Church of Ireland Funerals
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This follows the Book of Common Prayer (2004) and there are different versions. Most commonly used is Funeral service 2, which are attached to this website to view. Some ministers are flexible and use these texts as guidelines rather than standard. Some families might like to look at the section of our website where there is a selection of Old Testament and New Testament readings and maybe choose one from here.
In these documents, you can find the service format and all the other funeral services from the Book of Common Prayer and I have attached the documents as they would be needed over the days of a funeral and the various services.
- Prayers for the home/funeral home or mortuary
- Prayer service for the reception of remains on the eve of funeral
- Funeral service
- Burial or committal of the deceased
At a Church of Ireland funeral service, usually everyone receives a copy of the prayer book with the generic service in it and the personalised funeral booklet (optional) simply contains the hymn word and details of the readings. In general, the main difference between the Roman Catholic and the Church of Ireland funeral service is the singing. Church of Ireland funerals typically have three or four hymns and the congregation (usually led by the church choir or recorded music) sing the hymns and other parts of the scripture and conclude with the Nunc Dimitis.
This is only a guideline and offers some help and direction when planning a funeral service. We here in Brennan funeral directors will be delighted and honoured to assist you in whatever way possible to plan a meaningful service and with the help of our local ministers give your loved ones a dignified and compassionate funeral service.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE SERVICE
The Funeral Service
- Gathering in God’s Name Prayers of Penitence
- The Collect
- Proclaiming and Receiving The Word The Prayers
- The Farewell
- The Committal
- The Dismissal
The Funeral Service with Holy Communion After the Prayers
- The Peace
- The Great Thanksgiving
- The Breaking of the Bread
- The Communion
- The Farewell, the Committal and the Dismissal follow
PRIOR TO THE SERVICE IN CHURCH
Greeting.
As we gather to say our farewells to our sister/brother … we recall the words of Jesus who said,
‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.’ John 11: 25, 26
The minister may say
God is with us,
God’s love unites us,
God’s purpose steadies us,
God’s spirit comforts us.
Blessed be God for ever.
This prayer or another suitable prayer may be used.
Heavenly Father,
your Son Jesus Christ wept at the grave of Lazarus his friend.
Look with compassion on those who are now in sorrow and affliction.
Comfort them with your gracious consolation;
make them know that all things work together for good
to those who love you;
and give them always sure confidence in your fatherly care;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Verses from Psalm 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid?
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord: be strong and he shall comfort your heart; wait patiently for the Lord.
The minister may stand beside the body and say
We leave in God’s gracious keeping ….
as his/her body is taken on its last earthly journey.
God of all consolation,
in your unending love and mercy you turn
the darkness of death into the dawn of new life.
Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
by dying for us, conquered death,
and by rising again, restored life.
May we not be afraid of death but desire to be with Christ,
and after our life on earth,
to be with those we love,
where every tear is wiped away and all things are made new.
We ask this through Jesus Christ. Amen.
As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to say
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Now to the one who can keep us from falling
and set us in the presence of the divine glory,
jubilant and above reproach,
to the only God our Saviour,
be glory and majesty, might and authority,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
before all time, now and for evermore. Amen.
The minister may add
Let us proceed in peace and in the faith of Christ. Amen.
This form may also be adapted for use in the home before the funeral service.
The coffin is received at the door of the church.
The minister says
We receive the body of our brother/sister ….
with confidence in God, the giver of life,
who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead.
Grant, Lord,
that we who are baptized into the death of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ
may continually put to death our evil desires
and be buried with him;
that through the grave and gate of death
we may pass to our joyful resurrection;
through his merits, who died and was buried,
and rose again for us,
your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Preceding the coffin into the church, the minister says one or more of the sentences of scripture on page 490.
A hymn may be sung.
PSALM
Psalm 139: 1-11
1 O Lord, you have searched me out and known me;
you know my sitting down and my rising up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
2 You mark out my journeys and my resting place
and are acquainted with all my ways.
3 For there is not a word on my tongue,
but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
4 You encompass me behind and before
and lay your hand upon me.
