The Funeral Service
(from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer)

The Episcopal Church encourages its people to have their funerals take place in the church building. The coffin is always closed before the service and covered with a pall, symbolizing our equality in death and our resurrected life in God's love.

The Burial Office of The Book of Common Prayer is an Easter liturgy. "It finds all its meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we too, shall be raised." (BCP, p.507)

"The death of a member of the Church should be reported as soon as possible to, and arrangements for the funeral should be made in consultation with, the Minister of the Congregation." (BCP, p.468)

Elements of an Episcopal Funeral Service

• Anthem - Prayer by the celebrant
• Collect - Prayer for the deceased
• Old and / or New Testament Reading
• Psalm or Canticle
• Gospel Reading
• Homily
• Apostle's Creed
• Communion (Optional)
• Lord's Prayer
• Commendation of the Dead - (If body is present)
• Blessing
• Dismissal

The Committal

The following anthem is sung or said by the celebrant

"In the midst of life we are in death; of whom may we seek for succor, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased?

Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Savior, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.

Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Savior, thou most worthy Judge eternal. Suffer us not, at our last hour, through any pains of death, to fall from thee."

Then, while earth is cast upon the coffin, the Celebrant says:

"In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our brother N; and we commit his body to the ground, (or elements, deep, or resting place) earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord bless him and keep him, the Lord make his face to shine upon him and be gracious unto him, the Lord lift up his countenance upon him and give him peace. Amen."

The committal service closes with the Lord's Prayer, a final blessing, then dismissal.

References:

www.church-holy-cross.org/bcp

Episcopal Book of Common Prayer