Special Topics, General Worship
Funeral Liturgy?
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Do we have a "Funeral" liturgy anywhere? I'm on the Liturgical Forms & Resources page, but I don't see one. I see one for marriage, but not funerals...
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The CRCNA holds funerals as such: Funerals and memorial services within the body of Christ should reflect the confidence of our faith and should be conducted accordingly. Such times provide opportunities to minister love, provide comfort, give instruction, and offer hope to the bereaved. (art. 70 of the Church Order)
But the Worship institute has a few examples/ideas of what a funeral/memorial service might look like: https://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/in-times-of-death-resources-for-funeral-and-memorial-services/
Here is the search for funerals: https://worship.calvin.edu/search/?q=funeral
Historically the funeral has not been a "church/ecclesiastical" event. The Church Order was changed in 2010 to soften that approach but as a result to my knowledge the CRC has never had an official liturgy for funerals which is why you don't find any on the Liturgical Forms page. Of course, synod could change that by requesting that some be provided. Currently one of the best resources out there is the book "In Life and in Death" which is available through Faith Alive https://www.faithaliveresources.org/Products/400150/in-life-and-in-death.aspx
Don't forget to check out the "Death and Dying" section of Lift Up Your Hearts, which includes "A Litany for the Sick and Dying" #461
For some additional reflections and a sample liturgy see:
https://www.reformedworship.org/article/june-1992/rethinking-reformed-reluctance-call-church-reclaim-funeral-worship-service
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