Prayers during the funeral
On this page are some of the prayers that can be used at a funeral.
There are other prayers that can be used that aren't shown here,
and, if necessary, we can discuss those during my visit.
Also, some of the prayers below may be available in another version -
perhaps more or less formal than on this page -
what's below is the more popular wording of each.
Again, we can discuss this during my visit.
A common pattern for a time of prayer would be:
- a prayer for the deceased;
- a prayer for the family and those who mourn;
- a prayer for everyone attending;
- a prayer for the future;
- conclude with The Lord's Prayer.
Each prayer has an introductory line in bold, to show what the prayer is about.
Where a name or gender is used, this is shown in italics and can of course be changed to suit.
There are other prayers that can be used that aren't shown here,
and, if necessary, we can discuss those during my visit.
Also, some of the prayers below may be available in another version -
perhaps more or less formal than on this page -
what's below is the more popular wording of each.
Again, we can discuss this during my visit.
A common pattern for a time of prayer would be:
- a prayer for the deceased;
- a prayer for the family and those who mourn;
- a prayer for everyone attending;
- a prayer for the future;
- conclude with The Lord's Prayer.
Each prayer has an introductory line in bold, to show what the prayer is about.
Where a name or gender is used, this is shown in italics and can of course be changed to suit.
“Good Morning,
This is” – a poem to introduce a time of prayer.
“Good Morning, This Is God,
I will be handling
all your problems today.
And I will not need your help,
so have a good day!”
for someone who has died after a long life.
Eternal God, you are from everlasting to everlasting,
and your love is on all that you have made.
We thank you for N,
for the years you gave her,
and the years we shared with her.
Here on earth you gave her length of days;
grant to her now the grace of forgiveness
and the gift of life everlasting.
These things we ask through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
for someone who has died after a long/terminal illness (1).
God of all the years,
you hold the keys of life and death.
For N, the journey has been slow and hard,
her days of illness long and wearisome;
lead her home now to you,
that she may rest where pain and agony are no more,
and where you wipe away all tears.
Be her eternal light;
these things we ask through Jesus Christ. Amen.
for those who have died after a long/terminal illness (2).
Almighty God,
in whose light do live the souls of those who depart this life
in the love of their Lord,
and with whom all the faithful rest in peace and joy;
we give you thanks that you have delivered N from
the pain and anxiety of his earthly life,
and we pray that, in our time,
we too may be found worthy to stand before you;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
in thanksgiving for those who have died in faith.
Father in heaven,
we praise your name for all who have finished this life
loving and trusting you, for the example of their lives,
the life and grace you gave them,
and the peace in which they now rest.
We praise you today for your servant N,
and for all that you did through him.
Meet us in our sadness,
and fill our hearts with praise and thanksgiving,
for the sake of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
for those who have died alone or in loneliness
God of the homeless, the widow, the orphan,
remember N whom so many forgot or ignored,
and grant to her and all like her a home and shelter in your love,
for you treasure all that you have made.
Receive her and greet her with gentleness,
so that she may find at last true dignity and worth
as she is transformed to reveal the image of your Son Jesus Christ,
who lived and died with the outcast and the stranger.
Hear us as we make our prayer in his name. Amen.
for those who mourn (1)
Almighty God,
Father of all mercies and giver of all comfort:
deal graciously, we pray, with those who mourn,
(especially we think of...)
that, casting all their care on you,
they may know the consolation of your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
for those who mourn (2)
Loving Lord,
we pray for those who have known and loved N,
who will now miss the comfort of his earthly presence;
(especially we think of...)
comfort them with your loving-kindness, that,
strengthened by you and resting their burdens on you
in their time of sorrow and grief,
they may find peace in the promise of the higher life of service
to which you have now called him;
we pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
for all those who are hurting because they miss N.
Most merciful God,
whose wisdom is beyond our understanding,
surround all who miss N with your love,
that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss,
but have confidence in your goodness and strength
to meet the days to come.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
for all who mourn, not just us gathered here.
God of love and mercy, as we pray for ourselves,
we also pray for all who grieve today;
for those who mourn a sudden death,
for those who have watched death for many days.
Give to all whose lives are filled with sorrow
the assurance of your presence,
and the courage to live in a world from which
one they love so dearly has gone.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For those who cared for N.
We thank you, loving and caring God,
for those who have cared for N in her frailty.
We remember their skill and their kindness,
we recall their watchful eye, their soothing hand.
We thank you for those who brought relief from pain,
and shared the burden.
Accept our thanks,
and make us ready to give just as we have received.
This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
for comfort.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you comforted your disciples when you were going to die:
now set our troubled hearts at rest and banish our fears.
You are the way to the Father: help us to follow you.
You are the truth: bring us to know you.
