Christian Funeral Program: Order of Service Examples

Christian funeral services share a common heart – thanksgiving for a life, comfort for those who mourn, and the hope of resurrection – but the shape of the service varies widely between churches. A Lutheran funeral follows a printed liturgy. A Baptist service may be built around congregational hymns and a sermon. A home-going service in many Black churches is a celebration with choir selections, tributes, resolutions and an obituary read aloud. A nondenominational service might feel more like a worship gathering with a slideshow.

The program is where all of this becomes visible. A good program tells guests what is happening and when to stand, sing or pray, and it honors the person in a way that fits their church. This guide gives sample orders of service for several traditions, explains what each item means, and offers practical advice on laying them out in a four-page or eight-page program.

Always confirm the final order with your pastor or minister. The examples below are typical patterns, not rules.

The building blocks of a Christian funeral service

Most Protestant and evangelical funeral services draw on the same set of elements, arranged differently:

• Prelude or processional: music as guests are seated and as the family enters
• Call to worship or opening sentences: often scripture such as John 11:25–26 ("I am the resurrection and the life")
• Invocation or opening prayer
• Hymns: congregational singing
• Old and New Testament readings
• Psalm: read or sung, very often Psalm 23
• Obituary: read aloud or printed only
• Eulogy, remembrances or tributes: from family, friends, colleagues or church members
• Special music or solo
• Sermon, message or meditation
• Prayers of thanksgiving and intercession, and the Lord's Prayer
• Commendation: commending the person to God's care
• Benediction: a closing blessing
• Recessional or postlude: music as the casket and family leave
• Committal: at the graveside, often a separate short service

Your church will choose which of these to include and in which order.

Sample order of service: traditional Protestant (Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal-influenced)

Prelude

Words of Grace and Sentences of Scripture

Hymn – "The Lord's My Shepherd"

Opening Prayer

Old Testament Reading – Isaiah 40:28–31

Psalm 23

New Testament Reading – Romans 8:35–39

Gospel Reading – John 14:1–6

Remembrances – Sarah Johnson, daughter; David Lee, friend

Hymn – "Abide with Me"

Sermon – Rev. Karen Wright

Prayers of Thanksgiving and the Lord's Prayer

Commendation

Hymn – "For All the Saints"

Blessing

Postlude

This pattern follows the general shape found in many denominational service books: gathering, the Word, response, commendation and dismissal. The United Methodist "Service of Death and Resurrection," the Presbyterian "Witness to the Resurrection" and the Episcopal Burial of the Dead each have their own wording; the pastor will usually provide it.

Sample order of service: Lutheran

Lutheran funerals typically follow the liturgy in the congregation's worship book, and some families print the full liturgy with congregational responses in a longer booklet. A common outline:

Gathering – Thanksgiving for Baptism

Placing of the Pall

Entrance Hymn

Prayer of the Day

First Reading

Psalm

Second Reading

Gospel Acclamation and Gospel

Sermon

Hymn of the Day

Creed (often the Apostles' Creed)

Prayers of Intercession

Holy Communion (if celebrated)

Commendation

Sending Hymn

If Holy Communion is included, ask the pastor how the congregation's practice should be explained in the program.

Sample order of service: Baptist

Baptist services vary widely, but often center on congregational hymns, scripture, the obituary and a gospel-centered message:

Processional

Hymn of Comfort – "It Is Well with My Soul"

Scripture – Old Testament: Psalm 121; New Testament: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Prayer of Comfort

Selection – Church Choir

Obituary (read silently or aloud)

Reflections – two minutes each, please

Solo – "His Eye Is on the Sparrow"

Eulogy – Pastor James Carter

Hymn – "Blessed Assurance"

Benediction

Recessional

The note "two minutes each, please" is common in Baptist and home-going programs where many people may wish to speak. It is a gentle way to keep the service on time.

Sample order of service: home-going celebration

The home-going service, a tradition rooted in African American churches, celebrates the person's going home to be with the Lord. It is often longer and more expressive than other Christian funerals, with choir selections, tributes from organizations, and a strong emphasis on the obituary. A typical program:

Viewing and Visitation – 10:00 a.m.

