Funeral Service / TEMPLATE

Celebration of the life of [Name]

Date TBC

OOS Overview:

Welcome (host)

Prayer (host)

Song 1

4. Bible Reading (family/friend)

5. Eulogies

6. Message

7. Song 2

8. Annoucements

9. Benediction

10. Recession

Script & Service Prompts:

(Music before – TBC)

1. Welcome

I would like to welcome you all, today, particularly those who have travelled far to be here or are joining us online from the other side of the world.

I understand that today is going to be difficult because of how deeply [Name] is loved by so many of us. To [immediate family names] I particularly thank you for being here today.

My name is Brad, I’m one of the Pastors here at Whitehill, where Dorothy attended with her [immediate family names / spouse ] for more [timeframe of attendance]. I have only had the privilege of knowing Dorothy for the last fews years but have personally seen the impact and blessing that she was to Whitehill.

We are here today to celebrate the life of [Name]. And we do this for a few reasons.

1. Support each other and grieve together the loss of a [husband/wife, mother/father, friend etc.]

2. We also have the opportunity to share memories of good times and of hard times. Times of laughter and of tears.

3. To thank God for her life and to celebrate her faith in her saviour Jesus and the hope He gives for heaven.

2. Prayer

As we commence today, let’s pray together.

Heavenly Father

Our hearts are filled with sadness and grief at the loss of one we have loved and cherished.

We feel the absence of a friend.

The reminder of an empty seat.

The missing laughter of a conversation.

BUT we thankyou today for we know that even though we are separated, Your love is not. [NAME] now dwells in your presence.

There is no more crying and no more pain.

There are no tears and no suffering.

Father today we want to acknowledge that you are God and the God of all comfort.

We ask that you would comfort the family and all who grieve.

In the midst of their grief may you be their Rock, their hiding place, their refuge and strength. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen

3. Song 1 – Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

Dorothy loved worship music and so we want to honour that today by taking a moment to worship together. [Worship Leader Name] is going to sing for us the song “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)”. The words to this song are printed in your programs for you to reflect on or to join us in singing.

4. Bible Reading – Psalm 23

I had the privilege of sitting beside [NAME] on her last day before entering the presence of her Lord. And she didn’t say much that afternoon, but she cracked a big smile and emphatically said yes when I offered to read Scripture to her.

I read Psalm 23 over her as a blessing, and I now invite [Name], one of [Name] close friends, to read it over us as well today.

5. Eulogies

[Photos to loop in background]

[Name] lived a full life, filled with people she loved. [Names of those sharing in order] are going to share her story with us today.

Person 1

Person 2

Person 3

6. Message

Well it has been so great to hear some more of [Name]’s story. To hear what she enjoyed doing, to how she served others so faithfully and to hear what she most valued in life. She truly has left an incredible legacy.

Having spent some time with her in the last few years it was clear the greatest treasure of [Name] life was her relationship with God.

An Author, A.W. Tozer once said,

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” - A.W Tozer.

And what came to mind for [Name] was she thought about God was that she would spend eternity with Him because of what Jesus had done for her. So what does that mean for her now?

In church, we speak a lot about what God’s provides for us on earth. Joy in suffering, strength in weakness, His Spirit’s empowerment and the fruit of relationship with God - being love for God and for others.

But what is it that we receive when we pass from this life? What is it that [Name] has now received and possess that we can also look forward to if we are found to share her faith in Jesus Christ.

1. Eternal Life

Firstly, those who die in Christ have already received eternal life.

Speaking about His followers in John 10, Jesus says:

John 10:28 (ESV)

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

And shortly after this one of Jesus closest friends passed away as He comforted the family he said:

John 11:25–26 (ESV)

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die...

So then, the great paradox of the Christian’s death is that is it actually it cannot interrupt their eternal life which was given to them in this age.

Not even physical death can strip those in Christ of their our eternal life with God.

Jesus Christ came to earth 2000 years ago as a man, and laid His life down for the forgiveness of sins for those who believe in Him. Jesus died in our place and rose again to life on the third day after being dead and buried - conquering death so that we would not have to. Now all those, like [Name], who place their faith in Him, will share in Jesus’ eternal life that starts now - and they shall never truly die.

Or as the Spurgeon once said,

Jesus has made the life of his people as eternal as his own.

______

And why does eternal life exist?

God is eternal and we are made in His image as eternal beings

But also because it will take us that long to fully comprehend and experience the never ending glory and blessings of God.

2. Eternal Refuge

Thos who have died in Christ also receive an eternal refuge.

Each one of us experience on a daily basis the brokenness and injustice of this world. We experience harm at the hand of others, at the hands of our own failures and by the enemy who seeks to steal, kill and destroy. I can feel as though life is a constant battle and to be wounded is the common experience.

