Funeral Worship Planning Information Sheet

We are all encouraged to prepare a will, to have adequate life insurance and to make other preparations in the event of our death. These are all acts of love for surviving family and friends. Experience says that those who do these things alleviate a great source of anxiety for family and friends at a most stressful time. Those who plan their funeral services show similar consideration for their loved ones.

The act of filling out this form brings one face to face with his/her mortality and therefore might be something we would avoid. However, it is an act of faith because we trust that although we are mortal, because of Christ, "this mortal body will put on immortality."(1 Corinthians 15.54)

Please use this form. Keep it where it can be found easily. You are welcome to keep a copy on file in the church office and I also suggest you might copy it to the Funeral Home of your choice. Additional copies of this form can be obtained in the Church Office. And, you can direct any questions you may have to the Pastor.

The Service for the Burial of the Dead (Lutheran Book of Worship page 206) is a service of worship in which the congregation of family and friends in Christ celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and the life and memory of one of God’s own children who have died in faith.

The purpose of this form is for you to help your family and congregation know what your desires are in planning this worship service for you.

NAME: __________________________________________________________________________________

(full name given at Baptism and include married name)

Date of Birth:_________________________________

Date of Baptism and Place Baptized:______________________________________________

PLACE OF WORSHIP SERVICE: The service is normally held in the church. Special circumstances may indicate the choice of another place—home, graveside, or funeral home.

I want my service to be held at:______________________________________________

TIME OF WORSHIP SERVICE: [please check appropriate options]

_____During the day with committal at graveside to follow

_____During the day with committal at worship site

_____During the evening with committal at graveside the following day

_____During the evening with committal at worship site

_____A Memorial service with committal taking place prior to the service

WORSHIP SERVICE PREFERENCES:

Communion:

_____I would like Holy Communion to be celebrated

_____I would prefer the service without Holy Communion

Scriptures: (Normally 3-4 lessons are read. One or more may be Psalms. A New Testament reading and a Gospel reading are also included. Some suggestions are listed below—this is not an exclusive list.)

____________________ ____________________

Hymns: (Three hymns are normally sung when the worship service is held in the church. Some hymns can be played over an audio system when held in the funeral home. Some suggestions are listed below—again this is not an exclusive list.)

_________ __________

Special Reading (non-scriptural) and/or Special Music: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Sharing of Life: Would you want someone (close to you who knows you) to be asked to speak briefly about your life? ______ If "yes" do you have any persons in mind? ___________________________________________________________

Bulletins: Bulletins for the worship service will be provided by the Church Office.

Pall: A parament called a "pall" is placed over the casket before it is taken into the church. If the Nation’s flag is used, it will be removed until after the service in the church and replaced as a covering following the worship service. The Pall is used to convey the image that all stand before God as the same—regardless of whether our casket is hand-carved wood or cloth-covered fiberboard. We all wear the same mantle of Grace before God.

Additional Notes and/or Comments:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________

Suggested Biblical Texts:	Suggested Hymn:
Psalm: 23,42,46,121,130,143	Any of the Easter Hymns
Job 19: 23-27a	174- For All the Saints
Isaiah 25: 6-9 or 61: 1-3	182- Rise O Children of Salvation
Lamentations 3: 22-26, 31-33	229- A Mighty Fortress
Romans 5: 1-11 or 5:17-21	230- Lord, Keep Us Steadfast
Romans 8: 31-35, 37-39	239- God’s Word is Our Great Heritage
1 Corinthians 15: 19-26	250- Open Now the Gates of Beauty
1 Peter 1: 3-9	272- Abide With Me
1 John 3: 1-3	290- There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
Revelation 7: 9-17 or 21: 2-7	294- My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
Matthew 11: 25-30 or 25: 1-13	296- Just As I Am
Luke 12: 35-40	298- One There is Above All Others
John 5: 24-29 or 6: 37-40	315- Love Divine
John 11: 21-27 or 14: 1-6	316- Jesus, the Very Thought of You
	320- O God Our Help in Ages Past
Additional Hymns:	327- Rock of Ages
330- In Heaven Above	331- Jerusalem, My Happy Home
334- Jesus, Savoir Pilot Me	341- Jesus Still Lead On
343- Guide Me Ever Great Redeemer	352- I Know That My Redeemer Lives
365- Built On A Rock	368- I Love Your Kingdom God
369- The Church’s One Foundation	370- Blest Be The Tie That Binds
377- Lift High The Cross	379- Spread, O Spread Almighty Word
383- Rise Up O Saints of God	390- I Love To Tell The Story
397- O Zion, Haste	400- God, Whose Almighty Word
403- Lord, Speak to Us That We May	406-Take My Life
439- What a Friend We Have In Jesus	448- Amazing Grace
453- If We But Trust In God To Guide	456- The King Of Love My Shepherd Is
462- God The Omnipotent	467- Eternal Father, Strong to Save
474- Children of the Heavenly Father	479- My Faith Looks Up to Thee
481- Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us	482- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
486- Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Hrt	489- Wide Open Are Your Hands
492- O Master Let Me Walk with You	495- Lead On, O King Eternal
497- I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say	500- Faith of our Fathers
501- He Leadeth Me	503- O Jesus I Have Promised
514- O Savior, Precious Savior	518- Beautiful Savior
520- Give to Our God Immortal Praise	675- We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight
690- Shall We Gather at the River	691- Sing with All the Saints in Glory
699- Blessed Assurance	718- Gather Us In (Here in this Place)
731- Precious Lord, Take My Hand	734- Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling
745- Awake, O Sleeper	770- I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry
771- Great Is Thy Faithfulness	780- Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
781- My Life Flows On in Endless Song	791- Alabare