Funerals

Your grief is rightly very personal and private, but we hope you do not feel you have to endure the pain of loss alone. Please feel free to contact the minister if you would appreciate some pastoral assistance. We have a pastoral care team which, alongside the minister can offer support. It has been our experience that a large number of people come to faith and come back to church services in the wake of losing a loved one. There is no doubt that Christian faith nurtured and encourage by weekly worship of the God who has conquered death can be a tremendous strength in the face of grief and deep loss.

You may find these Bible readings and hymns of spiritual comfort:

Bible Readings

• On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

  Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

  Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

  "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

  (John 11)

• God will swallow up death for ever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.

  (Isaiah 25)

• Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no-one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

  Isaiah 40

• Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

  (Revelation 21-22)

• "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going... I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

  John 14

• I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you - the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore.

  Psalm 121

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak but thou art mighty;
Hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till my want is o'er.
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence thy healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong Deliverer, Strong Deliverer,
Be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside!
Death of death, and hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side!
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee.
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son
Endless is the victory thou o'er death has won!
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son!
Endless is the victory thou o'er death has won!
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom:
Let the church with gladness
hymns of triumph sing,
For her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting!

No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of Life,
Life is naught without thee: aid us in our strife;
Make us more than conquerors
through thy deathless love,
Bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
I need thy presence every passing hour;
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness:
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still if thou abide with me.
Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes,
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies:
Heaven's morning breaks,
and earth's vain shadows flee:
In life and death, O Lord, abide with me.