Williams Committal

When the people have gathered, one or more of the following are said:

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, 54 b-55, 57)

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:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled and unfading,

kept in heaven for you.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you suffer trials

so that the genuineness of your faith may prove itself worthy

at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Without having seen him, yet you love him;

though you do not now see him,

you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy.

As the harvest of your faith you reap the salvation of your souls.

(ADAPTED FROM 1 PETER 1:3-9)

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 Dick,

in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This body we commit to the ground,

earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

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:

Gracious God,

we thank you for those we love but see no more.

Receive into your arms your servant Dick,

and grant that increasing in knowledge and love of you,

he may go from strength to strength

in service to your heavenly kingdom;

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.)