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Prayers and Readings before a Funeral

Pastoral Note

Families and friends often help one another in all the preparations for the funeral. In the evening before or on the day itself, as people gather, feelings of apprehension and sorrow may sharpen. The prayers and readings that follow are provided for use at such a time, when we seek courage to face what must be and faith to pass through death to newness of life.

These prayers and readings are not intended to form a service of worship. By the time these prayers are used, the funeral will have been prepared. They are provided for the ministry of pastoral support and spiritual preparation in the hours or moments before the nearest mourners move to the funeral.

Shape of the Rite

 Prayers

 Readings

 On Leaving the House

Prayers

These or similar prayers may be used as seems appropriate.

EVENING PRAYERS

In peace, we will lie down and sleep;

for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.

Abide with us, Lord Jesus,

for the night is at hand and the day is now past.

As the night-watch looks for the morning,

so do we look for you, O Christ.

Celebrating Common Prayer

Save us, O Lord, while waking,

and guard us sleeping,

that awake we may watch with Christ,

and asleep we may rest in peace.

The darkness comes, Lord God, and the night falls;

go before us, lighting our way.

Watch over our hearts and minds this night,

and in the silence or the turmoil of our sleep,

be our strong deliverer;

through Jesus Christ our risen Lord.

Amen.

A PRAYER AT THE HOUSE ON THE DAY

The hour has come and now is,

when we must go where we would rather not.

Go before us, go beside us,

go behind us, go within us,

lead us to your eternal house

and make your dwelling with us;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

ADDITIONAL PRAYER

O Lord of hosts, God of the living and the dead,

touch us in our grief,

stand with us in our sorrow,

and heal our hurt.

Strengthen us with peace,

and steady us with hope.

Help us where faith falls short,

and speak to us the word of life

that is yours alone.

These things we ask

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who once was dead,

but lives with you now for ever and ever.

Amen.

Readings

[Jesus said,] ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Matthew 11.28–30

[Jesus said,] ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.’

John 14.1–3

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters;

he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I 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 mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

my whole life long.

Psalm 23

On Leaving the House

Jesus said to his disciples,

‘Rise, let us be on our way.’

Let us go in the peace of Christ,

for we go where he has gone before.

Hear again his voice,

‘Be of good courage, I am with you always.’

Thanks be to God.

Amen.