Burial I

SourceBCP p. 469

The Burial of the Dead:
Rite One

All stand while one or more of the following anthems are sung or said.

A hymn, psalm, or some other suitable anthem may be sung instead.

I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though this body be destroyed, yet shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger.

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For if we live, we live unto the Lord; and if we die, we die unto the Lord. Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; even so saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labors.

The Celebrant says one of the following Collects, first saying

The Lord be with you.

PeopleAnd with thy spirit.

CelebrantLet us pray.

At the Burial of an Adult

O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered: Accept our prayers on behalf of thy servant N., and grant him an entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

At the Burial of a Child

O God, whose beloved Son did take little children into his arms and bless them: Give us grace, we beseech thee, to entrust this child N. to thy never-failing care and love, and bring us all to thy heavenly kingdom; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The people sit.

One or more of the following passages from Holy Scripture is read. If there is to be a Communion, a passage from the Gospel always concludes the Readings.

From the Old Testament

Isaiah 25:6-9

A Reading from the Book of Isaiah.

6 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. 7 And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. 8 Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. 9 It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

From the Old Testament

Isaiah 61:1-3

1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.

From the Old Testament

Lamentations 3:22-26, 31-33

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. 31 For the Lord will not reject forever. 32 Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; 33 for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.

From the Old Testament

Wisdom 3:1-5, 9

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon.

1 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. 2 In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, 3 and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. 4 For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. 5 Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; 9 Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and he watches over his elect.

From the Old Testament

Job 19:21-27a

A Reading from the Book of Job.

21 Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me! 22 Why do you, like God, pursue me, never satisfied with my flesh? 23 “O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book! 24 O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved on a rock forever! 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; 26 and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

After the Old Testament Lesson, a suitable canticle or one of the following Psalms may be sung or said

42

QuemadmodumBCP p. 471

1Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks, *so longeth my soul after thee, O God.

2My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God; *when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?

3My tears have been my meat day and night, *while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy God?

4Now when I think thereupon, I pour out my heart by myself; *for I went with the multitude, and brought them forth into the house of God

5In the voice of praise and thanksgiving, *among such as keep holy-day.

6Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul? *and why art thou so disquieted within me?

7O put thy trust in God; *for I will yet thank him, which is the help of my countenance, and my God.

46

Deus noster refugiumBCP p. 471

1God is our hope and strength, *a very present help in trouble.

2Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved, *and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea;

3Though the waters thereof rage and swell, *and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same.

4There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, *the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most Highest.

5God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed; *God shall help her, and that right early.

6Be still then, and know that I am God; *I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.

7The Lord of hosts is with us; *the God of Jacob is our refuge.

90

Domine, refugiumBCP p. 472

1Lord, thou hast been our refuge, *from one generation to another.

2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made, *thou art God from everlasting, and world without end.

3Thou turnest man to destruction; *again thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men.

4For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, *and as a watch in the night.

5As soon as thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep, *and fade away suddenly like the grass.

6In the morning it is green, and groweth up; *but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered.

7For we consume away in thy displeasure, *and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation.

8Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee, *and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

9For when thou art angry all our days are gone; *we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told.

10The days of our age are threescore years and ten; and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years, *yet is their strength then but labor and sorrow, so soon passeth it away, and we are gone.

11So teach us to number our days, *that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

121

Levavi oculosBCP p. 473

1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills; *from whence cometh my help?

2My help cometh even from the Lordwho hath made heaven and earth.

3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved, *and he that keepeth thee will not sleep.

4Behold, he that keepeth Israel *shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5The Lord himself is thy keeper; *the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand;

6So that the sun shall not burn thee by day, *neither the moon by night.

7The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; *yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.

8The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, *from this time forth for evermore.

130

De profundisBCP p. 474

1Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord; *Lord, hear my voice.

2O let thine ears consider well *the voice of my complaint.

3If thou Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, *O Lord, who may abide it?

4For there is mercy with thee, *therefore shalt thou be feared.

5I look for the Lord; my soul doth wait for him; in his word is my trust.

6

7My soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch; *I say, before the morning watch.

8O Israel, trust in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, *and with him is plenteous redemption.

9And he shall redeem Israel *from all his sins.

139

Domine, probastiBCP p. 474

1O Lord, thou hast searched me out, and known me. *Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising; thou understandest my thoughts long before.

2Thou art about my path, and about my bed, *and art acquainted with all my ways.

3For lo, there is not a word in my tongue, *But thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether.

4Thou hast beset me behind and before, *and laid thine hand upon me.

5Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me; *I cannot attain unto it.

6Whither shall I go then from thy Spirit? *or whither shall I go then from thy presence?

7If I climb up into heaven, thou art there; *if I go down to hell, thou art there also.

8If I take the wings of the morning, *and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea;

9Even there also shall thy hand lead me, *and thy right hand shall hold me.

