Graveside ceremony

Opening Prayer

Almighty God, who has sanctified the grave by your Son, and by his glorious resurrection has brought life and immortality to light, accept, we pray, our unfeigned thanks for the victory which he has obtained for us and for all who sleep in him, and keep us who are still in the body, in everlasting fellowship with all that wait for you on earth, and with all that are around you in heaven, in union with him who is the resurrection and the life, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. In Jesus Name Amen.

Scripture Readings

An hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28–29)

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. (1 Thess. 4:13–14)

I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Rev. 14:13)

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. (John 11:25–26)

Words of Committal

Unto the mercy of Almighty God, we commend the soul of our brother departed and we commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection in the last day, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ; at whose second coming in glorious majesty to judge the world, the earth and the sea shall give up their dead; and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed, and made like unto his own glorious body, according to the mighty power whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.

Prayer and Benediction

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Heb. 13:20–21)