Funeral prayer
As we leave this place, we shall extinguish the chalice flame,
and bid farewell to (Name)’s physical body; but we carry her/his spirit in our hearts.
May it continue to shine through us, now and always.
And so, let us pause together, in the fellowship of quietness, as we allow the wishes of our hearts to make themselves felt.
Let us pray.
We gather today in sadness before the veil which has fallen between us and (Name) whom we loved.
We bare our grief before that which we hold most holy, and pray for the strength to endure our pain.
We remember with gratitude the blessings which (Name) brought to our lives through her/his love, and we pray for the ability to share those blessings with others.
We think of those most keenly touched by this loss, and we pray that they may find consolation in all that (Name)’s life has meant to them and to others.
We remember particularly those close to (Name) who cannot be here today, especially …(as appropriate)… . May they find comfort in the knowledge that we remember them.
May the words and feelings and remembrances we share in these quiet moments strengthen us in our sympathy and support for one another and renew our dedication to the underlying and eternal realities of kindness and love which give our lives meaning and worth.
Amen.
Partly adapted from words in Celebrating Life
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