we take nothing out.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of  the Lord.                 
   
1 Timothy 6.7; Job 1.21b
     
    The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is his faithfulness.                                                                          
   
Lamentations 3.22,23
     
    Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.                                                                
   
Matthew 5.4
     
    God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.                                                             
   
John 3.16
   
Introduction
 
     
  The minister says
     
    We meet in the name of Jesus Christ,
who died and was raised to the glory of God the Father.
Grace and mercy be with you.
     
  The minister introduces the service in these or other suitable words
     
    We have come here today
to remember before God our brother/sister N ;
to give thanks for his/her life; 
to commend him/her to God our merciful redeemer and judge; 
to commit his/her body to be buried/cremated,
and to comfort one another in our grief.
     
  The minister may say one of these prayers
     
    God of all consolation,
your Son Jesus Christ was moved to tears
at the grave of Lazarus his friend.
Look with compassion on your children in their loss;
give to troubled hearts the light of hope,
and strengthen in us the gift of faith,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
  Amen. 
     
  (or)
     
    Almighty God,
you judge us with infinite mercy and justice
and love everything you have made.
In your mercy
turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life,
and the sorrow of parting into the joy of heaven;
through our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
All
  Amen.
     
  A hymn may be sung.
     
  A brief tribute may be made (see Note 4 here).
     
   
Prayers of Penitence
 
     
  These or similar words may be used to introduce the confession
     
    As children of a loving heavenly Father,
let us ask his forgiveness,
for he is gentle and full of compassion.
     
  Silence may be kept.
     
  This or another authorized confession is used
     
    God of mercy,
we acknowledge that we are all sinners.
We turn from the wrong that we have thought and said and done,
and are mindful of all that we have failed to do.
For the sake of Jesus, who died for us,
forgive us for all that is past,
and help us to live each day
in the light of Christ our Lord.  
All
  Amen.
     
  (or)
     
    Lord, have mercy.
All
  Lord, have mercy.
     
    Christ, have mercy.
All
  Christ, have mercy.
     
    Lord, have mercy.
All
  Lord, have mercy.
     
  This or another authorized absolution is used
     
    May God our Father forgive us our sins
and bring us to the eternal joy of his kingdom,
where dust and ashes have no dominion.
All
  Amen.
     
   
The Collect
 
     
  The minister invites the people to pray, silence is kept and the minister says this or another suitable Collect (here)
     
    Merciful Father,
hear our prayers and comfort us;
renew our trust in your Son,
whom you raised from the dead;
strengthen our faith
that all who have died in the love of Christ
will share in his resurrection;
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
All
  Amen.
     
  The Liturgy of the Word
     
   
Reading(s)
 
     
  Either one or two readings from Scripture precede the Gospel reading (here).
     
  At the end of each the reader may say
     
    This is the word of the Lord.
All
  Thanks be to God.
     
  The psalm or canticle follows the first reading; other hymns and songs may be used between the readings.
     
   
Gospel Reading
 
     
  An acclamation may herald the Gospel reading. One of the following may be used
     
    [Alleluia, alleluia.]
God so loved the world
that he gave his only Son.
[Alleluia.]                                                                             
   
cf John 3.16
     
  (or)
     
    [Alleluia, alleluia.]
Blessed are those who die in the Lord
for they rest from their labour.                                                               
[Alleluia.]                                                                 
   
cf Revelation 14.13
     
  When the Gospel is announced the reader says
     
    Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N .
All
  Glory to you, O Lord.
     
  At the end
     
    This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All
  Praise to you, O Christ.
     
   
Sermon
 
     
  Prayers
     
  A minister leads the prayers of the people.
     
  The prayers usually follow this sequence:
     
        Thanksgiving for the life of the departed
     
        Prayer for those who mourn
     
        Prayers of Penitence (if not already used)
     
        Prayer for readiness to live in the light of eternity
     
  This form may be used. If occasion demands, the responses may be omitted and the concluding prayer said by the minister alone.
     
