Ministration at the Time of Death

<Ministration at the Time of Death>

*When a person is near death, the Minister of the Congregation should be notified, in order that the ministrations of the Church may be provided.*

=A Prayer for a Person near Death=

Almighty God, look on this your servant, lying in great weakness, and comfort him with the promise of life everlasting, given in the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.=

<Litany at the Time of Death>

*When possible, it is desirable that members of the family and friends come together to join in the Litany.*

God the Father, =Have mercy on your servant.=

God the Son, =Have mercy on your servant.=

God the Holy Spirit, =Have mercy on your servant.=

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Holy Trinity, one God, =Have mercy on your servant.=

From all evil, from all sin, from all tribulation, =Good Lord, deliver him.=

By your holy Incarnation, by your Cross and Passion, by your precious Death and Burial, =Good Lord, deliver him.=

By your glorious Resurrection and Ascension, and by the Coming of the Holy Spirit, =Good Lord, deliver him.=

We sinners beseech you to hear us, Lord Christ: That it may please you to deliver the soul of your servant from the power of evil, and from eternal death, =We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.=

That it may please you mercifully to pardon all =his= sins, =We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.=

That it may please you to grant =him= a place of refreshment and everlasting blessedness, =We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.=

That it may please you to give =him= joy and gladness in your kingdom, with your saints in light, =We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.=

Jesus, Lamb of God: =Have mercy on *him*.=

Jesus, bearer of our sins: =Have mercy on *him*.=

Jesus, redeemer of the world: =Give *him* your peace.=

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Lord, have mercy. =Christ, have mercy.= Lord, have mercy.

*Officiant and People*

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, for ever and ever. Amen.

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Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, /on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those /who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

*The Officiant says this Collect*

Let us pray.

Deliver your servant, &N., O Sovereign Lord Christ, from all evil, and set =him= free from every bond; that =he= may rest with all your saints in the eternal habitations; where with the Father and the Holy Spirit your live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. =Amen.=

=A Commendation at the Time of Death=

Depart, O Christian soul, out of this world; In the Name of God the Father Almighty who created you; In the Name of Jesus Christ who redeemed you; In the Name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you. May your rest be this day in peace, and your dwelling place in the Paradise of God.

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=A Commendatory Prayer=

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant &N. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive =him= into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. =Amen.=

May =his= soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. =Amen.=

=Prayers for a Vigil=

*It is appropriate that the family and friends come together for prayers prior to the funeral. Suitable Psalms, Lessons, and Collects (such as those in the Burial service) may be used. The Litany at the Time of Death may be said, or the following*

Dear Friends: It was our Lord Jesus himself who said, "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." Let us pray, then, for our brother (sister) &N., that =he= may rest from =his= labors, and enter into the light of God's eternal sabbath rest.

Receive, O Lord, your servant, for =he= returns to you. =Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brother (sister) &N.=

Wash =him= in the holy font of everlasting life, and clothe =him= in his heavenly wedding garment. =Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brother (sister) &N.=

May =he= hear your words of invitation, "Come, you blessed of my Father." =Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brother (sister) &N.=

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May =he= gaze upon you, Lord, face to face, and taste the blessedness of perfect rest. =Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brother (sister) &N.=

May angels surround =him=, and saints welcome =him= in peace. =Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our brother (sister) &N.=

*The Officiant concludes*

Almighty God, our Father in heaven, before whom live all who die in the Lord: Receive our =brother= &N. into the courts of your heavenly dwelling place. Let =his= heart and soul now ring out in joy to you, O Lord, the living God, and the God of those who live. This we ask through Christ our Lord. =Amen.=

<Reception of the Body>

*The following form may be used at whatever time the body is brought to the church.*

*The Celebrant meets the body at the door of the church and says*

With faith in Jesus Christ, we receive the body of our brother (sister) &N. for burial. Let us pray with confidence to God, the Giver of life, that he will raise =him= to perfection in the company of the saints.

*Silence may be kept; after which the Celebrant says*

Deliver your servant, &N., O Sovereign Lord Christ, from all evil, and set =him= free from every bond; that =he= may rest with all your saints in the eternal habitations; where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. =Amen.=

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Let us also pray for all who mourn, that they may cast their care on God, and know the consolation of his love.

*Silence may be kept; after which the Celebrant says*

Almighty God, look with pity upon the sorrows of your servants for whom we pray. Remember them, Lord, in your mercy; nourish them with patience; comfort them with a sense of your goodness; lift up your countenance upon them; and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.=

*If the Burial service is not to follow immediately, the body is then brought into the church, during which time a suitable psalm or anthem may be sung or said. Appropriate devotions, such as those appointed for the Vigil on page 465, may follow.*

*When the order for the Burial of the Dead follows immediately, the service continues on page 469 or 491.*

*A member of the congregation bearing the lighted Paschal Candle may lead the procession into the church.*

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*Concerning the Service*

*The death of a member of the Church should be reported as soon as possible to, and arrangements for the funeral should be made in consultation with, the Minister of the Congregation.*

*Baptized Christians are properly buried from the church. The service should be held at a time when the congregation has opportunity to be present.*

*The coffin is to be closed before the service, and it remains closed thereafter. It is appropriate that it be covered with a pall or other suitable covering.*

*If necessary, or if desired, all or part of the service of Committal may be said in the church. If preferred, the Committal service may take place before the service in the church. It may also be used prior to cremation.*

*A priest normally presides at the service. It is appropriate that the bishop, when present, preside at the Eucharist and pronounce the Commendation.*

*It is desirable that the Lesson from the Old Testament, and the Epistle, be read by lay persons.*

*When the services of a priest cannot be obtained, a deacon or lay reader may preside at the service.*

*At the burial of a child, the passages from Lamentations, 1 John, and John 6, together with Psalm 23, are recommended.*

*It is customary that the celebrant meet the body and go before it into the church or towards the grave.*

*The anthems at the beginning of the service are sung or said as the body is borne into the church, or during the entrance of the ministers, or by the celebrant standing in the accustomed place.*

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