Processional

Hymn of Comfort – "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"

Old Testament Scripture – Psalm 46

New Testament Scripture – John 14:1–3

Prayer of Comfort – Deacon Harold Simmons

Selection – Greater Bethel Mass Choir

Acknowledgements and Condolences – Sister Doris Wilson

Resolutions – Usher Board; Women's Missionary Society

Reflections – Family and Friends (two minutes, please)

Obituary (read silently)

Selection – "I Won't Complain"

Eulogy – Rev. Dr. Marcus L. Green

Final Viewing

Recessional

Interment – Lincoln Memorial Cemetery

Repast – Fellowship Hall immediately following

Some conventions worth knowing:

• Officiating and eulogist are often listed separately: the pastor may officiate while another minister delivers the eulogy (which in this tradition is a sermon).
• Acknowledgements are cards and condolences read aloud.
• Resolutions are formal statements from church groups, lodges, sororities, fraternities or employers honoring the person's service.
• The obituary is a central feature and is often printed in full, sometimes spanning a page or two with photos.
• The repast – the meal after the service – is listed with its location.
• Pallbearers, flower bearers and honorary pallbearers are listed on the back page.

Home-going programs are often eight pages or more to accommodate a full obituary, photo collage and the many participants.

Sample order of service: Pentecostal or charismatic

Processional

Praise and Worship

Scripture Reading

Prayer

Selection

Words of Comfort

Tributes and Remembrances

Obituary

Musical Tribute

Message of Hope – Bishop Daniel Price

Altar Call or Invitation (if the church practices it)

Recessional

Sample order of service: nondenominational or contemporary

Contemporary churches often keep things simpler and use projected words instead of printed hymn lyrics:

Welcome and Opening Prayer

Worship – "Goodness of God," "It Is Well"

Scripture Reading – Revelation 21:3–5

Life Story and Tribute Video

Shared Memories

Message – Pastor Andy Collins

Closing Song

Prayer and Blessing

If song lyrics are projected, you only need titles in the program. If you want to print modern worship lyrics, check with the church about licensing first – most modern worship songs are under copyright, and churches typically hold a license that covers reprinting.

Graveside committal

The committal is often short – scripture, prayer, the words of committal, and a benediction. It can appear at the end of the main order of service, or on the back page:

Interment – Oakwood Cemetery, 1400 River Road

Committal Service officiated by Rev. Karen Wright

All are welcome. / Interment will be private.

If the committal is a separate service on a different day (common when there has been cremation), say so clearly to avoid confusion.

Laying out a four-page Christian funeral program

Page 1: the cover

• A heading: "In Loving Memory," "Celebrating the Life of," "Home-Going Celebration for," "A Service of Witness to the Resurrection," "Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of"
• A photo, often with a cross, dove or other Christian motif
• Full name, dates of birth and death (many families write "Sunrise" and "Sunset" above the dates in home-going programs)
• Date, time and church name and address
• Officiant's name, if that is the convention in your church

Page 2: the obituary or life story

The life story, written in a way that includes faith: when they came to Christ, the church they served in, the ministries they belonged to, a favourite verse. See how to write an obituary for a parent for structure and examples.

Page 3: the order of service

Lay out the items as a list, with the item on the left and the person or song title on the right. Use bold for items where the congregation participates (hymns, the Lord's Prayer), so guests know when to join in.

Page 4: the back

• A scripture passage or poem
• Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers
• Flower bearers, if used
• Interment and repast details
• The family's acknowledgement

If everything does not fit, an eight-page booklet is the natural next step. Our funeral service program template handles both the four-page booklet and the flat card.

Choosing scripture

Readings frequently chosen at Christian funerals include Psalm 23, Psalm 46, Psalm 90, Psalm 121, Ecclesiastes 3:1–8, Isaiah 40:28–31, John 11:25–26, John 14:1–6, Romans 8:35–39, 1 Corinthians 15:51–57, 2 Corinthians 5:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, 2 Timothy 4:7–8 and Revelation 21:1–4. Many families choose the person's favourite verse for the cover or back page. Our list of Bible verses for funeral programs includes the full text of many of these in the King James Version and notes on choosing a translation.

Choosing hymns

Traditional hymns often sung at Christian funerals include "Amazing Grace," "How Great Thou Art," "It Is Well with My Soul," "Abide with Me," "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," "Blessed Assurance," "In the Garden," "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," "The Old Rugged Cross," "Precious Lord, Take My Hand," "I'll Fly Away" and "When We All Get to Heaven." Choose hymns the congregation knows well, so the singing is strong and comforting.

Older hymns such as "Amazing Grace," "Abide with Me" and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" are in the public domain and can be printed in full. Many twentieth-century hymns – "How Great Thou Art" and "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" among them – are still under copyright, and the status of others depends on the country and the translation, so check with the church before printing lyrics.