    God of mercy, Lord of life,
you have made us in your image
to reflect your truth and light:
we give you thanks for N ,
for the grace and mercy he/she received from you,
for all that was good in his/her life,
for the memories we treasure today.
[Especially we thank you …]
  Silence
    [Lord in your mercy
All
  hear our prayer.]
     
    You promised eternal life to those who believe.
Remember for good this your servant N
as we also remember him/her. 
Bring all who rest in Christ
into the fullness of your kingdom
where sins have been forgiven 
and death is no more.
  Silence
    [Lord in your mercy
All
  hear our prayer.]
     
    Your mighty power brings joy out of grief
and life out of death.
Look in mercy on [… and] all who mourn.
Give them patient faith in times of darkness.
Strengthen them with the knowledge of your love.
  Silence
    [Lord in your mercy,
All
  hear our prayer.]
     
    You are tender towards your children
and your mercy is over all your works.
Heal the memories of hurt and failure.
Give us the wisdom and grace to use aright
the time that is left to us here on earth,
to turn to Christ and follow in his steps
in the way that leads to everlasting life.
  Silence
    [Lord in your mercy,
All
  hear our prayer.]
     
All
  God of mercy,
entrusting into your hands all that you have made
and rejoicing in our communion with all your
      faithful people,
we make our prayers through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
     
  A hymn may be sung.
     
  The Liturgy of the Sacrament
     
   
The Peace
 
     
  The president may introduce the Peace with a suitable sentence. The following may be used
     
    Jesus says:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid. [Alleluia.]
     
    The peace of the risen Lord be always with you
All
  and also with you.
     
  These words may be added
     
    Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
     
  All may exchange a sign of peace.
     
  The service continues with the Preparation of the Table. Presidential texts for the rest of the service are available.
     
   
Preparation of the Table
 
   
Taking of the Bread and Wine
 
     
  The following prayer may be used
     
    May all who are called to a place at your table
follow in the way that leads to the unending feast of life. 
All
  Amen.
     
   
The Eucharistic Prayer
 
     
  An authorized Eucharistic Prayer is used.
     
  One of these Proper Prefaces may be used
     
   
Short Proper Prefaces
 
     
    And now we give you thanks
because through him you have given us
the hope of a glorious resurrection;
so that, although death comes to us all,
yet we rejoice in the promise of eternal life;
for to your faithful people life is changed, not taken away;
and when our mortal flesh is laid aside
an everlasting dwelling place is made ready for us in heaven.
     
  (or)
     
    And now we give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In him who rose from the dead
our hope of resurrection dawned.
The sting of death has been removed
by the glorious promise of his risen life.
     
   
Extended Proper Preface
 
     
    Blessed are you, gracious God,
creator of heaven and earth,
giver of life, and conqueror of death.
By his death on the cross,
your Son Jesus Christ
      offered the one true sacrifice for sin,
breaking the power of evil
and putting death to flight.
[With all your saints
All
  we give you thanks and praise.]
     
    Through his resurrection from the dead
you have given us new birth into a living hope,
into an inheritance which is imperishable,
undefiled, and unfading.
[With all your saints
All
  we give you thanks and praise.]
     
    The joy of resurrection fills the universe,
and so we join with angels and archangels,
with [N and] all your faithful people,
evermore praising you and saying:
     
  The following acclamation is particularly suitable during the Eucharistic Prayer
     
    Praise to you, Lord Jesus:
All
  dying you destroyed our death,
 rising you restored our life:
Lord Jesus, come in glory.
     
   
The Lord's Prayer
 
     
   
Breaking of the Bread
 
     
  These words may be used
     
    Every time we eat this bread
and drink this cup,
All
  we proclaim the Lord's death
 until he comes.
     
   
Giving of Communion
 
     
  The following invitation may be used
     
    Jesus is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.
Blessed are those who are called to his supper.
All
  Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word and I shall be healed.
     
  The following words may be used at the giving of communion
     
    The bread of heaven in Christ Jesus.
The cup of life in Christ Jesus.
     
