Standard Christian Graveside Service

Pastor Bob Tousey

My brothers and sisters, we have come together to renew our trust in Christ who, by dying on the cross, has freed us from eternal death and, by rising, has opened for us the gates of heaven. Lord, we ask that You may grant us the gift of Your loving consolation and comfort us during our time of loss. We thank you for the gift that ________ was to us and we praise you for allowing _______ to have touched us. We all say, Amen   

23rd Psalm 

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.   

A Reading from 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring Him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord Himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so, we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage one another with these words.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Committal Prayer 

Into your hands, Father of mercies, we commend our brother, _________ in the sure and certain hope that, together with all who have died in Christ, ________ will rise with Him on the last day. We give you thanks for the blessings which you bestowed upon ________ in this lifetime: they are signs to us of your goodness and of our fellowship with Christ. Merciful Lord turn toward us and listen to our prayers: help us who remain to comfort one another with assurances of faith, until we all meet in Christ and are with you and with our sister forever. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.