10If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me, *then shall my night be turned to day.

11Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee, but the night is as clear as day; *the darkness and light to thee are both alike.

From the New Testament

Romans 8:14-19, 34-35, 37-39

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.

From the New Testament

1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 35-38, 42-44, 53-58

A Reading from the First Letter to the Corinthians.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. 21 For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; 22 for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And as for what you sow, you do not sow the body that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. 53 For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

From the New Testament

2 Corinthians 4:16-5:9

A Reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians.

16 So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, 18 because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. 1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling— 3 if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

From the New Testament

1 John 3:1-2

A Reading from the First Letter of John.

1 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.

From the New Testament

Revelation 7:9-17

A Reading from the Book of Revelation.

9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

From the New Testament

Revelation 21:2-7

A Reading from the Book of Revelation.

2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

After the New Testament Lesson, a suitable canticle or hymn, or one of the following Psalms may be sung or said

23

Dominus regit meBCP p. 376

1The Lord is my shepherd; *therefore can I lack nothing.

2He shall feed me in a green pasture, *and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.

3He shall convert my soul, *and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; *for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.

5Thou shalt prepare a table before me in the presence of them that trouble me; *thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.

6Surely thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; *and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

23

King James VersionBCP p. 376

1The Lord is my shepherd; *I shall not want.

2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; *he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3He restoreth my soul; *He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; *for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; *thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

27

Dominus illuminatioBCP p. 477

1The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? *the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?

2One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will require, *even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to visit his temple.

3For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle; *yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me, and set me up upon a rock of stone.

4And now shall he lift up mine head *above mine enemies round about me.

5Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness; *I will sing and speak praises unto the Lord.

6Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry unto thee; *have mercy upon me, and hear me.

7My heart hath talked of thee, Seek ye my face. *Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

8O hide not thou thy face from me, *nor cast thy servant away in displeasure.

9I should utterly have fainted, *but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

10O tarry thou the Lord’s leisure; *be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart; and put thou thy trust in the Lord.

106

Confitemini DominoBCP p. 478

1O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious, *and his mercy endureth for ever.

2Who can express the noble acts of the Lord, *or show forth all his praise?

3Blessed are they that alway keep judgment, *and do righteousness.

4Remember me, O Lord, according to the favor that thou bearest unto thy people; *O visit me with thy salvation;

5That I may see the felicity of thy chosen, *and rejoice in the gladness of thy people, and give thanks with thine inheritance.

116

Dilexi, quoniamBCP p. 578

1My delight is in the Lord, *because he hath heard the voice of my prayer;

2Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, *therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

3The snares of death compassed me round about, *and the pains of hell gat hold upon me.

4I found trouble and heaviness; then called I upon the Name of the Lord; *O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

5Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; *yea, our God is merciful.

6The Lord preserveth the simple; *I was in misery, and he helped me.

7Turn again then unto thy rest, O my soul, *for the Lord hath rewarded thee.

8And why? thou hast delivered my soul from death, *mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

9I will walk before the Lord *in the land of the living.

10I will pay my vows now in the presence of all his people; *right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Then, all standing, the Deacon or Minister appointed reads the Gospel, first saying

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

PeopleGlory be to thee, O Lord.

The Gospel

John 5:24-27

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

PeopleGlory to you, Lord Christ.

24 Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 “Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; 27 and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

The Gospel

John 6:37-40

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

PeopleGlory to you, Lord Christ.

37 Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; 38 for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”

The Gospel

John 10:11-16

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

PeopleGlory to you, Lord Christ.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

The Gospel

John 11:21-27

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

PeopleGlory to you, Lord Christ.

21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

The Gospel

John 14:1-6

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

PeopleGlory to you, Lord Christ.

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2 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? 3 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. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

At the end of the Gospel, the Reader says

The Gospel of the Lord.

PeoplePraise be to thee, O Christ.

A homily may be preached, the people being seated.

If there is not to be a Communion, the Lord’s Prayer is said here, and the service continues with the following prayer of intercession, or with one or more suitable prayers (see pages 487-489).

When there is a Communion, the following serves for the Prayers of the People.

The People respond to every petition with Amen.

The Deacon or other leader says

In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord: Grant, we beseech thee, to thy whole Church in paradise and on earth, thy light and thy peace. Amen.

Grant that all who have been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection may die to sin and rise to newness of life, and that through the grave and gate of death we may pass with him to our joyful resurrection. Amen.

Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, that thy Holy Spirit may lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days. Amen.

Grant to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind. Amen.

Grant to all who mourn a sure confidence in thy fatherly care, that, casting all their grief on thee, they may know the consolation of thy love. Amen.

Give courage and faith to those who are bereaved, that they may have strength to meet the days ahead in the comfort of a reasonable and holy hope, in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love. Amen.

Help us, we pray, in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting. Amen.

Grant us grace to entrust N. to thy never-failing love; receive him into the arms of thy mercy, and remember him according to the favor which thou bearest unto thy people. Amen.