5 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
so high that I cannot attain it.
6 Where can I go then from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
7 If I climb up to heaven, you are there;
If I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
8 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
9 Even there your hand shall lead me,
your right hand hold me fast.
10 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will cover me
and the light around me turn to night,’
11 Even darkness is no darkness with you;
the night is as clear as the day;
darkness and light to you are both alike.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now,
and shall be for ever. Amen.
A READING
from scripture
NUNC DIMITTIS
1 Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
2 My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people.
3 A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now,
and shall be for ever. Amen.
PRAYERS
Eternal God, we come to you
because …. , whom we knew and loved, has died:
and our hearts are numb, our minds perplexed.
Whatever we may be thinking and feeling,
we know that you understand.
For you made us,
and in your Son Jesus you shared our life and experience.
Accept us as we are,
forgive us our lack of faith,
inspire in us a living hope;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Heavenly Father,
God of hope and giver of all comfort:
we thank you for all the gifts of your providence and grace.
We thank you for ….
and for all that he/she has meant to us all.
Comfort those who mourn with the assurance
of the life which is beyond this life,
and of a reunion with those we have loved
and who wait for us in your heavenly presence;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Lord, support us all the day long,
until the shades lengthen, and the evening comes,
and the busy world is hushed,
the fever of life is over
and our work done.
Then, Lord, in your mercy, grant us safe lodging,
a holy rest, and peace at the last;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lighten our darkness, O Lord, we pray,
and in your great mercy defend us
from all perils and dangers of this night;
for the love of your only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Other prayers may be said.
A hymn may be sung.
Gathering in God’s Name
RECEIVING THE COFFIN AT THE DOOR
The coffin may be received at the door of the church, and the minister may say
We receive the body of our brother/sister ….
with confidence in God, the giver of life,
who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead.
Grant, Lord, that we who are baptized into the death
of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
may continually put to death our evil desires
and be buried with him;
that through the grave and gate of death
we may pass to our joyful resurrection,
through his merits, who died and was buried,
and rose again for us, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SENTENCES OF SCRIPTURE
The minister may add ‘Alleluia!’ to any of these sentences.
‘I am the resurrection and the life,’ says the Lord.
‘Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.’ John 11: 25,26
1 am persuaded that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
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
We brought nothing into this world, and we can 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: 21
A further selection of sentences of scripture is given on page 490.
GREETING
The minister says
We meet in the name of Christ
who died and was raised
by the glory of God the Father.
Grace and mercy be with you all
and also with you.
The minister introduces the service in these or other suitable words:
We have come here today to remember before God our dear brother/sister …. ; to give thanks for his/her life, to leave him/her in the keeping of God his/her creator, redeemer and judge, to commit his/her body to be buried/ cremated, and to comfort one another in our grief, in the hope that is ours through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Therefore we pray that here today we may know the peace of Christ in communion with all God’s faithful servants.
Standing
God of all consolation,
whose Son Jesus Christ was moved to tears
at the grave of Lazarus his friend:
Look with compassion on us your children in our loss;
give to our troubled hearts the light of hope,
and strengthen in us the gift of faith,
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A hymn may be sung.
PENITENTIAL KYRIES
The minister may say
As children of a loving heavenly Father,
let us seek the forgiveness of God,
for he is full of gentleness and compassion.
Call to remembrance, O Lord, your compassion,
and your loving kindness, for they have been from of old.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Remember not my sins nor my transgressions,
but according to your mercy think on me.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
O keep my life, and deliver me, put me not to shame,
for I have put my trust in you.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The minister may say
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. Amen.
THE COLLECT
The minister invites the people to pray, silence is kept, and the minister says 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 all who have died in the love of Christ will share in his resurrection;
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Proclaiming and Receiving the Word
A READING FROM THE OLD OR NEW TESTAMENT
may be read.
