Alternative Funeral Service - Yr Eglwys yng Nghymru

VIII. FUNERAL OF A CHILD
NOTES
1. The general Notes to the Funeral Service and the Structure of the Order for Funeral
Services (section I) apply equally to this service.
2. The presence of young children at a child’s funeral should be welcomed and their
needs should be borne in mind. In particular it is helpful if there is an appropriate
adult who can accompany all the children.
3. Care should be taken to ensure that it is clear who is presiding throughout, who in
troduces and concludes the service, and that the number of other speakers, musical
items and non-biblical readings does not unbalance the service from its focus on the
word of God, prayer and thanksgiving.
4. Wherever possible, the name of the child should be used in the text of the service.
5. A parent may wish to carry the coffin of a very young child/baby.
RESOURCES FOR THE FUNERAL OF A CHILD
These resources are suitable for different occasions and different ages.
THE GATHERING
WORDS FOR THE GREETING
Grace and peace be with you:
and keep you in the love of Christ.
We meet in the name of Jesus Christ, who died and was raised to the glory of God the Father.
WORDS FOR INTRODUCING THE SERVICE
We have come together to worship God, whose own Son Jesus died on the Cross that we
might have eternal life; to thank God for his love; to remember the life on earth of this child
N.; to pray that his/her parents N. and N., brother N. and sister N., may be comforted in
their sadness; to share our grief and to commend N. to the loving care of God.
INTRODUCTORY SENTENCES
Funeral Services
Romans 8.38,39
Revelation 7.17
I John 3.2
I tell you, in heaven the angels of these little ones continually see the face of my Father in
heaven.
(cf. Matthew 18.10b)
Mark 10.14
Isaiah 66.13
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