Wording for each section

Cover heading examples

• "A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Eleanor Grace Thompson"
• "Celebrating the Life of Deacon Robert Lee Williams"
• "Home-Going Celebration for Mother Ruth Ann Jackson"
• "Absent from the Body, Present with the Lord"

Labels for participants

Families sometimes worry about the right titles. Use the title the person uses in their church: Pastor, Reverend (Rev.), Reverend Doctor (Rev. Dr.), Bishop, Elder, Deacon, Minister, Evangelist, Mother, Sister, Brother. When in doubt, ask the church office how the person prefers to be listed.

Acknowledgement examples

• "The family of Eleanor Thompson gratefully acknowledges every prayer, call, card, visit and act of kindness shown during our time of bereavement. May God bless each of you."
• "We thank Pastor Wright and the members of Grace Community Church for walking with us through these days."
• "Your love and support have been a comfort beyond words. With heartfelt thanks, the Jackson family."

For more ideas, see our funeral program wording ideas.

Writing faith into the life story

Families sometimes find it hard to know how much to say about faith in the obituary printed in a church program. A useful approach is to treat faith the way you would any other important part of a life: be specific and concrete rather than general. Instead of "she was a woman of faith," say what that looked like.

• "She joined Mount Olive Baptist Church in 1968 and sang alto in the Sanctuary Choir for over forty years."
• "He taught the men's Bible study on Tuesday mornings and never missed the Easter sunrise service."
• "Her well-worn Bible, filled with notes in the margins, opened most easily to Psalm 121."
• "He served as a deacon, a trustee and, for one memorable summer, the cook at vacation Bible school."

Details like these comfort the congregation because they recognise the person in them. They also tell visitors who did not share the faith something true and specific about who the person was.

If the person came to faith later in life, or had a complicated relationship with church, it is fine to say less, or to describe their faith in their own words. The program should be honest to them, not to a template.

When the person was a church leader

When the person who has died was a pastor, an elder, a deacon or a long-serving church mother, the service often becomes an occasion for the whole congregation and sometimes for several churches in the area. Practical adjustments for the program:

• Plan for more participants. Visiting ministers, denominational leaders and representatives of other churches may be invited to bring brief words. List them in the order of service with their titles and churches.
• Include the ministry history. A short paragraph or list of churches served, ordination date, and ministries founded is often printed alongside the life story.
• Print more copies. Attendance is usually larger than the family expects. Ask the church office for an estimate.
• Coordinate with the church. Leaders' funerals are often organised jointly by the family and the congregation. Agree early who is producing the program so effort is not duplicated.

When the family and church traditions differ

It is common for the person who died to belong to one church while their children belong to another, or to none. The family may want a gentler, shorter service than the church's usual pattern, or the church may have expectations the family is not familiar with. A few suggestions:

• Talk with the pastor openly about what the person would have wanted and what the family can manage. Most ministers are experienced at finding a service that honours both.
• Let the program explain what is happening. A one-line note – "The congregation is invited to stand and join in the Lord's Prayer" – helps guests who do not know the customs feel included rather than lost.
• Keep the person at the center. When there is disagreement, "what would they have chosen?" is usually the question that resolves it.

Practical tips for church funerals

• Check the church's own customs. Some churches print their own bulletin for every service, including funerals. Ask whether they want to produce it, or whether you should, so there are not two programs.
• Confirm titles and spellings with the church office.
• Mark congregational responses. If the congregation says the Lord's Prayer or a creed, print the words or at least the name, so visitors can join in.
• List timings for long services. If there is a viewing before the service, list both times.
• Keep reflections short. A note in the program such as "two minutes, please" is a kind, clear way to help the service run on time.
• Plan the repast details. Families often forget to print where the meal will be.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Printing the order of service before the pastor confirms it
• Misspelling a minister's name or using the wrong title
• Listing someone who has not agreed to speak or sing
• Omitting the interment and repast details
• Printing copyrighted lyrics without permission
• Letting the obituary run so long that the type becomes tiny – move to eight pages instead

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a funeral and a home-going service?

A home-going service is a Christian funeral tradition, especially in African American churches, that emphasises celebration of the person's going home to God. It typically includes extended music, tributes and resolutions, and a sermon-style eulogy.

Should the obituary be read aloud?

In many churches it is read silently during a song, or read aloud by a family member or church member. Ask your pastor what is customary.

How many pages should a Christian funeral program be?

Four is common. Home-going programs and services with printed hymns often use eight or more.

Is it appropriate to include a photo collage?

Yes. Many families include a few photos on the back page or a center spread showing the person with family and church.

Making the program

Our maker includes several designs well suited to Christian services – Peaceful Dove, White Lily, Classic Ivory and Navy & Gold among them – and an order of service section that keeps items and names aligned however many you add. Start in the funeral program maker, preview it free, and share the preview with your pastor before printing. Print-ready files are $4.99 – see pricing.