A funeral is used to mark the end of a person’s life here on earth. Family and friends come together to express grief, give thanks for the life lived and commend the person into God’s keeping.
This can be a small, quiet ceremony or a larger occasion in a full Church.
Everyone living in the parish of St Michael’s is entitled to a funeral in the church (regardless of whether they attend church or not).
A prayer based on Psalm 6
Our eyes, Lord, are wasted with grief; you know we are weary with groaning.
As we remember our death in the dark emptiness of the night, have mercy on us and heal us:
forgive us and take away our fear through the dying and rising of Jesus your Son.
Amen
Planning a funeral
Some people find planning the funeral with family and friends helps in their grieving. Perhaps you already know something of what your loved one wanted. You may even have planned the service together some time ago.
If you are uncertain the member of clergy who will lead the service can help you choose suitable readings, hymns and prayers. If they did not know your loved one well, they will want to talk with you to build up a picture of the person’s life. This is usually done by meeting with the family.
Some deaths will be especially traumatic, distressing or unexpected. The Church has special funerals services for such occasions. Talk with the clergy about what is possible.
How do we arrange it?
The first thing to do is to speak to one of the local funeral directors as they will help with much of the organising. They will speak to the clergy on your behalf. The clergy will then arrange to come and chat with you.
A prayer for ourselves
Support us, O Lord, all the day long of this troublesome life,
until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes,
the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over and our work is done.
Then, Lord, in your mercy grant us a safe lodging, a holy rest. Heal us; and grant us peace at the last; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Planning a funeral
Planning a funeral can be one of the most difficult things you ever have to do. To help you, funeralmap.co.uk™ is a unique concept, bringing together independent advice on the things you need to know in order to arrange a funeral, along with easy-to-find contact details for the various organisations and services you will need to call upon at this time. Their advice covers such issues as deciding between a cremation or a burial, and finding a funeral director. There is also a useful list of organisations providing bereavement support. The map enables you to search for the services you require in your desired area, and see their exact location. The online map makes it easy to share information with family and friends.
Attending a funeral
We understand that, for many people, attending a funeral is also very difficult - there are often questions to ask about what happens, particularly if you have never been to a funeral before. The section Attending a Funeral is a handy guide through some of the most frequently asked questions.