Religious Funerals

Sample First Readings

Old Testament

A reading from the book of Wisdom 3:1-6,9

He accepted them as a holocaust

The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God, and no torment shall ever touch them. In the eyes of the unwise, they did appear to die, their going looked like a disaster, their leaving us, like annihilation; but they are in peace. If they experienced punishment as men see it, their hope was rich with immortality; slight was their affliction, great will their blessing be. God has put them to the test and proved them worthy to be with him; he has tested them like gold in a furnace, and accepted them as a holocaust. They who trust in him will understand the truth, those who are faithful will live with him in love; for grace and mercy await those he has chosen.

The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

A reading from the book of Wisdom 4:7-15

Untarnished life, this is ripe old age.

The virtuous person, though he/she dies before his/her time, will find rest. Length of days is not what makes age honourable, nor number of years the true measure of life; understanding, this is man’s grey hairs, untarnished life, this is ripe old age. He/she has sought to please God, so God has loved him/her.

He/she has been carried off so that evil may not warp his/her understanding or treachery seduce his/her soul; for the fascination of evil throws good things into the shade. Coming to perfection in so short a while, he/she achieved long life; his/her soul being pleasing to the Lord. He has taken him/her quickly from the wickedness around him/her. Yet people look on, uncomprehending; it does not enter their heads that grace and mercy await the chosen of the Lord, and protection, his holy ones.

The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

A reading from the prophet Isaiah 25:6-9

The Lord will destroy death for ever.

On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food. On this mountain he will remove the mourning veil covering all peoples, and the shroud enwrapping all nations, he will destroy Death forever.

The Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek, he will take away his people’s shame everywhere on earth, for the Lord has said so. That day, it will be said. See, this is our God in whom we hoped for salvation, the Lord is the one in whom we hoped. Exult and we rejoice that he has saved us.

The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes 3: 1–8, 11

Everything is beautiful in its time.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
and a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep and a time to cast away;
a time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
God has made everything beautiful in its time.

The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

A reading from the book of Revelation (14:13)

I, John, heard a voice from say to me, write down: happy are those who die in the Lord! Happy indeed, the Spirit says; now they can rest forever after their work, since their good deeds go with them.

The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

A reading from the book of Ecclesiasticus

A faithful friend is a sure shelter, whoever finds one has found a rare treasure. A faithful friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring their worth. A faithful friend is the elixir of life, and those who respect the Lord will find one. Whoever respects the Lord makes true friends. For as one is, so is their friend.

The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

A reading from the book of Ruth

Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God too. Wherever you die I will die.

And there I shall be buried beside you. We shall be together forever.

And our love will be the gift of our life.

The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

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