A place to begin
Funerals & Memorials
Christian guidance for services, readings, remembrance, and difficult decisions.
Gentle guidance
How to Write a Christian Eulogy
A Christian eulogy is a truthful tribute to the person who died. It is not a sermon, a complete biography, or a verdict on the person’s salvation.
Choosing Christian Funeral Hymns
A Christian funeral hymn should be theologically appropriate, singable or listenable for the gathered people, and suited to its place in the service. A favourite song may still be a poor congregational choice if the tune is unfamiliar, the range is difficult, or the words conflict with the church’s teaching.
Funeral Prayers for Family, Clergy, and Friends
Funeral prayers may be led by clergy, relatives, friends, or the gathered congregation, depending on the church and setting. The prayers below are original resources for different speakers and moments; they are not authorised denominational rites and should not replace prescribed liturgy.
Funeral Psalms: 12 Readings With Context
Psalms can give a Christian funeral language for lament, trust, mortality, memory, worship, and hope. The best choice is not always the most familiar Psalm; it is the one whose setting and tone fit the service and congregation.
How to Plan a Christian Funeral: A Step-by-Step Guide
A Christian funeral can be planned one decision at a time. Begin by confirming local legal requirements, contacting an appropriate funeral professional and clergy member, and identifying which decisions truly need to be made now.
Christian Prayers for a Funeral Service
Christian funeral prayers should help the gathered community lament a real death, give thanks truthfully, ask for mercy and support, and proclaim hope in Christ without pronouncing more about the deceased than the church can responsibly say. Authorised rites differ across traditions, so clergy should approve prayers used in a formal service.
Christian Funeral Bible Readings: 15 Passages With Context
The best Christian funeral Bible reading is one that can be heard clearly by the congregation, fits the service's purpose, and proclaims lament, God's presence, Christ's resurrection, or new-creation hope without making claims that cannot responsibly be made about the deceased. A familiar passage is not automatically the right passage, and a longer passage is not always more meaningful.