Suggestions for Readings and Music for Funeral Liturgies
Please choose one reading from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament (not the gospels). Father will usually choose the gospel, unless you have a special one.
Music: Choose four songs. You may also choose a responsorial psalm.
You will need an Entrance hymn, an Offertory hymn, a Communion hymn and a Recessional.
Chose one Old Testament reading
1. A READING FROM THE PROPHET ISAIAH
All you who are thirsty, come to the water!
You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!
Why spend your money for what is not bread;
your wages for what fails to satisfy?
Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare.
Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. I will renew you with the everlasting covenant.
The Word of the Lord
2. A READING FROM THE PROPHET ISAIAH
But now, says the Lord, who created you, and formed you: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. When you pass through the water, I will be with you; in the rivers you shall not drown. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; the flames shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God....
You are precious in my eyes and glorious, I love you.
Thus says the Lord, your redeemer, who formed you from the womb...
I have called you by your name ...
You are saved by the Lord, saved forever!
The Word of the Lord
3. A READING FROM THE PROPHET ISAIAH
The desert and the parched land will exult;
the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song.
They will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
who comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
The will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the dumb will sing.
Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
They will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.
THE WORD OF THE LORD...
4. A Reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes
There is an appointed time for everything,
and a time for every affair under the heavens.
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them;
a time to embrace and a time to be far from embraces.
A time to seek and a time to lose;
a time to keep and a time to cast away.
A time to rend and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
a time of war and a time of peace.
God has made everything appropriate to its time ...
Whatever God does will last forever,
there is no adding to it or taking from it.
The Word of the Lord...
5. A READING FROM SIRACH
Be sincere of heart and steadfast,
undisturbed in time of adversity.
Cling to God, forsake Him not;
thus will your future be great.
Accept whatever befalls you, be patient.
For in fire gold is tested.
Trust God and he will help you;
You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy,
trust him and your reward will not be lost.
You who fear the Lord, hope for good things,
for lasting joy and mercy.
Has anyone hoped in the Lord and been disappointed?
Has anyone persevered and been forsaken?
Compassionate and merciful is the Lord;
he forgives sins and saves in time of trouble.
Those who fear the Lord prepare their hearts
and humble themselves before him.
Let us fall into the hands of the Lord,
for equal to God’s majesty is the mercy He shows.
The Word of the Lord...
6. A Reading from the Book of Proverbs
When one finds a worthy woman, her value is far beyond pearls.
Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize.
She brings him good, not evil, all the days of her life.
She rises while it is still night,
and distributes food to her household.
She is grit about with strength, and sturdy are her arms.
She enjoys the success of her dealings;
at night her lamp is undimmed.
She reaches out her hands to the poor,
and extends her arms to the needy.
She fears not the snow for her household;
all her charges are doubly covered.
She makes her own coverlets; fine line and purple are her clothing.
She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs at the days to come.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
and on her tongue is kindly counsel.
She watches the conduct of her household,
and eats not her food in idleness.
Her children rise up and praise her; her husband, too, extols her:
“Many are the women of proven worth,
but you have excelled them all.”
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;
the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her a reward of her labors,
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
The Word of the Lord....
7. A READING FROM THE PROPHET JEREMIAH
Thus says the Lord:
Blessed is he man who trusts in the Lord,
whose hope is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It fears not the heat when it comes,
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still bears fruit.
More tortuous than all else is the human heart,
beyond remedy, who can understand it?
I, the Lord, alone probe the mind and test the heart,
to reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds.
The Word of the Lord...
8. A READING FROM SIRACH
A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter;
He who finds one finds a treasure.
A faithful friend is beyond price,
No sum can balance his worth.
A faithful friend is a life saving remedy,
Such as he who fears God finds;
For he who fears God behaves accordingly
And his friend will be like himself.
The Word of the Lord…
9. A READING FROM THE PROHPET MICAH
With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow before God most high? Shall I come before him with holocausts, with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad streams of oil?
You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.
The Word of the Lord....
Chose one New Testament reading
10. A Reading from Second Corinthians
For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.
So we are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are far away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Yet we are courageous and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.
Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.
The Word of the Lord…
11. A READING FROM THE SECOND LETTER OF PAUL TO TIMOTHY
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. ..
I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.
I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears, so that I may be filled with joy.
So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you to understand everything....
I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.
From now on a merited crown awaits me, which the Lord will award to me .., and not to me only, but to all who have longed for his appearance.
THE WORD OF THE LORD...
12. A READING FROM THE BOOK OF ROMANS
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba, Father!”
The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs also.
We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to God’s purpose.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor principalities nor present things nor future things, nor powers, nor heights, nor depths, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Word of the Lord...
Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!
Your kindness should be known to all.
The Lord is near. Have no anxiety,
But in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
Make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard you hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, sisters and brothers, whatever is true,
Whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, Whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious…
If there is any excellence and if there is anything
worthy of praise, think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.
The Word of the Lord…
Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous,
love is not proud, it is not inflated,
it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with
the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
In the end there are but three things that last - faith, hope, love, and the greatest of these is love.
15. A Reading from the Book of Revelations
I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold God’s dwelling is with the human race. God will dwell with them and they will be his people and God will always be with them as their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.”
The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold I make all things new. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the springs of life-giving water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be their God and they will be my children.”
The Word of the Lord...
16. A Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans
Your love must be sincere. Detest what is evil, cling to what is good. Love one another with the affection of brothers and sisters. Anticipate each other in showing respect. Do not grow slack, but be fervent in spirit; He whom you serve is the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, be patient under trial; persevere in prayer. Look to the needs of the saints as your own; be generous in offering hospitality. Bless your persecutors; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same attitude towards all. Put away ambitious thoughts and associate with those who are lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Never repay injury with injury. See that your conduct is honorable in the eyes of all. If possible, live peaceably with everyone.
But if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if thirsty, give them something to drink. Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.
The Word of the Lord...
Music Suggestions
All That Is Hidden
**As Grains of Wheat
Be Not Afraid
Because the Lord Is My Shepherd
**Behold the Lamb
Blest Are They
**Bread of Life
*Center of My Life
Come Unto Me
**Eat This Bread
Gather Us In
Gentle Shepherd
Here I Am, Lord
**I Am the Bread of Life
I Am the Light of the World
I Have Loved You
I Heard the Voice of Jesus
I Know That My Redeemer Lives
**In the Breaking of the Bread
Lead Me, Lord
*Like A Child Rests
*My Soul Is Thirsting
On Eagle’s Wings
*Only In God
Parable
Resucito
Roll Away the Stone
Servant Song
*Shepherd Me, O God
Sing A New Song
**Song of the Body of Christ
**Table of Plenty
*The Lord Is My Light
*The Path of Life
**The Supper of the Lord
*To You, O God, I Lift Up My Soul
*To You, O Lord
Though the Mountains May Fall
**Unless A Grain of Wheat
We Will Rise Again
You Are Mine
You Are Near
You Are the Healing
* Can be used as Responsorial Psalm
** Song with Eucharistic theme