   
Prayer after Communion
 
     
  One or both of the following prayers may be used
     
    Gracious God,
we thank you that in your great love
you have fed us with the spiritual food and drink
      of the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ
and have given us a foretaste of your heavenly banquet:
grant that this sacrament may be to us
a comfort in affliction
and a pledge of our inheritance
in that kingdom where there is no death,
neither sorrow nor crying,
but fullness of joy with all your saints;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour. 
All
  Amen.
     
All
  Heavenly Father,
 in your Son Jesus Christ
you have given us a true faith and a sure hope.
Strengthen this faith and hope in us all our days,
that we may live as those who believe in
       the communion of saints,
       the forgiveness of sins
      and the resurrection to eternal life;
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen.
     
  Commendation and Farewell
     
  The minister stands by the coffin and may invite others to gather around it.
     
  The minister says
     
    Let us commend N to the mercy of God,
our maker and redeemer.
     
  Silence is kept.
     
  The minister uses this or another prayer of entrusting and commending (here)
     
    God our creator and redeemer,  
by your power Christ conquered death
and entered into glory.
Confident of his victory
and claiming his promises,
we entrust N to your mercy
in the name of Jesus our Lord,
who died and is alive
and reigns with you,
now and for ever. 
All
  Amen.
     
  If the Committal does not follow as part of the same service in the same place, some sections of the Dismissal may be used here.
     
  The Committal
     
  Sentences of Scripture may be used.
                 
  The minister says
     
  either
     
    The Lord is full of compassion and mercy,
slow to anger and of great goodness.
As a father is tender towards his children,
so is the Lord tender to those that fear him.    
For he knows of what we are made;
he remembers that we are but dust.
Our days are like the grass;
we flourish like a flower of the field;
when the wind goes over it, it is gone
and its place will know it no more.
But the merciful goodness of the Lord endures
       for ever and ever toward those that fear him
and his righteousness upon their children's children.
     
  (or)
     
    We have but a short time to live.
Like a flower we blossom and then wither;
like a shadow we flee and never stay.
In the midst of life we are in death;
to whom can we turn for help,
but to you, Lord, who are justly angered by our sins?
Yet, Lord God most holy, Lord most mighty,
O holy and most merciful Saviour,
deliver us from the bitter pain of eternal death.
Lord, you know the secrets of our hearts;
hear our prayer, O God most mighty;
spare us, most worthy judge eternal;
at our last hour let us not fall from you,
O holy and merciful Saviour.
     
  The minister uses one of the following forms of Committal.
     
  At the burial of a body
     
    We have entrusted our brother/sister N to God's mercy,
and we now commit his/her body to the ground:
earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust:
in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who will transform our frail bodies
that they may be conformed to his glorious body,
who died, was buried, and rose again for us.
To him be glory for ever. 
All
  Amen.
     
  (or)
     
  in a crematorium, if the Committal is to follow at the Burial of the Ashes
     
    We have entrusted our brother/sister N to God's mercy,
and now, in preparation for burial,
we give his/her body to be cremated.
We look for the fullness of the resurrection
when Christ shall gather all his saints
to reign with him in glory for ever. 
All
  Amen.
     
  (or)
   
  in a crematorium, if the Committal is to take place then
     
    We have entrusted our brother/sister N to God's mercy,
and we now commit his/her body to be cremated:
earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust:
in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who will transform our frail bodies
that they may be conformed to his glorious body,
who died, was buried, and rose again for us.
To him be glory for ever. 
All
  Amen.
     
  The Dismissal
     
  The Nunc dimittis may be said.
     
  This or another suitable blessing is used
     
    God the Father,
by whose love Christ was raised from the dead,
open to you who believe the gates of everlasting life.
All
  Amen.
     
    God the Son,
who in bursting the grave has won a glorious victory,
give you joy as you share the Easter faith. 
All
  Amen.
     
    God the Holy Spirit,
whom the risen Lord breathed into his disciples,
empower you and fill you with Christ's peace. 
All
  Amen.
     
    And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
All
  Amen.
     
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
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