You are the life: give us that life,
to live with you now and for ever. Amen.
of hope (1)
God our Father,
we thank you that you sent your Son, Jesus Christ,
to die for us and rise again.
His cross declares your love to be without limit;
his resurrection declares that death, our last enemy, is doomed.
By his victory we are assured of the promise that
you will never leave us or forsake us;
that neither death nor life,
nor things present nor things to come,
can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
of hope (2)
God of hope,
grant that we, with N
and with all who have believed in you,
may be united in the full knowledge of your love
and the unclouded vision of your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Serenity Prayer (by Reinhold Niebuhr)
God grant us the serenity
to accept the things we cannot change;
courage to change the things we can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Amen.
“Good Morning, This Is God,
I will be handling
all your problems today.
And I will not need your help,
so have a good day!”
for someone who has died after a long life.
Eternal God, you are from everlasting to everlasting,
and your love is on all that you have made.
We thank you for N,
for the years you gave her,
and the years we shared with her.
Here on earth you gave her length of days;
grant to her now the grace of forgiveness
and the gift of life everlasting.
These things we ask through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
for someone who has died after a long/terminal illness (1).
God of all the years,
you hold the keys of life and death.
For N, the journey has been slow and hard,
her days of illness long and wearisome;
lead her home now to you,
that she may rest where pain and agony are no more,
and where you wipe away all tears.
Be her eternal light;
these things we ask through Jesus Christ. Amen.
for those who have died after a long/terminal illness (2).
Almighty God,
in whose light do live the souls of those who depart this life
in the love of their Lord,
and with whom all the faithful rest in peace and joy;
we give you thanks that you have delivered N from
the pain and anxiety of his earthly life,
and we pray that, in our time,
we too may be found worthy to stand before you;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
in thanksgiving for those who have died in faith.
Father in heaven,
we praise your name for all who have finished this life
loving and trusting you, for the example of their lives,
the life and grace you gave them,
and the peace in which they now rest.
We praise you today for your servant N,
and for all that you did through him.
Meet us in our sadness,
and fill our hearts with praise and thanksgiving,
for the sake of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
for those who have died alone or in loneliness
God of the homeless, the widow, the orphan,
remember N whom so many forgot or ignored,
and grant to her and all like her a home and shelter in your love,
for you treasure all that you have made.
Receive her and greet her with gentleness,
so that she may find at last true dignity and worth
as she is transformed to reveal the image of your Son Jesus Christ,
who lived and died with the outcast and the stranger.
Hear us as we make our prayer in his name. Amen.
for those who mourn (1)
Almighty God,
Father of all mercies and giver of all comfort:
deal graciously, we pray, with those who mourn,
(especially we think of...)
that, casting all their care on you,
they may know the consolation of your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
for those who mourn (2)
Loving Lord,
we pray for those who have known and loved N,
who will now miss the comfort of his earthly presence;
(especially we think of...)
comfort them with your loving-kindness, that,
strengthened by you and resting their burdens on you
in their time of sorrow and grief,
they may find peace in the promise of the higher life of service
to which you have now called him;
we pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
for all those who are hurting because they miss N.
Most merciful God,
whose wisdom is beyond our understanding,
surround all who miss N with your love,
that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss,
but have confidence in your goodness and strength
to meet the days to come.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
for all who mourn, not just us gathered here.
God of love and mercy, as we pray for ourselves,
we also pray for all who grieve today;
for those who mourn a sudden death,
for those who have watched death for many days.
Give to all whose lives are filled with sorrow
the assurance of your presence,
and the courage to live in a world from which
one they love so dearly has gone.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For those who cared for N.
We thank you, loving and caring God,
for those who have cared for N in her frailty.
We remember their skill and their kindness,
we recall their watchful eye, their soothing hand.
We thank you for those who brought relief from pain,
and shared the burden.
Accept our thanks,
and make us ready to give just as we have received.
This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
for comfort.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you comforted your disciples when you were going to die:
now set our troubled hearts at rest and banish our fears.
You are the way to the Father: help us to follow you.
You are the truth: bring us to know you.
You are the life: give us that life,
to live with you now and for ever. Amen.
of hope (1)
God our Father,
we thank you that you sent your Son, Jesus Christ,
to die for us and rise again.
His cross declares your love to be without limit;
his resurrection declares that death, our last enemy, is doomed.
By his victory we are assured of the promise that
you will never leave us or forsake us;
that neither death nor life,
nor things present nor things to come,
can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
of hope (2)
God of hope,
grant that we, with N
and with all who have believed in you,
may be united in the full knowledge of your love
and the unclouded vision of your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Serenity Prayer (by Reinhold Niebuhr)
God grant us the serenity
to accept the things we cannot change;
courage to change the things we can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Amen.