An Order for the Burial of a Child

		Alternative Services, Series One: An Order for the Burial of a Child


¶		Introduction

		The Minister and Clerks meeting the body at the entrance of the churchyard, and going before it either into the church or towards the grave, shall say or sing

		I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
		John 11.25, 26

		I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand up at the last upon the earth. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.
		Job 19.25, 27

		We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
		1 Timothy 6.7; Job 1.21

		He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom.
		Isaiah 40.11


¶		The Service in Church

		After they are come into the church shall be read this Psalm

		*Psalm 23* Dominus regit me

1		The Lord is my shepherd :
		therefore can I lack nothing.

2		He shall feed me in a green pasture :
		and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.

3		He shall convert my soul :
		and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his name's sake.

4		Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil :
		for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.

5		Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me :
		thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.

6		But thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life :
		and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

		Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
		and to the Holy Ghost;
		as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
		world without end. Amen.

		Then shall follow this Lesson

		Mark 10.13-16

		They brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, be was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Minister		Let us pray.

		Lord, have mercy upon us.
All		Christ, have mercy upon us.
		Lord, have mercy upon us.

		Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

		The following versicles and responses may then be said

Minister		Grant unto him eternal rest;
All		And let perpetual light shine upon him.

Minister		We believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord;
All		In the land of the living.

Minister		O Lord, hear our prayer;
All		And let our cry come unto thee.

		Then shall be said one or both of the following Prayers

		O Lord Jesu Christ, who didst take little children into thine arms and bless them: Open thou our eyes, we beseech thee, to perceive that it is of thy goodness that thou hast taken this thy child into the everlasting arms of thine infinite love; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.
All		Amen.

		O God, whose ways are hidden and thy works most wonderful, who makest nothing in vain and lovest all that thou hast made: Comfort thou thy servants, whose hearts are sore smitten and oppressed; and grant that they may so love and serve thee in this life, that together with this thy child, they may obtain the fulness of thy promises in the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All		Amen.

		And then shall be said

		The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore.
All		Amen.

		The Burial may precede the Service in Church.

		When they come to the grave, while the body is made ready to be laid into the earth, the Minister shall say, or the Minister and the Clerks shall sing

		Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live. He cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay.

		Then, while the earth shall be cast upon the body by some standing by, the Minister shall say

		Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of this child here departed, we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust: in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change the body of our low estate, that it may be like unto his glorious body, according to the mighty working, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.

		Or this

		We commend unto thy hands of mercy, most merciful Father, the soul of this thy child; and we commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. And we beseech thine infinite goodness to give us grace to live in thy fear and love, and to die in thy favour, that when the judgement shall come which thou hast committed to thy well-beloved Son, both this child and we may be found acceptable in thy sight. Grant this, O merciful Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, Mediator, and Advocate.
All		Amen.

		Then shall be said or sung

		They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

		Here shall be added by the Minister

		Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.
All		Amen.