| Notes to the Funeral Service | |||
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1
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Sentences | ||
| Sentences of Scripture may be used at the entry, after the Introduction, or at other suitable points. | |||
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2
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Psalms and Readings | ||
| Psalms and Readings should normally be drawn from those set out. A psalm should normally be used. It may be in a metrical or hymn version, or be replaced by a scriptural song (for Canticles, see here). There must always be one reading from the Bible. | |||
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3
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Hymns | ||
| Points are suggested for these, but they may be sung at any suitable point. | |||
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4
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Tribute | ||
| Remembering and honouring the life of the person who has died, and the evidence of God's grace and work in them, should be done in the earlier part of the service, after the opening prayer, though if occasion demands it may be woven into the sermon or come immediately before the Commendation. It may be done in conjunction with the placing of symbols, and may be spoken by a family member or friend or by the minister using information provided by the family. It is preferable not to interrupt the flow of the Reading(s) and sermon with a tribute of this kind. | |||
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5
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Sermon | ||
| The purpose of the sermon is to proclaim the gospel in the context of the death of this particular person. | |||
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6
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Creed | ||
| An authorized Creed or an authorized Affirmation of Faith may be said after the sermon. | |||
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7
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Receiving the coffin | ||
| The coffin may be received into the church at the beginning of the service, or earlier in the day, or on the day before the funeral. | |||
| ¶ | A candle may stand beside the coffin and may be carried in front of the coffin when it is brought into the church. | ||
| ¶ | The coffin may be sprinkled with water on entry. This may occur at the Commendation, or at the Committal. | ||
| ¶ | A pall may be placed over the coffin in church by family, friends or other members of the congregation. | ||
| ¶ | Before or at the start of the service or after the opening prayer and hymn, and with the minister's agreement, suitable symbols of the life and faith of the departed person may be placed on or near the coffin. | ||
| ¶ | At the sprinkling, the placing of the pall or symbols, the words here may be used. | ||
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8
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The Committal | ||
| The Committal is used at the point at which it is needed, for example: | |||
| ¶ | at the burial of the body in a cemetery or churchyard, | ||
| ¶ | at the interment of ashes when this follows on the same day or the day following cremation, in which case the second 'preparation for burial' prayer is used at the crematorium, or | ||
| ¶ | at a crematorium when the interment of ashes is not to follow immediately. | ||
| Forms of Commendation and
Committal are provided, but when occasion demands, other
authorized forms may be used. When the body or the ashes are to be deposited in a vault, mausoleum or brick grave, these words may be used at the committal: |
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| We have
entrusted our brother/sister N to God's
mercy, and now we commit his/her body to its resting place. |
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9
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The Funeral Service within Holy Communion | ||
| The Notes to the Order for the Celebration of Holy Communion, as well as the Notes to the Funeral Service, apply equally to this service. Texts are suggested at different points, but other suitable texts may be used. In the Liturgy of the Word, there should be a Gospel reading, preceded by either one or two other readings from the Bible. | |||