A MEMBER'S CHRISTIAN FUNERAL GUIDE
MAKING CONFESSION OF JESUS CHRIST … IN LIFE AND IN DEATH
A good place to start is to refer to the Funeral Service from pages 278-281 in the hymnal, Lutheran Service Book.
St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church makes a funeral pall available. A funeral pall is a large white cloth with a cross embroidered in the middle that is placed over the casket as it is brought into the sanctuary at the beginning of the funeral service. The pall symbolizes the gifts of the Holy Spirit and eternal benefits given to this child of God at Baptism. “In Holy Baptism _______________ was clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness that covered all his/her sin” (LSB, pg. 278)
The Word of God recorded in Holy Scripture is read at the funeral service. A Psalm, Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel passages are selected, which are appropriate to declare the praise of Him Who has given us victory over sin and death, Jesus Christ the Lord. Suggestions can be confirmation verses and/or favorite Bible texts.
Psalm: __________________________________
Old Testament: __________________________
Epistle: _________________________________
Gospel: _________________________________
Lutheran Service Book also provides hymns which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His saving death and resurrection for us.
Entrance Hymn: _____________________________________
Hymn before Sermon: _____________________________________
Recessional Hymn: _____________________________________
A Lutheran pastor is thankful to the Lord at the time of a funeral for the life of a confessing Christian (“… be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10) However, the faithful pastor will always draw the focus, for the benefit of those gathered, to Jesus Christ Whom we worship, and His grace alone that is sufficient for us, even for the eternal life of all who believe in Him. “Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
A LIST OF HYMNS FROM LUTHERAN SERVICE BOOK APPROPRIATE FOR A CHRISTIAN FUNERAL:
#461 - I Know That My Redeemer Lives
#490 - Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won
#517 - By All Your Saints in Warfare (especially stanzas 1,4,3)
#537 - Beautiful Savior
#555 - Salvation unto Us Has Come
#560 - Drawn to the Cross, Which Thou Hast Blessed
#563 - Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness
#566 - By Grace I’m Saved
#568 - If Your Beloved Son, O God
#570 - Just as I Am, without One Plea
#571 - God Loved the World So That He Gave
#575 (or #576) – My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
#580 - The Gospel Shows the Father’s Grace
#588 - Jesus Loves Me
#596 - All Christians Who Have Been Baptized
#601 - All Who Believe and Are Baptized
#606 – I Lay My Sins on Jesus
#609 – Jesus Sinners Doth Receive
#611 – Chief of Sinners Though I Be
#644 – The Church’s One Foundation
#645 – Built on the Rock
#649 – Blest Be the Tie That Binds
#656 (or #657) – A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
#664 – Fight the Good Fight
#672 – Jerusalem the Golden
#676 – Behold a Host, Arrayed in White
#677 – For All the Saints
#684 – Come unto Me, Ye Weary
#685 – Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus
#701 – Draw Us to Thee
#702 – My Faith Looks Up to Thee
#709 – The King of Love My Shepherd Is
#710 – The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want
#715 – Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me
#718 – Jesus, Lead Thou On
#725 – Children of the Heavenly Father
#733 – O God, Our Help in Ages Past
#742 – For Me to Live Is Jesus (Tune: “Abide, O Dearest Jesus”)