MEMORIAL FOR_____________________
DATE
I would like to welcome everyone here today on behalf of the family of _______________________ and I would like to ask you to join with me in prayer, before we begin the memorial service in HIS/HER honor: (prayer)
Death is always a painful time for the family and friends of the one who has passed on. No words can comfort or dull the sharp edge of pain over the loss of ____________________________.
Even Christians, who have the great hope of eternal life, mourn when someone close dies. Yet our sadness is eased by the knowledge of a reunion someday in heaven.
Death is NOT a surprise to us. We all know that death is a looming reality for each of us.
Our pain at death is increased by how much we loved the one who died. We cannot escape the grief of death.
Way back in the beginning in the Garden of Eden, God told Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:16-17) “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
We know, from the Bible, that both Adam and Eve ate from that tree. They disobeyed God and died. From this we learn many things, but two important facts stand out.
- We were originally created to live forever.
- People have been dying very regularly since the time of Adam and Eve.
Because we believe in life, death comes with much astonishment and anguish. Death seems unnatural. Even though we all know we are going to die… death still comes as a shock and with much sorrow.
The Bible says that “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die… a time to weep and a time to laugh… a time to mourn and a time to dance…
Today is the day we mourn the passing of ________________. Today we are gathered here to remember HIS / HER life, because we loved HIM / HER. We cry because we love – and that’s a good thing. We are also reminded that life is terminal. All that we are, and all that we have done, finds its final expression here at this place. It all boils down to “How did we live our lives?”
So, even though this is a time for mourning the loss of ______________, it is also a time of celebration, a celebration of life! It’s the celebration of the transformation from a temporal life to an eternal life. It is also a day for celebrating the life that ______________________ lived. It’s a time for sharing how
HIS / HER life touched our lives.
FACTS / BIO
(Give the facts about their life here.)
Transition statement:
__________________ is not here now, however, we do have memories from HIS / HER life. I would like to invite those who knew HIM / HER, to share some of those memories as an encouragement to HIS / HER family and to honor __________________ passing.
SHARING TIME:
(Family and friends share)
CLOSING COMMENTS
Jesus said, “He who believes in me will live if he dies.” That is the wonderful hope that all people have who trust in Him.
– Read John 3:16
(This is where I give the Law and Gospel. I usually start out by saying something like: “We’ve all know John 3:16, but what does it really mean? ‘For God so loved the world…’ How did He love the world? ‘… He gave is one and only Son…’
Why did He give his Son? Because of sin.”
Now I explain what sin is by going through the Commandments, Judgment Day and… I never use Hell at a funeral. I say “Perish.” If it’s a non-Christian funeral I don’t want people to come up asking me if their loved one is in Hell, so I say “Perish.” As a pastor, I’m to bring a measure of comfort to the bereaved.
Then I close with these words):
The legacy that Jesus left behind after His death was a legacy of joy. Joy for all those who would believe in His death, as the payment for our sins. He was buried and on the 3rd day rose again to give us the hope of eternal life. We are thankful for the life of Jesus who also said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
PERSONAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE DECEASED
_______________ passed away on _____________________.
HE / SHE is now in God’s hands. HE / SHE will be missed by many.
(Pray)
Laurie