Romans 8: 18-21,31-5,37-39 or 1 Corinthians 15: 20-26,35-38,42-44a,53-58
Alternative readings: Isaiah 61: 1-3; Lamentations 3:22-26; Wisdom 3: 1-5,9 or 3: 1-9
1 Corinthians 15: 3-6; Philippians 3: 7-14; 2 Corinthians 4: 14-18; Revelation 21: 1-7
A PSALM
Psalms 23, 42: 1-7, 90, 116:1-9, 118: 14-21, 130 are suitable.
A READING FROM THE OLD OR NEW TESTAMENT
is read.
At Holy Communion this is always a Gospel Reading.
John 5: 19-25 or John 6: 35-40 or John 14: 1-6,27 or Matthew 5: 1-10
THE SERMON
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
or
Part 2 of the canticle TE DEUM
You, Christ, are the King of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you took our flesh to set us free.
you humbly chose the virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory .
We believe that you will come to be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints.
to glory everlasting.
If the Holy Communion is celebrated, the Nicene Creed is used.
THE PRAYERS
The prayers usually follow this sequence:
Thanksgiving for the life of the departed.
Prayer for those who mourn.
Prayer for readiness to live in the light of eternity.
The prayers conclude with this prayer:
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.
If the Committal is not to follow as part of the same service in the same place, the Lord’s Prayer is said now.
This prayer may be added:
O God,
the maker and redeemer of all:
We pray for the coming of your kingdom,
that in the last day,
when you bring together all things in Christ,
we, with all who have died in him,
may enjoy the fulfilment of your promises;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
or
May God in his infinite love and mercy
bring the whole Church
living and departed in the Lord Jesus,
to a joyful resurrection
and the fulfilment of his eternal kingdom. Amen.
or
To God the Father who loved us,
and made us accepted in the Beloved.
To God the Son who loved us,
and loosed us from our sins by his own blood,
To God the Holy Spirit
who sheds the love of God abroad in our hearts,
To the one true God be all love and all glory
for time and for eternity. Amen.
The Farewell in Christ
The minister stands by the coffin and may invite others to gather around it.
The minister says
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who has made heaven and earth.
A time of silence is kept.
THE EASTER ANTHEMS 1 Corinthians 15: 20-22
Christ has been raised from the dead,
the first fruits of those who sleep.
For as by man came death,
by man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die,
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now,
and shall be for ever. Amen.
The minister says
God our creator and redeemer,
by your power Christ conquered death and entered into glory.
Confident of his victory
and claiming his promises,
we now leave your servant …. in your gracious keeping;
in the name of Jesus our Lord,
who died and is alive
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Sentences which may be used at the entrance to the churchyard, as the coffin is taken either into the church, or towards the grave.
The Committal Sentences of Scripture may be used.
The minister says
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
And then either;
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great kindness. As a father cares for his children, so does the Lord care for those who fear him. For he himself 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 shall know it no more. But the merciful goodness of the Lord endures for ever on those who fear him, and his righteousness on children’s children.
Or
Man that is born of a woman has but a short time to live and is in need of mercy. 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? Lord God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, holy and most merciful Saviour, Judge of the living and the dead, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death. You know the secrets of our hearts; in your mercy hear our prayer, forgive us our sins, and in your love keep us in life everlasting.
When the body has been lowered into the grave, or at a cremation, the minister says;
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you have given us a sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life. In your keeping are all those who have departed in Christ. We here commit the body of our brother/sister …… to the ground (or to be cremated): earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, and who shall change our mortal body that it may be like his glorious body, according to the mighty working by which he is able to subdue all things to himself. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. They are blessed indeed, says the Spirit, for they rest from their labours. Revelation 14: 13
THE LORD’S PRAYER is said if it has not already been used in the service.
As our Saviour Christ has taught us, so we pray
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
or
As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to say
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
THE DISMISSAL
The minister may say
God be in my head, and in my understanding. God be in mine eyes, and in my looking. God be in my mouth, and in my speaking. God be in my heart, and in my thinking. God be at mine end, and at my departing. Amen.
The minister may use one of the following endings:
Lord, you will show us the path of life: in your presence is the fulness of joy and from your right hand flow delights for evermore.
or
May God give to you and to all those whom you love 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 upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
or
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.