SUGGESTED (SAMPLE) READINGS AND PRAYERS

First Reading:

(Read by….)

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

 

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

This is the word of the Lord.

 

Psalm 

Psalm 23 (printed in brochure and recited by all)

 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters;

he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths

for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff 

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

 

Second reading:

(Read By…….)

 

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians (4:13-18)

 

We want you to be quite certain, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him. We can tell you this from the Lord’s own teaching, that any of us who are left alive until the Lord’s coming will not have any advantage over those who have died. At the trumpet of God, the voice of the archangel will call out the command and the Lord himself will come down from heaven; those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise, and then those of us who are still alive will be taken up in the clouds, together with them, to meet the Lord in the air. So we shall stay with the Lord for ever. With such thoughts as these you should comfort one another. This is the word of the Lord.


Gospel (Read by Priest)

 

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (6:37-40)

Jesus said to the crowd:

‘All that the Father gives me will come to me,

and whoever comes to me

I shall not turn him away;

because I have come from heaven,

not to do my own will,

but to do the will of the one who sent me.

Now the will of him who sent me

is that I should lose nothing

of all that he has given to me,

and that I should raise it up on the last day.

Yes, it is my Father’s will

that whoever sees the Son and believes in him

shall have eternal life, and that I shall raise them up on the last day.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Prayers of Intercession – (choose three or four of the following or more)….

 (read by one or more family members/ friends)

(Read by............................................................)

1. For the comfort and consolation of ............................. family, relatives and friends.  Lord hear us.

   (Read by............................................................)

2. For the support and encouragement of ourselves who continue on life’s journey.  Lord hear us.

   (Read by............................................................)

3. For all of our friends, family and loved ones who have died.  Lord hear us.

   (Read by............................................................)

4.      For our deceased relative and friends and for all who have helped us: that they may have the reward of their goodness and kindness.  Lord hear us.

                                                (Read by...............................)

5. For people everywhere who are grieving, that the pain they endure may not be too much to bear, and that they may experience consolation from the Christ who suffered and died.  Lord hear us.

   (Read by............................................................)

6. For the virtues of hope, love, and faith, that we may be strengthened and reassured on our own life journeys.  Lord hear us.

   (Read by............................................................)

7. That God’s love and strength may be strong in the hearts of the young people of our up-and-coming generation.  Lord hear us.

   (Read by............................................................)

8. For N., who began eternal life with Jesus in Baptism: That he/ she may find a place of peace and light in the heavenly Kingdom. Lord hear us.