Orders of service can add a personal touch to a loved one's funeral

Orders of service can add a personal touch to a loved one’s funeral, which is one of the main reasons why they are almost always included.  But what exactly are the orders of service, and how do they make the experience more personal?

One of the things to keep in mind is that orders of service do vary depending on whether you go to church or to a chapel of rest.  Furthermore, certain parts can be removed or added, which makes the experience even more personal.

The Gathering

At this point, the minister receives the coffin and Sentence of Scripture is used.  All people are then welcomed and tributes are made.  Prayers of Penitence are then offered, including the Collect.

Readings and Sermon

A number of bible readings are now included, as well as hymns and psalms.  The minister then preaches a sermon.

Prayers

The prayers generally start by giving thanks to the life of the deceased.  Then, those who mourn are recognized, followed by the prayers of Penitence if not used during the Gathering.  Finally, a prayer is said so that the deceased can be received in eternity.

Commendation and Farewell

The deceased will now be commended with agreed words, ready for their acceptance to god.

Committal

The body is then committed or placed in its final resting place.  Again, authorised words are used.

Dismissal

During the dismissal, mourners are blessed and asked to go home.

It is clear from this that orders of service are very much based in religion.  However, those who are not religious tend to pick out certain parts of it, or at the very least use the same order, without the prayers, psalms, hymns and blessings.  Instead, they use personal readings and songs that they have specifically chosen.  This is how this order can make things very personal.  Even if you do follow the religious steps, the psalms, hymns and sermons that are chosen are geared specifically towards the deceased, rather than being a standard reading.  Also, the minister will use authorised words during commendation and farewell and during committal, which means people can ask for specific, personal words to be spoken.

Having a funeral in an organised manner such as this can be very useful, because it stops people from feeling overwhelmed and takes a lot of the stress of the day off them.  Even if major changes are made, having a structure is always beneficial.