Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston

Funerals

Until We Meet Again...
Planning a Funeral
Planning a Funeral or Memorial Service

SUNDAY SCHEDULE
for January 4, 2009

Worship Services
9:30 AM - Joint Service

Adult Sunday Schools
None this week

Youth Program

Children's Program

The number, type and format of services are entirely up to the bereaved, in consultation with the officiating pastor.

Types of Services

Services: The two most common times to hold a service are either before burial (funeral service) or after cremation (memorial service).

Committal: Interment is usually accompanied by a second, briefer service at the grave site.

Planning a Service

Possible elements in a funeral or memorial service may include any of the following (the order is approximate only):

		prelude
		invocation
		hymn
		prayer
		eulogy
		Scripture reading
		homily
		special music
		prayer
		hymn
		family appreciation
		benediction
		postlude

Scripture Texts

Among Bible passages appropriate for a funeral are:

		Psalm 1, 16, 23, 24, 27, 34
		Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
		John 14:1-6
		Romans 8:35-39
		1 Corinthians 15:51-58
		2 Corinthians 5:1-10
		1 Peter 1:3-9
		Revelation 21:1-5
		Revelation 22:1-6

Hymns

Hymns may be drawn from the deceased's favorites. Among appropriate hymns are the following:

		A Mighty Fortress is Our God (#20)
		Abide with Me (#61)
		All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name (#38)
		Be Still My Soul (#287)
		Be Thou My Vision (#259)
		Come, Christians, Join to Sing (#49)
		Come, Ye Disconsolate (#234)
		For All the Saints (#420)
		Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken (#180)
		Great is Thy Faithfulness (#22)
		Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (#293)
		He Leadeth Me (#285)
		I Know That My Redeemer Liveth (#109)
		I Know Whom I Have Believed (#146)
		I Must Tell Jesus (#267)
		Jesus, Lover of My Soul (#277)
		Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (#7)
		Near to the Heart of God (#283)
		Nearer My God to Thee (#269)
		Now I Belong to Jesus (#377)
		O God, Our Help in Ages Past (#3)
		O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go (#386)
		The Lord's My Shepherd (#294)
		The Strife is O'er (#107)
		What a Friend We Have in Jesus (#279)
		When We All Get to Heaven (#419)

Participants

A service may include the following functions:

		presider (invocation, hymns)
		prayer
		pianist
		special music
		homily
		interpreter
		Scripture reader
		eulogy
		family appreciation
		guest book
		ushers
		flowers
		photographer

Eulogy

A eulogy may be around 1500 words long. Colloquial expression is warmer than formal language. The following components may be included:

		basic biography: name, birth, death, important events (c. 200 words)
		family background: parents, siblings, children, grandchildren (c. 200 words)
		social background: school, important events (c. 300 words)
		faith experience: conversion, testimony, ministry (c. 300 words)
		remembrance: influence on family, friends (c. 300 words)
		miscellaneous: special contributions, interests, characteristics (c. 200 words)

For additional suggestions, see:

AARP Bulletin on Funeral Planning

AARP Worksheet for Funeral Planning (32 KB)

Miscellaneous Items

		large photo of the deceased
		special items to go in the casket