Grant that, increasing in knowledge and love of thee, he may go from strength to strength in the life of perfect service in thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.

Grant us, with all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, to have our consummation and bliss in thy eternal and everlasting glory, and, with [blessed N. and] all thy saints, to receive the crown of life which thou dost promise to all who share in the victory of thy Son Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

When there is no Communion, the service continues with the Commendation, or with the Committal.

At the Eucharist.

The service continues with the Peace and the Offertory.

In place of the usual postcommunion prayer, the following is said

Almighty God, we thank thee that in thy great love thou hast fed us with the spiritual food and drink of the Body and Blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, and hast given unto us a foretaste of thy heavenly banquet. Grant that this Sacrament may be unto us a comfort in affliction, and a pledge of our inheritance in that kingdom where there is no death, neither sorrow nor crying, but the fullness of joy with all thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

If the body is not present, the service continues with the [blessing and] dismissal.

Unless the Committal follows immediately in the church, the following Commendation is used.

The Commendation

The Celebrant and other ministers take their places at the body.

This anthem, or some other suitable anthem, or a hymn, may be sung or said.

Give rest, O Christ, to thy servant(s) with thy saints,
where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.

Thou only art immortal, the creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and unto earth shall we return. For so thou didst ordain when thou createdst me, saying, “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” All we go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Give rest, O Christ, to thy servant(s) with thy saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.

The Celebrant, facing the body, says

Into thy hands, O merciful Savior, we commend thy servant N. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech thee, a sheep of thine own fold, a lamb of thine own flock, a sinner of thine own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of thy mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

The Celebrant, or the Bishop if present, may then bless the people, and a Deacon or other Minister may dismiss them, saying

Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
Thanks be to God.

As the body is borne from the church, a hymn, or one or more of these anthems may be sung or said

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.

The Lord will guide our feet into the way of peace, having taken away the sin of the world.

Christ will open the kingdom of heaven to all who believe in his Name, saying, Come, O blessed of my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you.

Into paradise may the angels lead thee. At thy coming may the martyrs receive thee, and bring thee into the holy city Jerusalem.

4

The Song of Zechariah

Benedictus Dominus Deus

Luke 1: 68-79

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, *for he hath visited and redeemed his people;

And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us *in the house of his servant David,

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, *which have been since the world began:

That we should be saved from our enemies, *and from the hand of all that hate us;

To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers, *and to remember his holy covenant;

To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham, *that he would give us,

That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies *might serve him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before him, *all the days of our life.

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest, *for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people *for the remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercy of our God, *whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us;

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, *and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

5

The Song of Simeon

Nunc Dimittis

Luke 2:29-32

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, *according to thy word;

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, *which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, *and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Christ our Passover

Pascha Nostrum

1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Romans 6:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; * therefore let us keep the feast,

Not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, *but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.

Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; *death hath no more dominion over him.

For in that he died, he died unto sin once; *but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, *but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.

Christ is risen from the dead, *and become the first fruits of them that slept.

For since by man came death, * by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die, *even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.

The Committal

The following anthem is sung or said

In the midst of life we are in death; of whom may we seek for succor, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased?

Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Savior, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.

Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Savior, thou most worthy Judge eternal. Suffer us not, at our last hour, through any pains of death, to fall from thee.

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

He that raised up Jesus from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwelleth in us.

Wherefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Thou shalt show me the path of life; in thy presence is the fullness of joy, and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore.

Then, while earth is cast upon the coffin, the Celebrant says these words

In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our brother N.; and we commit his body to the ground; * earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord bless him and keep him, the Lord make his face to shine upon him and be gracious unto him, the Lord lift up his countenance upon him and give him peace. Amen.

* Or the deep, or the elements, or its resting place.

The Celebrant says

The Lord be with you.

PeopleAnd with thy spirit.

CelebrantLet us pray.

Celebrant and People

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Then the Celebrant may say

O Almighty God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, who by a voice from heaven didst proclaim, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord: Multiply, we beseech thee, to those who rest in Jesus the manifold blessings of thy love, that the good work which thou didst begin in them may be made perfect unto the day of Jesus Christ. And of thy mercy, O heavenly Father, grant that we, who now serve thee on earth, may at last, together with them, be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In place of this prayer, or in addition to it, the Celebrant may use any of the Additional Prayers.

Then may be said.

Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord;
And let light perpetual shine upon him.

May his soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

The Celebrant dismisses the people with these words

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant: Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Consecration of a Grave

If the grave is in a place that has not previously been set apart for Christian burial, the Priest may use the following prayer, either before the service of Committal or at some other convenient time

O God, whose blessed Son was laid in a sepulcher in the garden: Bless, we pray, this grave, and grant that he whose body is (is to be) buried here may dwell with Christ in paradise, and may come to thy heavenly kingdom; through thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

✕