Funeral Planning and Information

This form is for arranging certain elements of your funeral. To guide you, there is an Anglican Funeral Service (under the information you provide). The Funeral Service has suggested readings and suggestions for where hymns may be sung. You may wish to fill this in with a minister or pastoral worker, if so please do ask.

Funeral Plan *

My Funeral Plan

Tip: Check this button to commence

Information you provide

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Mobile Number

Phone Number

I wish to be

Buried

Cremated

I have prearranged my funeral with:

Tip: Funeral Director: organisation, name and contact details

Names of people I would like to take part in my funeral:

Hymns I would like at my funeral:

Bible passages I would like read at my funeral:

Tip: Note: you may nominate passages here or select any of the suggested passages in the Anglican Funeral Service below

Psalm

Tip: Note: you may nominate a Psalm here here or select any of the suggested Psalms in the Anglican Funeral Service below

Other things I would like to have in my funeral:

Names of particular friends and relatives to be informed of my death (include contact details):

Other wishes:

Any further information

Funeral Service

Extracts from A Prayer Book for Australia

A Funeral Service

FOR USE IN A CHURCH BUILDING, FUNERAL CHAPEL, OR AT THE HOME

GATHERING IN GOD'S NAME

The minister greets the congregation.
Grace and peace from the Lord be with you.
And also with you.

The minister may continue with these or similar words.
We have come together
to thank God for the life of N,
to mourn and honour him/her,
to lay to rest his/her mortal body,
and to support one another in grief.
We face the certainty of our own death and judgement.
Yet Christians believe that those who die in Christ
share eternal life with him.
Therefore in faith and hope we turn to God,
who created and sustains us all.

A hymn, anthem or canticle may be said or sung, or music may be played.

The following is said.
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord.
Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet will they live.
John 11.25

One or more of these (or other sentences of Scripture) may be read. Please check the box of any that you wish to be read

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3.22–23

As we come forth naked from our mother’s womb, so shall we go again, naked as we came. We shall take nothing for our toil, which we may carry away. This also is a grievous ill: just as we came, so shall we go. Ecclesiastes 5.15–16

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46.1

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! Psalm 130.1

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life John 3.16

What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2.9

Christ must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15.25–26

I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 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

The people may join with the minister in saying
[Let us pray.]
Loving God, you alone are the source of life.
May your life-giving Spirit flow through us,
and fill us with compassion, one for another.
In our sorrow give us the calm of your peace.
Kindle our hope, and let our grief give way to joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eulogy

A member of the family or a friend may speak about the person who has died.

Members of the family and congregation may be invited to place flowers or symbols on or near the coffin.
A period of silence and/or music may follow or a visual tribute.

One or more psalms is said. Please check the box any that you wish to be read

Psalm 23 I will fear no evil, for you are with me The Lord is my shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing. He shall make me lie down in green pastures: and lead me beside still waters. He shall refresh my soul: and guide me in right pathways for his name’s sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me: you have anointed my head with oil and my cup shall be full. Surely your goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life: and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

From Psalm 90 Teach us rightly to number our days Lord, you have been our refuge: from one generation to another. Before the mountains were brought forth, or the earth and the world were born: from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn us back to dust: and say ,‘Go back, you children of earth’. For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday when it is past: or like a watch in the night. You cut them off like a dream: and like the new grass of the morning. In the morning it springs up and flourishes: in the evening it is dried up and withered. When you are angry, all our days pass away: we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The span of our life is seventy years, or, if we have strength, perhaps eighty: yet the pride of our toil is but trouble and sorrow, for it passes away quickly and we are gone. Who knows the power of your wrath?: who knows your indignation like those who fear you? Teach us rightly to number our days: so that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

Psalm 121 My help comes from the Lord I lift my eyes to the hills: from where is my help to come? My help comes from the Lord: the maker of heaven and earth. The Lord will not allow your foot to slip: your guardian will not sleep. See, the one who watches over Israel: shall neither slumber nor sleep. It is the Lord who is your keeper: the Lord is your shelter on your right hand, So that the sun shall not strike you by day: neither shall the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil: it is the Lord who shall guard your life. The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in: both now and for evermore.

Tip: Other suitable Psalms are 46 and 71

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

To have a friend or family member read out the passage(s), please list their names above at the section - Names of people I would like to take part in my funeral:

One or more of the following readings is read, or some other suitable passages from Scripture. Please check the passage(s) that you wish to be read, or note another above.

Romans 6.3–9 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.

1 Corinthians 15.50b–58 Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on the imperishable, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.

John 14.1–6 Jesus said, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’

The Sermon
A period of silence may follow.

A hymn may be used here.

THE PRAYERS

To have a friend or family member lead the prayers, please list their names above at the section - Names of people I would like to take part in my funeral:

THE FAREWELL

A hymn may be used here.

The minister may say the following or other prayers.
Lord Jesus Christ, you gave new birth to our brother/sister N
by water and the Spirit.
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 Fathers love.
Give us, we pray, the faith to follow
where you have led the way,
to live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
to the ages of ages. Amen.

The minister says
Let us entrust our sister/brother N to the mercy of God.

Holy and loving Father,
by your mighty power you gave us life,
and in your love you have given us new life
in Christ Jesus.
We entrust N to your merciful keeping:
in the faith of Jesus Christ,
who died and rose again to save us,
and now lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit
in glory for ever. Amen.

[THE COMMITTAL]

The committal of the body may take place at this point, if it is not to occur at the graveside or crematorium.
Facing the coffin, the minister says
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
you have given us a sure and certain hope
of the resurrection to eternal life.
In your keeping are all who have departed in Christ.
We here commit the body of our dear brother/sister N
to be cremated
to the deep
to be buried in the ground,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died, and was buried, and rose again for us,
and who shall change our mortal body
that it may be like his glorious body.
The congregation may join with the minister
Thanks be to God who gives us the victory
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

The minister says
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore. Amen.
or the priest says
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace. Amen.

The minister may say
Go in peace in the name of Christ. Amen.

As the body is carried out, a hymn may be sung

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.
Christ will open the kingdom of heaven
to all who believe in him, saying,
Come, O blessed of my Father;
inherit the kingdom prepared for you.
and/or
Lord now you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation:
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
a light to reveal you to the nations:
and the glory of your people Israel.
Luke 2.2932

2016 Anglican Church of Australia Trust Corporation 2010.