Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston

Funerals

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

SUNDAY SCHEDULE
for November 30, 2008

Worship Services
9:30 AM - Chinese
11:15 AM - English

Adult Sunday Schools
9:30 AM - English
11:15 AM - Chinese

Youth Program

Children's Program

ENGLISH SERMON

Message:
Step By Step

Speaker:
Chuck Lowe

Scripture Passage:
Exodus 23:20-33

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