Anglican Graveside Service

adapted from the New Zealand Prayer Book by Rev. Judith Liro

Opening Song: Lord of All Hopefulness

Presider: We have come together to give thanks for the life of X, to entrust her to the Sacred Mystery in whom we live and move and have our being, and to comfort one another with sympathy and love. At X’s request this service is dedicated to the people and places she loves, to the earth in compassion and gratitude.

Let us pray:

Dear One,

we thank you for all that is good,

for our creation and our humanity,

for the earth and its abundance,

for the gifts of life and of one another,

for your love which is unbounded and eternal.

We thank you especially for X, whom we love dearly,

for her life, her unique and beautiful soul, her radiance and wisdom,

her tender heart and passion for justice, her ways of healing and connection.

We thank you even for her brokenness, and any failure.

We rejoice in her full humanity and in her wholeness.

She is your beloved and ours. Amen.

As we remember, honor and celebrate X’s life may our grief be eased, our hope strengthened, and our gratitude for the wonder and beauty of life be deepened. We pray especially for her family X, her friends X, her faith community X. and all her communities and close friends; for all who feel this loss most deeply.

We bring you our thanks for the gift of those we love so deeply, especially X; and we bring you our prayers for peace of heart.

Amen

A Reading from Scripture

A Second Reading: a poem

Hymn: Now the Day is Over

The Eulogy

Reflections on X’s Life (all who wish to speak)

Jesus you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn for X and dry the tears of those who weep.

Compassionate One, hear our prayer.

You wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend; comfort us in our sorrow.

Compassionate One, hear our prayer.

Vibrant Life-giver, receive your beloved, X for she returns to you to continue her adventure in a more expansive way.

Into your hands, O Beloved

we commend our sister, X.

Wash her in the holy font of everlasting life, and clothe her in her heavenly garment.

Into your hands, O Beloved

we commend our sister, X.

May she hear your words of invitation and welcome, “Come, you blessed one. My delight is in you.”

Into your hands, O Beloved

we commend our sister, X.

May she gaze upon You face to face and taste the blessedness of fulfillment and peace.

Into your hands, O Beloved

we commend our sister, X

May angels surround her, and saints welcome her in peace.

Into your hands, O Beloved

we commend our sister, X

May she continue to serve justice and peace. with fresh possibilities and power. May we feel her presence in new boldness, courage and creativity in our own lives.

Into your hands, O Beloved

we commend our sister, X

All: Vibrant Life-giver, Lover and Friend, Receive our sister, X. into your heavenly dwelling place. Let her heart and soul ring out in joy to You, the Beloved of all those who live. May her dance of liberation renew our trust and nourish our dreams of Beloved Community. Amen

The presider concludes

Loving Heart of the Universe, we pray to you for X, and for all those whom we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. May her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

The Peace

Closing Prayer

Holy One,

it is night.

The night is for stillness.

Let us be still in the presence of God.

It is night after a long day.

What has been done has been done;

what has not been done has not been done;

Help us to make peace with that understanding.

The night is dark.

Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives

rest in you.

The night is quiet.

Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,

all dear to us,

and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn.

Let us look expectantly to a new day,

new joys,

new possibilities. Amen.

Blessing:

May the Divine Presence enfold you with love,

Fill you with peace,

And lead you in hope,

This day and all your days.

Amen

Closing Song: “Company of Friends”

Adapted from the New Zealand Prayer Book by Rev. Judith Liro