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FOR GENERAL USE IN SERVICES OF DEATH AND RESURRECTION

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Words of Grace and Sentences

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid? (PSALM 27:1, UMH 758)

Blessed be the Lord,
who has heard the voice of my supplications!
The Lord is my strength and shield,
in whom my heart trusts. (PSALM 28:6–7a, UMH 760)


The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to the faithful.
For the Lord knows our frame, and remembers that we are dust.
The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
upon the faithful,
and the righteousness of the Lord to children's children. (PSALM 103:8, 13–14, 17, UMH 824)

Prayers

O Jesus Christ our risen Lord, you have gone before us in death.
Grant us the assurance of your presence,
that we who are anxious and fearful in the face of death
may confidently face the future,
in the knowledge that you have prepared a place for all who love you. Amen.


O God, giver of life and conqueror of death,
our help in every time of trouble,
we trust that you do not willingly grieve or afflict us.
Comfort us who mourn;
and give us grace, in the presence of death, to worship you,
that we may have sure hope of eternal life
and be enabled to put our whole trust in your goodness and mercy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


Almighty God, our Father, from whom we come,
and to whom our spirits return:
You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Grant us your blessing in this hour,
and enable us so to put our trust in you
that our spirits may grow calm and our hearts be comforted.
Lift our eyes beyond the shadows of earth,
and help us to see the light of eternity.
So may we find grace and strength for this and every time of need;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture Readings

Genesis 15:15

Abraham's death

Genesis 49:1, 29–33; 50:1–2, 12–14

Jacob's death and Joseph's response

Exodus 15 (UMH 135)

Canticle of Moses and Miriam

Joshua 3:14 –4:7

Crossing over Jordan

Job 1:21

Job's faith

Job 14:1 –12a

We are of few days.

Job 19:25 –27

My Redeemer lives.

Proverbs 31:10 –13, 19–20, 30–31

A good woman

Isaiah 25:1, 6–9

God will swallow up death.

Isaiah 26:1 –4, 19

Your dead shall live.

Isaiah 35:1 –6, 10

Zion restored

Isaiah 41:8 –10, 13

Do not fear.

Isaiah 57:14 –19

Poem of consolation

Isaiah 61:1 –4, 10–11

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.

Isaiah 66:10 –13

As a mother comforts, so does God.

Ezekiel 34:11 –16

Shepherd of Israel

Ezekiel 37:1 –14, 21–28

These bones can live.

Micah 6:6 –8

What does the Lord require?

Zephaniah 3:16 –20

Restoration of Israel

Psalm 27 (UMH 758)

Devotion and deliverance

Psalm 34 (UMH 769)

Thanksgiving for deliverance

Psalm 40 (UMH 774)

Thanksgiving for deliverance

Psalm 71 (UMH 794)

Deliverance from evil

Psalm 77 (UMH 798)

Deliverance from trouble

Psalm 84 (UMH 804)

How lovely is your dwelling place.

Psalm 118 (UMH 839)

Thanksgiving for deliverance

Psalm 126 (UMH 847)

Prayer for deliverance

Psalm 143 (UMH 856)

Prayer for deliverance

Acts 10:34 –43

Peter's sermon on Jesus' resurrection

Romans 5:1 –11, 17–21

Peace with God through faith

Romans 6:3 –11

Dying and rising with Christ

Romans 14:7 –9

Christ, Lord of the dead and the living

2 Corinthians 5:1 –11a, 14–20

Away from the body, at home in the Lord

Ephesians 3:14 –21

Bow before God; know the love of Christ.

Philippians 3:7 –21

The power of Christ's resurrection

Colossians 3:1 –17

Raised with Christ

1 Thessalonians 4:13 –5:11

Concerning those who sleep

2 Timothy 4:6 –8, 17–18

I have fought the good fight.

Hebrews 11–12

The saints of God

1 John 3:1 –3

We shall be like God.

Revelation 14:1 –3, 6–7, 12–13

Blessed are the dead in the Lord.

Matthew 5:1 –12

The Beatitudes

Matthew 6:19 –21

Do not lay up treasures on earth.

Matthew 11:25 –30

Come to me all who labor.

Matthew 25:31 –46

As you did it to one of the least

Matthew 28:1 –10, 16–20

Jesus' resurrection: Go make disciples.

Mark 16:1 –8

The open tomb: Jesus goes before you.

Luke 1:67 –75 (UMH 208)

Canticle of Zechariah

Luke 12:22 –40

Do not be anxious; be ready.

Luke 24:1 –12

The empty tomb

John 3:13 –17

God's gift of eternal life

John 5:19 –29

Whoever hears and believes has life.

John 6:30 –40, 47–51

Jesus the bread of life

John 10:1 –18, 27–30

Jesus the Good Shepherd

John 12:20 –36

Unless a grain of wheat dies

John 15:1 –17

The vine and the branches

John 16:12 –22, 33

Sorrow becomes joy.

John 20

Jesus' resurrection

Suggested Hymns from UMH

See hymns 700–707 Death and Eternal Life and 708–712 Communion of the Saints. Also see suggestions under Eternal Life and Funerals and Memorial Services in UMH and the following:

163 Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know

143 On Eagle's Wings

557 Blest Be the Tie That Binds

733 Marching to Zion

141 Children of the Heavenly Father

368 My Hope Is Built

318 Christ Is Alive

356 Pues Si Vivimos (When We Are Living)

407 Close to Thee

66 Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven (stanzas 3, 4)

709 Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above

491 Remember Me

510 Come, Ye Disconsolate

523 Saranam, Saranam (Refuge)

315 Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain

666 Shalom to You

710 Faith of Our Fathers

512 Stand By Me

129 Give to the Winds Thy Fears

704 Steal Away to Jesus

654 How Blest Are They (for an older adult)

496 Sweet Hour of Prayer

77 How Great Thou Art

703 Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

103 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

395 Take Time to Be Holy

314 In the Garden

545 The Church's One Foundation (stanzas 1, 5)

488 Jesus, Remember Me

546 The Church's One Foundation (stanzas 1, 5)

133 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

303 The Day of Resurrection

59 Mil Voces Para Celebrar

116 The God of Abraham Praise

520 Nobody Knows the Trouble I See

504 The Old Rugged Cross

57 O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

308 Thine Be the Glory

480 O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

383 This Is a Day of New Beginnings

247 O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright (stanza 3)

153 Thou Hidden Source of Calm Repose

518 O Thou, in Whose Presence

322 Up from the Grave He Arose

184 Of the Father's Love Begotten

526 What a Friend We Have in Jesus

See also:

Beloved, Now We Are the Saints of God (UMBOW 219).

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Copyright: “For General Use in Services of Death and Resurrection,” Copyright © 1964, 1965 Board of Publication of The Methodist Church, Inc. Renewal Copyright © 1992 UMPH.