Making your own order of service as part of arranging a funeral, is not as difficult as you might think. It’s relatively straightforward to choose who will conduct the service and what hymns will be played or scriptures read. These days, with desktop publishing programs and affordable at-home printing, many people can produce exceptionally good printing at home. Even choosing to print via printing websites can be cheaper than leaving it to a funeral director to arrange.
As a result, far more people are choosing to make their own funeral orders of service at home. The hardest part is really trying to determine what you need to include and how to organize everything.
What is an Order of Service?
Basically, it is simply a listing of what is going to happen at the funeral service. It also usually will say something about the deceased, and very often there are also photographs. Sometimes a favourite saying or poem will be included as well.
Sometimes the order is a very simple listing of the events of the service or mass. The sample order of service below is just that, a sample. And there are many variations. But this will give you some idea of what you might need to plan for the service.
Order of Service
- Processional and Recessional: You can choose to include names of pallbearers or honorary pallbearers.
- Musical Selection: This can include performances or hymns to sing as a congregation. If you would like everyone to sing, you should either include the page number and make hymnals available or include lyrics with the order of service. You might want to plan for prelude and postlude music as well.
- Prayers: You can plan an invocation and a benediction. Some religions might include a prayer of comfort during the service as well.
- Readings: This could include things like scripture readings, poems or excerpts.
- Eulogy: You could choose to have one or a couple of people offering prepared remarks. You can also invite members of the congregation up to give memories or expressions of love. If you do, include a time limit request on the order of service.
- Interment: List the cemetery name and time, especially if there will be a break after the service.
If you choose to have a repast, a reception for the funeral, you can include information on the order of service if the congregation is invited.
Sample Order of Service
Musical Prelude
Processional: Reverend and Family
Musical Selection: “Amazing Grace” Hymn #113
Invocation: By Reverend William Harrison from the Church of Christ
Scripture Reading: Romans 8:35, 37- 39
Musical Selection: “You Raise Me Up” – solo performed by Kathy Smith with Don Gibson on the Violin
Expressions of Love: Please keep your remarks under two minutes, thank you.
Musical Selection: “Abide With Me” Hymn #207
Eulogy: By Sarah Danielson
Recessional
Interment: At the Williams Park Cemetary immediately following the ceremony.
This sample order of service was written with a view to traditional service with a religious atmosphere. Even for less formal or secular services, or the popular “Celebration of Life,” type events, there will still be an order of service of some kind.
Other frequently seen elements to the order of service can include messages of appreciation from the family, the formal obituary that will appear in print, and even sometimes messages from the deceased, especially if the death was expected.
Other Orders of Service Templates
Many people have saved different orders of service on Pinterest, so if you search there you will find many samples and food for thought. There are also a tremendous number of services where you can browse and find a template that you like and simply edit the names, events and so on to your needs. You will be able to find the templates in PDF, Word, and a host of other formats if you look carefully.
Although some of the templates are free, many are not, but there are a large number of price points available. If money is tight, you will undoubtedly be able to find a free template that you would be able to use.
Checking For Mistakes
Even if you had hired someone to do this for you, mistakes happen. The moral of the story is to make sure you proofread as closely as possible and double-check, even when you think it is 100% right. Ask other people to proofread for you—two pairs of eyes are always better than one.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, this isn’t something you need to feel stressed about. Feel free to do this your own way—whether that’s a formal order of service, handled by the funeral director or a simple, informal sheet of paper handled as part of a DIY funeral. No two families are the same, and even when an order of service is kept as a remembrance, it’s because we care about the person who passed and their family. Let your order of service be a reflection of the person who has passed.