President's Edition - Funeral provisions

¶		Funeral

		Invitation to Confession

		As children of a loving heavenly Father,
		let us ask his forgiveness,
		for he is gentle and full of compassion.

		The Collect

		Merciful Father,
		hear our prayers and comfort us;
		renew our trust in your Son,
		whom you raised from the dead;
		strengthen our faith
		that [N and] 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.


		(or)
		Eternal God, our maker and redeemer,
		grant us [with N] and all the faithful departed
		the sure benefits of your Son's saving passion
		and glorious resurrection:
		that, in the last day,
		when you gather up all things in Christ,
		we may with them enjoy the fullness of your promises;
		through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
		who is alive and reigns with you,
		in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
		one God, now and for ever.
All		Amen.

		Gospel Acclamation

		[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

		Introduction to the Peace

		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.

		Preparation of the Table and the Gifts

		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.

		Eucharistic Prefaces

		Short Preface (contemporary language)
		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.

		(or)

		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.

		(traditional language)
		And now we give thee thanks
		because through him thou hast 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 thy 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.

		Extended 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:

		Acclamation in the Eucharistic Prayer

		The following acclamation is particularly suitable

		Praise to you, Lord Jesus:
All		dying you destroyed our death,
		rising you restored our life:
		Lord Jesus, come in glory.

		Breaking of the Bread

		The following words are particularly suitable

		Every time we eat this bread
		and drink this cup,
All		we proclaim the Lord's death
		until he comes.

		Invitation to Communion

		The following invitation is particularly suitable

		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.

		Words at the Giving of Communion

		The following words are particularly suitable

		The bread of heaven in Christ Jesus.
		The cup of life in Christ Jesus.

		Post 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.

		(or)

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.

		Blessings

		Simple Blessing
		May God give you
		his comfort and his peace,
		his light and his joy,
		in this world and the next;
		and the blessing of God almighty,
		the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
		be among you and remain with you always.
All		Amen.

		Solemn Blessing
		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
All of the official Common Worship publications are being published by Church House Publishing.