The Celebrant meets the body at the door of the Church and says:
With faith in Jesus Christ, we receive the body of our
brother/sister N. for burial. Our
brother/sister was washed in Holy Baptism and anointed with the Holy Spirit. Let us therefore, with confidence, pray to God our Heavenly Father, the Giver of life, that He will raise
him/her to perfection in the company of the Saints.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And also with you.
V. Let us pray
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our
brother/sister N. We thank you for giving him (her) to us, his (her) family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ALL: Amen.
The Reception may take place within the Church after the Sentences have been read.
One or more Sentences may be read.
Jesus said. I am the resurrection, and I am the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and who ever lives and believes in me shall never die.
John 11:25-26
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his compassion never fails: every morning they are renewed.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Jesus said, Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:1
I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of god in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord, so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
Romans 14:8-9
We brought nothing into the world, and we take nothing out. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away: blessed be the name of the Lord.
Job 1:21
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Deuteronomy 33:27
Then may follow a hymn, anthem, or canticle.
The refrain alone may be said or sung.
In the midst of life we are in death;
from whom can we seek help?
From you alone, O Lord,
who by our sins are justly angered.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy immortal one,
have mercy upon us.
Lord you know the secrets of our hearts;
shut not your ears to our prayers,
but spare us, O Lord.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy immortal one,
have mercy upon us.
O worthy and eternal Judge,
do not let the pains of death
turn us away from you at our last hour.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy immortal,
have mercy upon us.
A hymn or anthem may be sung.
One of these Collects shall be said.
President: Let us pray.
Either:
Almighty God, we remember before you today your servant N., and we pray that, having opened to (him/her) the gates of larger life, you will receive (him/her) more and more into your joyful service, that, with all who have served you in the past, (he/she) may share in the eternal victory of Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
or:
Heavenly Father, in your Son Jesus Christ you have given us a true faith and a sure hope. Strengthen this faith and hope in us all our days, that we may live as those who believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
At the Burial of a Child
Heavenly Father, whose Son our Saviour took little children into His arms and blessed them: receive, we pray, your child N. in your never-failing care and love, comfort all who have loved (him/her) on earth, and bring us all to your everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
One, two or three lessons may be read from the following list or from the lessons appointed for the day. If only one reading is used, this must be a passage from the Gospel.
PRESIDENT: Let us with confidence and hope confess the faith into which we were baptized, as we say,
The Prayers
One of the following forms of Intercession may be used.
A
PRESIDENT OR LEADER
For our
brother/sister N., let us pray to the Lord Christ who said, "I am Resurrection and I am Life."
LEADER: Lord, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn for N., and dry the tears of those who weep.
ALL: Hear us, Lord.
LEADER: You wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend, comfort us in our sorrow.
ALL: Hear us, Lord.
LEADER: You raised the dead to life; raise our
brother/sister to eternal life.
ALL: Hear us, Lord.
LEADER: You promised paradise to the thief who repented; bring our
brother/sister to the joys of heaven.
ALL: Hear us, Lord.
LEADER: Our
brother/sister was washed in Baptism and anointed with the Holy Spirit; give him (her) fellowship with all your saints.
ALL: Hear us, Lord.
LEADER: He (she) was nourished with your Body and Blood; grant him (her) a place at the table in your heavenly kingdom.
ALL: Hear us, Lord.
LEADER: Comfort us in our sorrows at the death of our
brother/sister let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope.
Silence may be kept.
B
LEADER: Let us pray.
Almighty God, you have knit your chosen people together in one communion, in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Give to your whole Church in heaven and on earth your light and your peace.
PEOPLE: Hear us, Lord.
LEADER: May all who have been baptized into Christ's death and resurrection die to sin and rise to newness of life, and may we with Him pass through the grave and gate of death to our joyful resurrection.
PEOPLE: Hear us, Lord.
LEADER: Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, that your Holy Spirit may lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days.
PEOPLE: Hear us Lord.
LEADER: Grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve you with a quiet mind.
PEOPLE: Hear us, Lord.
LEADER: Grant to all who mourn a sure confidence in your loving care that casting all their sorrow on you, they may know the consolation of your love.
PEOPLE: Hear us, Lord.
LEADER: Give courage and faith to those who are bereaved, that they may have strength to meet the days ahead in the comfort of a holy and certain hope, and in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love.
PEOPLE: Hear us, Lord.
Silence may be kept.
C
LEADER: We pray for those who mourn ........
We commemorate the departed ........
LEADER: Let us pray with confidence to God our Father, who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead for the salvation of all. Grant, Lord, that your servant may know the fullness of life which you have promised to those who love you.
Lord in your mercy:
ALL: Hear our prayer.
LEADER: Be close to those who mourn: increase their faith in your undying love.
Lord in your mercy:
ALL: Hear our prayer.
LEADER: May we be strengthened in our faith, live the rest of our lives in fellowship with your Son, and be ready when you call us to the fullness of life.
Lord in your mercy:
ALL: Hear our prayer.
LEADER: Show your mercy to the dying, strengthen them with hope, and fill them with the peace and joy of your presence.
Lord in your mercy:
ALL: Hear our prayer.
LEADER: We commend all people to your unfailing love, that in them your will may be fulfilled; and we rejoice at the faithful witness of your saints in every age, praying that we may share with them in your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ALL: Amen.
The president concludes with one of the following or some other prayer.
PRESIDENT: Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to you our
brother/sister N., who was reborn by water and the Spirit in Holy Baptism. Grant that his (her) death may recall to us your victory over death, and be an occasion for us to renew our trust in your Father's love. Give us, we pray, the faith to follow where you have led the way; and where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, to the ages of ages. Amen.
OR: Father of all, we pray to you for N., and for all those whom we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. May he/she and all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
For other prayers which may be used in place of the above see Appendix page 384 - 386
A hymn or anthem may be sung.
The Service continues with the Presentation of the Offerings, Form A
The Preface of the Commemoration of the Dead is used.
POST COMMUNION
In place of the usual Post Communion prayer, the following is said.
ALL
Almighty God, we thank you that in your great love you have fed us with the spiritual food and drink of the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ, and have given us a foretaste of your heavenly banquet. Grant that this Sacrament may be to us a comfort in affliction, and a pledge of our inheritance in that kingdom where there is no death, neither sorrow nor crying, but the fulness of joy with all your saints, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
THE COMMENDATION
The president and other ministers take their place at the body.
This anthem, or some other suitable anthem, or a hymn may be sung or said.
Give rest, O Christ, to your servant(s) with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
You only are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, "You are dust, and to dust you shall return." All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Give rest, O Christ, to your servant(s) with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
The Lord's Prayer:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name;
your kingdom come;
your will be done
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
The president facing the body says:
Let us commend our
brother/sister N. to the mercy of God our Maker and Redeemer
Deliver your servant, N. O Sovereign Lord Christ, from all evil, and set him/her free from every bond; that he/she may rest with all your saints in the eternal habitations; where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Into your hands, O merciful Saviour, we commend your servant N. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him (her) into the arms of your mercy, in the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
The president, or the bishop, if present, may then bless the people, and a deacon or other minister may dismiss them, saying:
MINISTER: Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
As the body is borne from the church, a hymn, or one or more of these anthems may be sung or said.
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and giving life to those in the tomb.
The Sun of Righteousness is gloriously risen, giving light to those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death.
The Lord will guide our feet into the way of peace, having taken away the sin of the world.
Christ will open the kingdom of heaven to all who believe in His Name, saying, Come, O blessed of my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you.
Into paradise may the angels lead you. At your coming may the Martyrs receive you, and bring you into the Holy city Jerusalem.