An Order for Christian Marriage

The Burial of the Dead

(Based on the service of the Norwegian Lutheran Church)

Suitable passages and prayers for private devotion
for the immediate family prior to the service proper.

1. The Invocation

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Unto our God, who alone has immortality, be honor and power both now and forevermore. Amen.

2. Scripture Lessons

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, that we may be able to comfort those who are afflicted, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God.

Forasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God to summon out of this life the soul of _________, our dear brother/sister, it becomes us as Christians to remember in our sorrow the admonition and consolation of God’s own Book of comfort.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

John 14:1-6. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Burial Service

At the Church or Chapel

The Invocation

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer

OUT of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning—I say, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities. (Psalm 130)

Scripture Lessons

DEARLY Beloved! Let us hear what the Holy Scriptures testify concerning the corruption of this life, and concerning death and judgment.

BEFORE the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. You turn man to destruction, And say, “Return, O children of men.” For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night. You carry them away like a flood; They are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up: In the morning it flourishes and grows up; In the evening it is cut down and withers. So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:2-6, 12.)

AND furthermore it is written:

THROUGH one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. (Romans 5:12)

IT is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

IN THE NEXT PLACE let us hear concerning the watchfulness and preparedness which our Lord desires to find in us.

“LET your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:35-37, 40)

LET US FINALLY hear the blessed words concerning resurrection and everlasting life:

JESUS SAYS, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)

Hymn

(such as ELH

Obituary

Sermon

Hymn

Prayer: (one of the following)

1. Merciful and everlasting God, by the death of Your Son You have removed from us the doom of eternal death, and have sanctified the grave to Your faithful people that it has become peaceful resting place: Grant that we may diligently bear in mind the hour when we shall finally depart, that by true penitence and faith, we may die daily unto sin and tot the corruptible fashion of this world, to the end that together with Your saints we may attain a blessed resurrection through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, our Lord. Amen.

2. Everlasting and merciful God, our Father in heaven, in Your Your Son Jesus Christ, You have abundantly comforted us against death: We beseech You to guide and govern us by Your Holy Spirit, so that we may not be turned away from You by any distress or assault of evil, but that we may live in Your fear, may depart from this life in Your peace, may rest in the grave under Your protection and in Your power may rise again from the grave unto life eternal; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

3. Almighty and everlasting God, by reason of sin You cause man to die and return to the dust: So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Grant us a true faith in Your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification, and lives to all eternity. Help us by Your grace that we may die daily unto sin and may live according to Your holy will, so that, when the hour of death shall come, we may be fully prepared to depart in peace. Receive our soul to Yourself, and, on the last day, raise our bodies from the graves unto life everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The 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, forever and ever. Amen.

The Benediction

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.

Hymn

Graveside Service

(Committal)

Graveside Hymn

On my heart imprint Thine image,

Blessed Jesus, King of grace,

That life’s riches, cares and pleasures,

Have no power Thee to efface;

This the superscription be:

Jesus, crucified for me,

Is my life, my hope’s foundation,

And my glory and salvation.

The Committal

Our Lord Jesus says: “The hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” (John 5:28-29)

(The pastor may cast earth upon the coffin three times.)

Out of dust you are taken.

Unto dust you shall return.

Out of the dust you shall rise again.

SO ALSO is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. … For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Grave, where is your victory?” … But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44,53-55, 57.)

FORASMUCH as it has pleased Almighty God in His wise providence to take out of this world the soul of our departed brother/sister, we therefore commit his/her body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in the hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through Lord Jesus Christ, who shall transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:21)

The Benediction

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

The Burial of the Dead

(The Lutheran Divine Service)

The Prelude

The Opening Prayer, p. 41

The Opening Hymn or Psalm

The Opening Hymn or Psalm is sung as the body is brought into the sanctuary:

452 Out of the Depths I Cry to Thee

453 Out of the Deep I Call

Psalm 130, p.193

The Confession of Sins, p. 41

The Kyrie eleison is sung:

527 In The Midst of Earthly Life

34 Kyrie, God Father in Heaven Above

O God, The Father in Heaven, Have Mercy, p. 42

The Absolution, p. 43

(The Gloria in excelsis Deo is omitted)

The Salutation and Collect (p. 43): #62, p. 155; #130, p. 164; #138, p. 165

The OT Lesson: Job 19:21-27; Isaiah 25: 6-9; Isaiah 26:1-21

The Gradual: Psalm 23, p. 177; Psalm 46, p. 180; Ps. 90, p. 186;

Ps. 118:15-29, p. 190; Ps. 139: 1-17

The Epistle: 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; Rev. 21:2-7

The Sequence: Dies Irae

537 Day of Wrath

538 The Day is Surely Drawing Near

The Holy Gospel: John 11:21-27; John 14:1-6; Matthew 5:1-12;

Luke 7: 11-15; Matt. 9:18-19, 23-26

The Nicene Creed, p.47

The Chief Hymn:

Suitable passages and prayers for private devotion for the immediate family prior to the service proper.

Burial Service

At the Church or Chapel

Graveside Service

Suitable passages and prayers for private devotion
for the immediate family prior to the service proper.