Do you have an example of a graveside service in lieu of a funeral?

Question

My father-in-law requested a graveside service rather than a funeral. I was told that this is common in the south, but we live in the north and I have never attended one. My husband asked me to get perhaps a template or an example of one. Any details would be helpful.

Answer 1

We had one for my Father and it mainly consisted as the same funeral that would be held indoors.The Pastor gave his sermon,my fathers friends spoke,kinda like the eulogy.Only thing different was we had it outside in and around the tent like tarp,that covered the grave.The day was pleasant,so you must of course watch the weather report before planning the day to have it.The director of the funeral home was responsible and very well organized so that seemed to really make my Fathers passing more bearable.I'm sorry for your loss,and hope you find what you need to make this a beautiful service.

Answer 2

Graveside Service Examples

Answer 3

The ones I attended are just a gahtering and some words are said and they usually try to keep it short thus the reason for just a graveside service. The ones i attended did not have open casket and you had to view the body before the funeral.

If minister is officiating he will be up on what to do. If not it is up to the deciding members of the family as to how it will go. I haven't experiend this, but I hear some have graveside only service because for whatever reason they do not want a preacher saying sords over the deceased.

That is ll I know about them hopefull someone else will have more experince and answer you better than I did.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Do you have an example of a graveside service in lieu of a funeral?
My father-in-law requested a graveside service rather than a funeral. I was told that this is common in the south, but we live in the north and I have never attended one. My husband asked me to get perhaps a template or an example of one. Any details would be helpful.

Answer 5

This is very common for elderly people. I live in the South but did not realize this was just a southern custom. When people have become inactive for a time because of infirmities, very often their closest friends have either passed away or have become too infirm to attend a funeral, so a graveside service is held which is usually attended only by family, caretakers, and possibly a few invited close friends.

The deceased's minister is asked to give a short homily and prayer. The family and friends may give tributes or a life sketch if they wish, but it is not mandatory. Being a Southerner, I am not an Anglican and our services are not as formal as theirs.

The service can be as long or as short as you wish but preferably short because of weather conditions that can prevail at a graveside service.

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Answer 6

Funeral services include a memorial type of service in the funeral home and then an interment service in which it is the goodbye to the deceased. What is the intention of your service? Including a little from both might be the right way to go.

Answer 7

When my MIL passed we had a graveside service.
Chairs on one side of the open grave, preacher at her 'head'
he said a few words and we dropped roses onto her casket.
Very simple (for us) you may want something more elaborate.
I realize this may not help but I am hoping :)

Answer 8

AT THE GRAVE

¶ When they come to the Grave, while the Body is made ready to be laid into the earth, shall be sung or said,

MAN, that is born of a woman, hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay.
In the midst of life we are in death; of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased?
Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.
Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee.

¶ Or this.

ALL that the Father giveth me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
He that raised up Jesus from the dead: will also quicken your mortal bodies by the spirit which dwelleth in you.
Wherefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Thou shalt show me the path of life; in thy presence is the fulness of joy: and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore.

¶ Then, while the earth shall be cast upon the Body by some standing by, the Minister shall say,

UNTO Almighty God we commend the soul of our brother departed, and we commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection unto eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose coming in glorious majesty to judge the world, the earth and the sea shall give up their dead; and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed, and made like unto his own glorious body; according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself.

¶ Then shall be said or sung,

I HEARD a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, From henceforth blessed are the dead who die in the Lord: even so saith the Spirit; for they rest from their labours.

¶ Then the Minister shall say,

The Lord be with you.
Answer: And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

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. Amen.

¶ Then the Minister shall say one or more of the following Prayers, at his discretion.


O GOD, whose mercies cannot be numbered; Accept our prayers on behalf of the soul of thy servant departed, and grant him an entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ALMIGHTY God, with whom do live the spirits of those who depart hence in the Lord, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity; We give thee hearty thanks for the good examples of all those thy servants, who, having finished their course in faith, do now rest from their labours. And we beseech thee, that we, with all those who are departed in the true faith of thy holy Name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in thy eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O MERCIFUL God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Resurrection and the Life; in whom whosoever believeth, shall live, though he die; and whoso-ever liveth, and believeth in him, shall not die eternally; who also hath taught us, by his holy Apostle Saint Paul, not to be sorry, as men without hope, for those who sleep in him; We humbly beseech thee, O Father, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in him; and that, at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in thy sight; and receive that blessing, which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all who love and fear thee, saying, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. Grant this, we beseech thee, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

THE God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant; Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

¶ The Minister, at his discretion, may also use any of the following Prayers before the final Blessing.

O ALMIGHTY God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, who by a voice from heaven didst proclaim, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; Multiply, we beseech thee, to those who rest in Jesus, the manifold blessings of thy love, that the good work which thou didst begin in them may be perfected unto the day of Jesus Christ. And of thy mercy, O heavenly Father, vouchsafe that we, who now serve thee here on earth, may at last, together with them, be found meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; for the sake of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

MOST merciful Father, who hast been pleased to take unto thyself the soul of this thy servant (or this thy child); Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, that having served thee with constancy on earth, we may be joined hereafter with thy blessed saints in glory everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O LORD Jesus Christ, who by thy death didst take away the sting of death; Grant unto us thy servants so to follow in faith where thou hast led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in thee, and awake up after thy likeness; through thy mercy, who livest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we yield unto thee most high praise and hearty thanks, for the wonderful grace and virtue declared in all thy saints, who have been the choice vessels of thy grace, and the lights of the world in their several generations; most humbly beseeching thee to give us grace so to follow the example of their stedfast-ness in thy faith, and obedience to thy holy command-ments, that at the day of the general Resurrection, we, with all those who are of the mystical body of thy Son, may be set on his right hand, and hear that his most joyful voice: Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Grant this, O Father, for the sake of the same, thy Son Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.



¶ Inasmuch as it may sometimes be expedient to say under shelter of the Church the whole or a part of the Service appointed to be said at the Grave, the same is hereby allowed for weighty cause.

¶ It is to be noted that this Office is appropriate to be used only for the faithful departed in Christ, provided that in any other case the Minister may, at his discretion, use such part of this Office, or such devotions taken from other parts of this Book, as may be fitting.




At the Burial of the Dead at Sea.

¶ The same office may be used; but instead of the Sentence of Committal, the Minister shall say,

UNTO Almighty God we commend the soul of our brother departed, and we commit his body to the deep; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection unto eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; at whose coming in glorious majesty to judge the world, the sea shall give up her dead; and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed, and made like unto his glorious body; according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself.


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