An Office of Commendation

This service may be used on hearing the news of a death, or on the
day of the funeral by those not able to be present or on any
suitable occasion.

We shall not all die
But we shall be changed.



The trumpet shall sound and the dead will rise immortal
And we shall be changed.



The perishable must be clothed with the imperishable
and the mortal must be clothed with immortality.



We shall not all die
But we shall be changed.

An appropriate HYMN may be sung, such as the ‘Dies Irae’,
or the ‘Kontakion’, or ‘Jesus, remember me when you come
into your kingdom’.

Any of the following PSALMS may be said:
Pss 23, 42, 43, 121, 130, 139.

Any of the following SCRIPTURE READINGS may be used, or some other:
Isaiah 25. 6-9; Hosea 6. 1-3; John 11. 21-27; John 14. 1-3;
Romans 6. 3-9; Philippians 1. 20-26; 1 Thessalonians 4. 13-18.

MEMORIES OF THE DEPARTED may be shared, ending with
the following prayer:



O God,
who brought us to birth
and in whose arms we die:
in our grief and shock
contain and comfort us,
embrace us with your love,
give us hope in our confusion
and grace to let go into new life;
through Jesus Christ.  Amen.                           26

Then may be said one of the following CANTICLES:



24, 25, 40, 48 or 56.


INTERCESSION may be offered.



Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

We commend N. to you, O God,
as s/he journeys beyond our sight.



God of all consolation,
in your unending love and mercy
you turn the darkness of death
into the dawn of new life.
Your Son, by dying for us, conquered death
and by rising again,
restored to us eternal life:
may we then go forward eagerly to meet our Redeemer
and, after our life on earth,
be reunited with all our brothers and sisters
in that place where every tear is wiped away
and all things are made new;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.



Or



Heavenly Father,
into whose hands Jesus Christ
commended his spirit at the last hour:
into those same hands we now commend your servant N.,
that death may be for her/him
the gate to life and to eternal fellowship with you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray:



Our Father in heaven . . .  Or   Our Father, who art in heaven . . .

Then is said:



Go forth upon your journey from this world, O Christian soul;
in the name of God the Father who created you.
Amen.
In the name of Jesus Christ who suffered for you.
Amen.


In the name of the Holy Spirit who strengthens you.
Amen.
In communion with (the blessèd Virgin Mary,
Saint N. and with) all the blessèd saints;
with the angels and archangels and all the heavenly host.
Amen.
May your portion this day be in peace
and your dwelling in the city of God.
Amen.



And/or:



N., our companion in faith and brother/sister in Christ,
we entrust you to God who created you.
May you return to the Most High who formed you
   from the dust of the earth.
May the angels and the saints come to meet you
   as you go forth from this life.
May Christ, who was crucified for you,
   take you into his Kingdom.
May Christ the Good Shepherd
give you a place within his flock.
May Christ forgive you your sins
   and keep you among his people.
May you see your Redeemer face to face
   and delight in the vision of God for ever.  Amen.



And/or:



N., may Christ give you rest in the land of the living
and open for you the gates of paradise;
may he receive you as a citizen of the Kingdom,
and grant you forgiveness of your sins:
for you were his friend.

Then is said THE BLESSING:



We remember the living and the departed.



Now to the One who is able to keep us from falling
and set us in the presence of the divine glory,
to the only God our Saviour
be glory and majesty, dominion and praise,
now and for ever.  Amen.



Or the ‘Kaddish’ may be said, page 269.

A time of silence may be kept.