But for those who have died with Christ, they have entered in His eternal refuge - where the enemy has been cast from the presence of God and His people. Where there is no more fear of destruction and no more experience of harm toward us. Like a child wrapped tightly in the arms of their father - all will be okay. Safe now forever in the arms of God.

Deuteronomy 33:27 (NLT)

The eternal God is your refuge,

and his everlasting arms are under you.

He drives out the enemy before you;

he cries out, ‘Destroy them!’

God perfectly and eternally is the refuge and safe place for His people to flourish and enjoy the blessing of life with Him.

3. Eternal Inheritance

Those who have passed from this age also receive in full their eternal inheritance as promised in 1 Peter 1:3-4

1 Peter 1:3–4 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

Those who have placed their faith in Jesus strive and persevere in life toward a inheritance that is kept for them in heaven. The inheritance we may receive from our parents or extended family can only ever be temporary because the things of this world are just temporary. We can strive to grow our bank accounts, our property portfolio and even collect precious things of this world to pass when we die. But all those things are like sand that fall through our fingers - they feel warm and nice for a moment, but like everything else in this world they shall lay in the dust of history and become worthless.

Whereas, the inheritance that [Name] received in full last week was one that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading. It will never be destroyed or taken away. She strived faithfully in this life and has received the full reward of her eternal inheritance which includes:

Glorious residence - a bejewelled and beautiful city with no need for a sun because the glory of Jesus Christ is its light.

Unrestricted access to the presence of God - face to face with her saviour.

New resurrected physical bodies - like Jesus’s body. The body and the soul, the physical and the spiritual, all together in perfect harmony forever. And because there will be no pain in our new bodies....

4. Eternal Rest in Glory

Finally, those who have died in Christ will also receive eternal rest...

This life is marked by anguish, by pain, by suffering, and exhaustion. [Name] was no stranger to these things.

But now she rests. Her fight is over, her work is done. Every tear wiped from her eye. She is perfectly and completed healed. No worry, no sickness, no limit of time.

The Apostle Paul says, in 2 Corinthians 4:17,

2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV)

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

___________

[Name] has received Eternal life, an Eternal Refuge, an Eternal Inheritance and Eternal rest - and we can take great comfort in knowing this. That she is still alive and experience life in a greater abundance than we could possible experience here while still on earth.

But even though we have confidence in what she has received and that today is a great day for her… we still are separated from her. We still have to come to grips with the reality of her absence.

So for us much as we have a confident hope in one hand, we also still hold the sorrow in another.

And the Bible does not remedy suffering and pain by discouraging us from grieving. But rather, it instructs us to “not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thes 4:13). So, we still grieve, just differently. We celebrate her reunion with Christ, whilst lamenting her departure from us. We feel at peace that she is no longer suffering, whilst crying that the only things left of her for us are our memories. We feel joy and pain simultaneously.

And in our pain and grief today, I want to remind us that God is not just present with [Name], but also present with us. He is grieved for us and makes Himself available to us as our ever-present help in this time of need.

The Psalm that was read out earlier, Psalm 23, give us a beautiful picture of this. The Psalmist communicates this idea that God can restore his weary and broken soul and in verse 4 he says,

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, (This may be your experience today)

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

So let me encourage you today, to bring your emotions before God. Bring you sorrow and pain, your disappointment and confusion and allow the comforting arms of God to wrap around your soul in this moment. And please know that we do this all together in community- you are not alone in your sorrow and today is a testament to that. So especially for you [Immediate family] please know that we grieve with you and hope that you can experience the comforts of this loving community.

God is Kind and gentle hearted toward all of us and this is a time to remind each other of that truth.

And for those who may never have stepped into a church before or heard of the good news of Jesus - today may just be the moment that you experience for the first time the hope and love of God. I’m sure it would bring [Name] much joy to know that even in her passing - her life points others toward the beauty of her glorious saviour - Jesus Christ.

Let me pray for us today:

Thank you for your promise of eternal life for those who have faith in you Jesus

Thank you that [Name] is experiencing that today and that we can take comfort in knowing that today is a great day for her.

We acknowledge that while we have hope in one hand, we also have sorrow in the other.

So Father of all comfort, be near to us today. May your presence be known intimately in this time of grief.

May you illuminate our hearts with your love during this difficult time.

Amen.

7. Song 2 – 10000 Reasons

I’d love for you to join me again in celebration and worship of God for all He has done for us and for [Name]. Would you please stand.

8. Announcements

Would you please remain standing as I close with a benediction in a moment?

Before I do, I want to thank you for joining us here today and let you know that the family invites you to stay following the service to enjoy a morning tea.

9. Benediction

May the peace which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son, Jesus Christ; and may the blessing of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, rest upon you in the midst of your grief and abide with you now and for evermore. Amen

10. Recession

(Spotify music play)