Funeral and Memorial Service Resources
Prayers, liturgy, Scripture, hymns, and sermons for funerals and memorial services, arranged in the order of the service. For pastors leading worship in a time of grief, and for families planning a service. Tap a step to open it.
Pastoral careBefore the Service
1 resource
Before the Service
Prayer for the bedside, when death is near.
Step 1Call to Worship
1 resource
Call to Worship
The service opens by gathering mourners in the presence of God, who meets us in our grief.
Step 2Opening Prayer
1 resource
Opening Prayer
A prayer that names the loss honestly and asks for God's comfort and hope.
Step 3Scripture Readings
1 resource
Scripture Readings
Readings that speak of God's care, the resurrection, and the hope of eternal life. Families often choose one or two.
Step 4Hymns and Music
1 resource
Hymns and Music
Songs that let the congregation grieve and hope together.
Step 5Sermon and Eulogy
7 resources
Sermon and Eulogy
A word of witness to the resurrection, and remembrance of the one who has died.
Step 6Benediction
1 resource
Benediction
The final blessing that sends mourners out in the peace of Christ.
For familiesGrief, Questions, and Etiquette
3 resources
Grief, Questions, and Etiquette
What Scripture says about mourning, answers to questions families ask, and guidance for those attending a service.
RemembranceAll Saints Sunday
2 resources
All Saints Sunday
For the Sunday each year when the church gives thanks for those who have died in the faith.
Common Questions
What is the difference between a funeral and a memorial service?
A funeral is usually held with the body present, often shortly before burial. A memorial service is held without the body, sometimes days or weeks later, after burial or cremation. The same prayers, readings, and sermons work for both. Most resources on this page are written with both in mind.
What is the order of a Christian funeral service?
Most Christian funerals follow a pattern much like Sunday worship: a call to worship, an opening prayer, Scripture readings, hymns, a sermon, prayers, and a benediction. Many services also include a eulogy or time of remembrance. In the Presbyterian tradition, the funeral is called a Service of Witness to the Resurrection, because it proclaims Christ's victory over death even in grief. Start with the calls to worship and build from there.
Can Christians be cremated?
Scripture does not command a particular method of burial, and most Christian traditions today permit cremation. The Christian hope rests on God's promise of resurrection, not on the condition of the body. Can Christians be cremated? walks through what the Bible says.