- Doreen M. McFarlane----------------
Very Practical
Guidance for the pastors, associates, or assistants
Good to read before officiate a funeral
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1. Preparation for the funeral
- Meeting with the bereaved to gather family information
- When people are making decisions, say as little as possible
- Make sure of the name of the dead; be sure to ask!
- Always check out the obituary to be sure you have all the names and of relationships correct
2. On the day of the service
- Be careful not to turn the service into a memorializing of the deceased
- Scripture readings(family member)
- Eulogy(family memeber or pastor)-Music-Sermon / Eulogy&Sermon
- Your words at the gravesite, memoral garden, or mausoleum should include words of commendation or committal - in which you commend or commit the deceased into the loving care of God (ex. Almighty God, we commend your servant Robert Jones into your loving care. Accept him now, a sheep of your fold, a lamb of your flock, a faithful and a good person.)
- Close with a benediction and then some kind of sending forth, such as "Go in peace."
- Reception
3. Special circumstances
- ex. Funerals of gay or lesbian persons
- A funeral is not an appropriate place for this discussion; do not engage with the matter
* Recommended scripture readings
1. OT
- Job 19:25-27 "I know that my Redeemer lives"
- Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want"
- Psalm 27:1, 4-9, 13-14: "The Lord is my light and my salvation"
- Psalm 42:1-7: As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God
- Psalm 46:1-7: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble
- Psalm 90: Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations
- Psalm 106:1-5: Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
- Psalm 121: I lift up my eyes to the hills - from where will my help come?
- Psalm 130: Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice
- Psalm 139: O Lord, you have searched me and known me
- Psalm 143: Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my supplications
- Isaiah 25:7-9: He will swallow up death forever
- Isaiah 40:28-31: Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength
- Lamentations 3:22-26, 31-33: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
2. NT
- Matthew 5:1-12: Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven
- Matthew 11:25-30: Come to me...and I will give you rest
- Luke 7:11-17: Jesus raises the son of the widow
- Luke 12:35-40: Be prepared
- Luke 23:33, 39-43: Today you will be with me in Paradise
- John 3:16-21: God so loved the world
- John 6:51-59: Whoever eats of this bread will live forever
- John 12:23-28: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies
- John 14:1-6: In my Father's house there are many dwellign places
- Romans 5:1-11: Justified by faith, we have peace with God
- Romans 6:3-9: So that we too might walk in newness of life
- 1Corinthians 15:20-26, 35-38, 42-44, 50, 53-58: Death has been swallowed up in victory
- 2Corinthians 5:1, 6-10: We have an everlasting home in heaven
- Philippians 3:20-21: But our citizenship is in heaven
- 1Thessalonians 4:13-18: So we will be with the Lord forever
- 2Timothy 2:8-13: If we have died with him, we also will live with him
- 1John 3:1-9: We will see him as he is
- Revelation 7:9-17: God will wipe away every tear from their eyes
- Revelation 14:1-3, 6-7, 12-13: Rest for the saints
- Revelation 21:2-7: A new heaven and a new earth
3. For the death of a Child
- Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-23: God's steadfast love
- Matthew 18:1-5, 10: Greatest in the kingdom of heaven
- Mark 10:13-16: Let the children come to me
- 1John 3:1-3: We are children of God
4. Spouse
- Gen. 2:23, 24-25
- Love me for the empty room that I leave behind me. Love me for the face that's gone and the tears that blind thee. Love me for the years we knew, the sadness and the laughter. Love me with the broken heart, and the silence after.
5. Parents
- 2 Sam. 18:33
6. Relatives who are estranged
- Gen 25:8-10
* A twenty-min. talk is only five pages double spaced, so if you plan to speak for ten min, a couple of pages should do it.
* Grieving at funerals is threefold: 1.We grieve for the deceased most of all; 2.We grieve, at these times, we remember those we love who have died; 3.We grieve at being reminded that we too are mortal
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