Funeral/Memorial Service Considerations   While each service is unique there are some constant items that are typically found in services.  When preparing a service some of the things to consider include:               Music:                         Do you want presented music?  Are there particular pieces that are meaningful?                         Do you want congregational singing?      Some Hymns/Praise Song:                                     In The Garden,  Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Because He Lives,                                     Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us, Lord I lift Your name on High,                                     Fill my cup Lord, Jesus draw me close, When the night is falling,                                     You are my all in all                                     (This are just a few possibilities if congregational singing is desired)               Scripture:                         Are there particular passages that are meaningful to the individual or family?                         Are there passages which the family doesn’t want used? Which passages of hope                         and promise would you like included?                Prayer:                         A funeral is both a time of great sadness as well as a time of celebration.  The                         separation that death brings is painful, yet the gift of the person’s life and the                         promise of eternal life through Christ give us cause to rejoice.  These feelings and                         thoughts are lifted up to God in the prayers of the service.               Life Story:                         Often this is little more than a reading of the statistical facts of a person’s life.                          However a life is more than dates and places.  This is an opportunity to capture                         the essence of the person  and what he or she valued in life.  Usually the minister,                         a family member or a close friend will give this reflection.  At times those present                         are invited to share experiences or memories.  This sharing of those present best                         occurs when at least two people are prepare to say something in order to set the                         tone.  There also needs a limit to be placed on comments and a way to move the                         time to a close.               Meditation:                         While a funeral or memorial service is a time to celebrate the life of the individual                         It is also a time to lift up the hope we have in Jesus Christ.  It is a time of worship                         and reaching out to God.  The mediation tries to weave these two facets                         (recognizing the person and reaching out to God) of the service together.               Graveside:                         The graveside service is typically a very short service with a few Scripture passages read, perhaps a poem, a prayer and the words of committal.  Sometimes there are family customs, military honors, etc. that might be done at this time.  Because of the uncertainty of the weather it is best if the graveside service is kept very short (5-10 minutes). ----  Some customs: Placing a flower on the casket symbolizing thanks for the life. Each person taking a flower from a floral blanket on the casket symbolizing how this person’s life will continue to touch lives.   Scriptures for Funerals/Memorial Services   I Thessalonians 4:13-14 We do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have ho hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.    Romans 8:35, 37-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  .  .  . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us form the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.   John 14:1-6 Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said to him, “Lord we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the father except through me.”                                                           John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”   John 10:11, 27-28             I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.   John 6:35-40             Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.  For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."   Isaiah 43:1b-3             "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.   Lamentations 3:21-23             Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.   2 Timothy 4:6b-8 The time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.   Psalm 27: 1-5             The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.  For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.             I Corinthians 15:13-21  If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.  More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not  been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen  asleep in Christ are lost.  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied  more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of   those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.   Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.     Revelation 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Funeral Service Thoughts and Desires   Name: _____________________________________ Date: ____________________________   Place to have Service: ___________________________________________________ Funeral Home to be used: _______________________________________________ Pall Bearers: __________________________, _________________________________ ________________________________________, __________________________________ ________________________________________, __________________________________ Cremation or Burial: _______________________________ Cemetery: ________________________________________________________________   Music Selections:                                            Presented        Congregational           ___________________________________   ______________        ______________             ___________________________________   ______________        ______________           ___________________________________   ______________        ______________           ___________________________________   ______________        ______________   Soloist desired: ___________________________________________________________   Favorite or desired Scripture Passages:           ___________________________________,   ________________________________,           ___________________________________,   ________________________________,           ___________________________________,   ________________________________,   Memorial Gifts to: _______________________________________________________   Speaker(s) (if willing and able):____________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________   Special Customs (e.g. Military Honor Guard, Family Customs) __________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________   Open or Closed Casket: _________________   Other desires: _____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Please attach an Life Story/Obituary