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WORSHIP ORDER, HYMNS, AND SCRIPTURE FOR PLANNING A MEMORIAL OR FUNERAL SERVICE
by Rev. Dr. Douglas K. Showalter

Like all worship services, a funeral or memorial service should convey a sense of inter-connectedness and progression in achieving its purposes. Here is the basic order I often use for both kinds of services. Certainly this order is open to modification to suit personal preferences. With hymns, and without additional speakers, this service lasts 20-25 minutes. The committal service lasts under five minutes. Services in our Church often include hymns. Hymns are not usually used at the funeral home or a grave site.

MEMORIAL or FUNERAL SERVICE

Organ Prelude
Opening Statement
Hymn
Invocation Prayer
Old Testament Readings (often 3 selections)
New Testament Readings (often 2 selections)
Solo (occasional)
Remembrance(s)
Pastoral Prayer and The Lord's Prayer
Hymn
Benediction

GRAVESIDE COMMITTAL

Psalm 121
Statement of Committal
Prayer
Benediction

HYMNS

There are many hymns in our "Pilgrim Hymnal" which are appropriate for use in funeral or memorial services. Here is a partial list, which includes both solemn and triumphant expressions of our Christian faith and hope. Very often the hymn chosen to conclude the service is triumphant in tone. Not all verses of a hymn need be sung.

#1............."Our God, Our Help in Ages Past"
#37..........."Still, Still With Thee"
#51..........."Now the Day Is Over"
#60..........."Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name"
#62..........."God Be With You Till We Meet Again"
#77..........."Be Still, My Soul"
#209........."Abide With Me"
#218........."O Jesus, I Have Promised"

#228........."Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"
#232........."Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart"
#272........."Blest Be The Tie That Binds"
#306........."For All the Saints"
#341........."Dear Lord and Father of Mankind"
#348........."My Faith Looks Up to Thee"
#351........."Nearer My God To Thee"
#363........."A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"

#366........."God of Grace and God of Glory"
#370........."He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought"
#399........."O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go"
#418........."O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee"
#429........."Eternal Father, Strong To Save" (The Navy Hymn)
#489........."I Would Be True"
................."How Great Thou Art" (inside hymnal cover)

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Biblical scripture is that inspiring voice, beyond ourselves and our personal grief, which rings down through the centuries to remind us of the eternal God who has been--and remains--the blessed hope and "mighty fortress" of countless generations of humanity.

Here are some of the more familiar OLD TESTAMENT passages. Note that "a" indicates first part of verse only.

Psalm 23 "The Lord is my shepherd"

Psalm 25:1,2a,4-10 "To thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul"

Psalm 27:1,4-9,13,14 "The Lord is my light and my salvation"

Psalm 46:1-5,10 "God is our refuge and strength"

Psalm 84 "How lovely is thy dwelling place"

Psalm 95:1-7 "O come, let us sing unto the Lord"

Psalm 100 "Make a joyful noise to the Lord"

Psalm 139:1-12 "O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me"

Psalm 147:1-12 "Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing"

Isaiah 40:1,2a,28-31 "Comfort, comfort my people"

Additional Old Testament passages:

Psalm 1:1-3 Psalm 104 (selected)

Psalm 8:1a,3-8 Psalm 107 (selected)

Psalm 24:1-6 Psalm 130

Psalm 34:1-10,15,17-19,22 Psalm 145 (selected)

Psalm 36:5-10 Psalm 148:1-13

Psalms 61-62 (selected) Proverbs 31:10-31 (wife/mother)

Psalm 63:1-8 Isaiah 25:1,4,8-9; 26:3-4

Psalm 103 (selected) Deuteronomy 32:1-3,7,9-12; 33:26-27a

Here are some of the more familiar New Testament passages:

Matthew 5:1-12 "Blessed are the poor in spirit"

Matthew 6:19-21,25-34 "Consider the lilies of the field"

John 10:7-16 "I am the good shepherd"

John 11:11-26a "I am the resurrection and the life"

John 14:1-6a,23 "In my Father's house are many rooms"

Romans 8:14-18,28a,31-32,35,37-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"

Romans 14:7-9 "None of us lives to himself"

I Corinthians 15:50-58 "O death, where is thy victory?"

II Corinthians 4:16-5:5 "We never become discouraged"

I John 4:7-16 "Beloved, let us love one another"

Additional New Testament passages:

Mark 10:13-16 (child) I Thessalonians 4:13-18

John 3:16 II Timothy 4:7-8

I Corinthians 13 I Peter 1:3-9

Ephesians 3:14-21 Revelation 21:1-7; 22:1,5

Philippians 2:5-11

Psalm 23	"The Lord is my shepherd"
Psalm 25:1,2a,4-10	"To thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul"
Psalm 27:1,4-9,13,14	"The Lord is my light and my salvation"
Psalm 46:1-5,10	"God is our refuge and strength"
Psalm 84	"How lovely is thy dwelling place"
Psalm 95:1-7	"O come, let us sing unto the Lord"
Psalm 100	"Make a joyful noise to the Lord"
Psalm 139:1-12	"O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me"
Psalm 147:1-12	"Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing"
Isaiah 40:1,2a,28-31	"Comfort, comfort my people"

Psalm 1:1-3	Psalm 104 (selected)
Psalm 8:1a,3-8	Psalm 107 (selected)
Psalm 24:1-6	Psalm 130
Psalm 34:1-10,15,17-19,22	Psalm 145 (selected)
Psalm 36:5-10	Psalm 148:1-13
Psalms 61-62 (selected)	Proverbs 31:10-31 (wife/mother)
Psalm 63:1-8	Isaiah 25:1,4,8-9; 26:3-4
Psalm 103 (selected)	Deuteronomy 32:1-3,7,9-12; 33:26-27a

Matthew 5:1-12	"Blessed are the poor in spirit"
Matthew 6:19-21,25-34	"Consider the lilies of the field"
John 10:7-16	"I am the good shepherd"
John 11:11-26a	"I am the resurrection and the life"
John 14:1-6a,23	"In my Father's house are many rooms"
Romans 8:14-18,28a,31-32,35,37-39	"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"
Romans 14:7-9	"None of us lives to himself"
I Corinthians 15:50-58	"O death, where is thy victory?"
II Corinthians 4:16-5:5	"We never become discouraged"
I John 4:7-16	"Beloved, let us love one another"

Mark 10:13-16 (child)	I Thessalonians 4:13-18
John 3:16	II Timothy 4:7-8
I Corinthians 13	I Peter 1:3-9
Ephesians 3:14-21	Revelation 21:1-7; 22:1,5
Philippians 2:5-11