A SERVICE OF COMMITTAL for Claus Seebeck

In the midst of life, we are in death;

from whom can we seek help? (NINTH CENTURY)

Our help is in the name of the Lord

who made heaven and earth. (PSALM 124:8, UMH 846)

God who raised Christ from the dead

will give life to your mortal bodies also

through the Spirit that dwells in you. (ROMANS 8:11, ALT.)

Listen, I will tell you a mystery!

We will not all die, but we will all be changed.

For this perishable body must put on imperishability,

and this mortal body must put 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?"

But thanks be to God,

who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 CORINTHIANS 15:51, 53, 54b-55, 57)

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;

my body also dwells secure.

You, [Lord,] show me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy,

in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (PSALM 16:9, 11, UMH 748)

The following prayer is offered:

Let us pray.

O God, you have ordered this wonderful world

and know all things in earth and in heaven.

Give us such faith that by day and by night,

at all times and in all places,

we may without fear commit ourselves

and those dear to us

to your never failing love,

in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

One of the following or other scriptures may be read:

Jesus said: "Very truly, I tell you,

unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,

it remains just a single grain;

but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Those who love their life lose it,

and those who hate their life in this world

will keep it for eternal life.

Whoever serves me must follow me,

and where I am, there will my servant be also.

Whoever serves me, the Father will honor." (JOHN 12:24 26)

Standing at the head of the coffin and facing it (preferably casting earth upon it as it is lowered into the grave) the pastor says:

Almighty God,

into your hands we commend your son Claus,

in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

These body we cremains to the ground,

earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. (TRADITIONAL)

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.

Yes, says the Spirit, they will rest from their labors

for their deeds follow them. (REVELATION 14:13, ALT.)

One or more of the following or other prayers is offered:

Eternal God, you have shared with us the life of Claus .

Before he was ours, he is yours.

For all that Claus has given us to make us what we are,

for that of him which lives and grows in each of us,

and for his life that in your love will never end,

we give you thanks.

As now we offer Claus back into your arms,

comfort us in our loneliness,

strengthen us in our weakness,

and give us courage to face the future unafraid.

Draw those of us who remain in this life closer to one another,

make us faithful to serve one another,

and give us to know that peace and joy which is eternal life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The pastor dismisses the people with the following or another blessing:

Now to the One who is able to keep you from falling,

and to make you stand without blemish

in the presence of God's glory with rejoicing,

to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,

be glory, majesty, power, and authority,

before all time and now and forever. Amen. (JUDE 24-25, ALT.)