FOR GENERAL USE IN SERVICES OF DEATH AND RESURRECTION

Words of Grace and Sentences

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid? (PSALM 27:1, UMH 758)

Blessed be the Lord,
who has heard the voice of my supplications!
The Lord is my strength and shield,
in whom my heart trusts. (PSALM 28:6–7a, UMH 760)

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to the faithful.
For the Lord knows our frame, and remembers that we are dust.
The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
upon the faithful,
and the righteousness of the Lord to children's children. (PSALM 103:8, 13–14, 17, UMH 824)

Prayers

O Jesus Christ our risen Lord, you have gone before us in death.
Grant us the assurance of your presence,
that we who are anxious and fearful in the face of death
may confidently face the future,
in the knowledge that you have prepared a place for all who love you. Amen.

O God, giver of life and conqueror of death,
our help in every time of trouble,
we trust that you do not willingly grieve or afflict us.
Comfort us who mourn;
and give us grace, in the presence of death, to worship you,
that we may have sure hope of eternal life
and be enabled to put our whole trust in your goodness and mercy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, our Father, from whom we come,
and to whom our spirits return:
You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Grant us your blessing in this hour,
and enable us so to put our trust in you
that our spirits may grow calm and our hearts be comforted.
Lift our eyes beyond the shadows of earth,
and help us to see the light of eternity.
So may we find grace and strength for this and every time of need;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture Readings

Genesis 15:15	Abraham's death
Genesis 49:1, 29–33; 50:1–2, 12–14	Jacob's death and Joseph's response
Exodus 15 (UMH 135)	Canticle of Moses and Miriam
Joshua 3:14 –4:7	Crossing over Jordan
Job 1:21	Job's faith
Job 14:1 –12a	We are of few days.
Job 19:25 –27	My Redeemer lives.
Proverbs 31:10 –13, 19–20, 30–31	A good woman
Isaiah 25:1, 6–9	God will swallow up death.
Isaiah 26:1 –4, 19	Your dead shall live.
Isaiah 35:1 –6, 10	Zion restored
Isaiah 41:8 –10, 13	Do not fear.
Isaiah 57:14 –19	Poem of consolation
Isaiah 61:1 –4, 10–11	The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.
Isaiah 66:10 –13	As a mother comforts, so does God.
Ezekiel 34:11 –16	Shepherd of Israel
Ezekiel 37:1 –14, 21–28	These bones can live.
Micah 6:6 –8	What does the Lord require?
Zephaniah 3:16 –20	Restoration of Israel
Psalm 27 (UMH 758)	Devotion and deliverance
Psalm 34 (UMH 769)	Thanksgiving for deliverance
Psalm 40 (UMH 774)	Thanksgiving for deliverance
Psalm 71 (UMH 794)	Deliverance from evil
Psalm 77 (UMH 798)	Deliverance from trouble
Psalm 84 (UMH 804)	How lovely is your dwelling place.
Psalm 118 (UMH 839)	Thanksgiving for deliverance
Psalm 126 (UMH 847)	Prayer for deliverance
Psalm 143 (UMH 856)	Prayer for deliverance
Acts 10:34 –43	Peter's sermon on Jesus' resurrection
Romans 5:1 –11, 17–21	Peace with God through faith
Romans 6:3 –11	Dying and rising with Christ
Romans 14:7 –9	Christ, Lord of the dead and the living
2 Corinthians 5:1 –11a, 14–20	Away from the body, at home in the Lord
Ephesians 3:14 –21	Bow before God; know the love of Christ.
Philippians 3:7 –21	The power of Christ's resurrection
Colossians 3:1 –17	Raised with Christ
1 Thessalonians 4:13 –5:11	Concerning those who sleep
2 Timothy 4:6 –8, 17–18	I have fought the good fight.
Hebrews 11–12	The saints of God
1 John 3:1 –3	We shall be like God.
Revelation 14:1 –3, 6–7, 12–13	Blessed are the dead in the Lord.
Matthew 5:1 –12	The Beatitudes
Matthew 6:19 –21	Do not lay up treasures on earth.
Matthew 11:25 –30	Come to me all who labor.
Matthew 25:31 –46	As you did it to one of the least
Matthew 28:1 –10, 16–20	Jesus' resurrection: Go make disciples.
Mark 16:1 –8	The open tomb: Jesus goes before you.
Luke 1:67 –75 (UMH 208)	Canticle of Zechariah
Luke 12:22 –40	Do not be anxious; be ready.
Luke 24:1 –12	The empty tomb
John 3:13 –17	God's gift of eternal life
John 5:19 –29	Whoever hears and believes has life.
John 6:30 –40, 47–51	Jesus the bread of life
John 10:1 –18, 27–30	Jesus the Good Shepherd
John 12:20 –36	Unless a grain of wheat dies
John 15:1 –17	The vine and the branches
John 16:12 –22, 33	Sorrow becomes joy.
John 20	Jesus' resurrection

Suggested Hymns from UMH

See hymns 700–707 Death and Eternal Life and 708–712 Communion of the Saints. Also see suggestions under Eternal Life and Funerals and Memorial Services in UMH and the following:

163 Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know	143 On Eagle's Wings
557 Blest Be the Tie That Binds	733 Marching to Zion
141 Children of the Heavenly Father	368 My Hope Is Built
318 Christ Is Alive	356 Pues Si Vivimos (When We Are Living)
407 Close to Thee	66 Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven (stanzas 3, 4)
709 Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above	491 Remember Me
510 Come, Ye Disconsolate	523 Saranam, Saranam (Refuge)
315 Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain	666 Shalom to You
710 Faith of Our Fathers	512 Stand By Me
129 Give to the Winds Thy Fears	704 Steal Away to Jesus
654 How Blest Are They (for an older adult)	496 Sweet Hour of Prayer
77 How Great Thou Art	703 Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
103 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise	395 Take Time to Be Holy
314 In the Garden	545 The Church's One Foundation (stanzas 1, 5)
488 Jesus, Remember Me	546 The Church's One Foundation (stanzas 1, 5)
133 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms	303 The Day of Resurrection
59 Mil Voces Para Celebrar	116 The God of Abraham Praise
520 Nobody Knows the Trouble I See	504 The Old Rugged Cross
57 O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing	308 Thine Be the Glory
480 O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go	383 This Is a Day of New Beginnings
247 O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright (stanza 3)	153 Thou Hidden Source of Calm Repose
518 O Thou, in Whose Presence	322 Up from the Grave He Arose
184 Of the Father's Love Begotten	526 What a Friend We Have in Jesus

See also:

Beloved, Now We Are the Saints of God (UMBOW 219).

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FOR GENERAL USE IN SERVICES OF DEATH AND RESURRECTION