Liturgy On The Occasion Of A Death

The following liturgy may be used in times of family gathering at the occasion of a death, especially when a pastor is not able to be present.

Gathering Leader: Dear friends, we gather to mourn the death of [Name] who has gone home to be with the Lord. Let us not mourn as those who have no hope; let us remember the word of the Lord: "Death is swallowed up in victory./O Death, where is your sting?/O Hades, where is your victory?" (1 Cor. 15:54–55). Let us pray. Lord, God of life and death, we give you thanks for the life of [Name], and for the joy we have had in knowing him/her. Receive him/her into your kingdom. Grant him/her rest and peace in you. Be present, O Lord, to those who remain. Grant us consolation and hope, and may we live for that day when we will be united with our loved ones and with you forever. Amen. Scripture Reading Reader: A reading from the Gospel of John: "Then Jesus said to them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead.' … So when Jesus came, he found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Then Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.' Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Martha said to him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall life. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said to him, 'Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is come into the world.'" (11:14, 17–27). This is the word of the Lord. Response: Thanks be to God. The Prayer of Commitment Leader: Let us commit our dear loved one to the Lord. Lord Jesus, you who suffered death on the cross, you who destroyed the power of death by your wounds, you who rose victorious from the grave, you who ascended into the heavens, you who are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive [Name] into the fellowship of your kingdom. Grant that he/she may join with the cherubim and seraphim to sing the new song and bless your holy name. In that place where there are no tears, nor death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain, grant the joy of a new body and a new life for our loved one. And in that place where there is no more night, give to [Name] the light of your countenance. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Response: Amen. Leader: Our loved one lives. Be at peace!