Church communities walk together through all of life’s milestones, including its conclusion. When the time comes for funeral planning, use these 7 essential resources from Augsburg Fortress to prepare, preside, perform, and comfort in the time surrounding a funeral.
1. Remembering God's Promises: A Funeral Planning Handbook
Remembering God’s Promises offers notes and commentary on the funeral service in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, lists of suggested scripture readings and hymns, and information on other planning options. When the family and friends meet with the pastor, the funeral planning worksheet provides space to write down information and keep track of decisions that need to be made. In addition, a free, downloadable pastor’s guide includes an outline for four adult forum sessions on end-of-life decisions, hospice care, and funeral and burial planning. Pastors can also use the handbook to encourage individuals to plan their own funerals in advance.
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2. In Sure and Certain Hope: A Funeral Sourcebook
In Sure and Certain Hope: A Funeral Sourcebook is a comprehensive guide for planning, presiding, and preaching at funerals. An in–depth look at the funeral rite and sermon demonstrates how the funeral connects to baptism, proclaims the resurrection of Christ and promise of new life, and points to the communion of all the saints. Tools for discussing and planning a funeral with the family include a planning worksheet, suggestions for scripture texts and hymns, and essays on cremation, the use of a columbarium, natural or green burial, and military ceremonies. Additional resources address the unique dimensions of presiding and preaching at a funeral for a child, a funeral in the public eye, and a funeral following a suicide. The sourcebook also looks at the church’s role in ministry with the dying and bereaved, and in facilitating conversations about end–of–life matters, death, and grief. Reproducible materials from the sourcebook including rites and liturgies, an adult forum series outline, and tools to help individuals plan their own funerals, all editable and customizable to your needs, are available digitally.
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3. A Time to Say Goodbye: A Booklet for Kids about Funerals
A Time to Say Goodbye is a resource to help kids understand what happens at a Lutheran funeral and explore the emotions they may experience during the service and when a loved one dies. This resource includes content that engages kids in the service by explaining the service, what they might see in the church building, and gives examples of how to remember the loved one who has passed. Using the funeral service in Evangelical Lutheran Worship as a guide, this resource will help guide discussion and learning during difficult times.
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4. Funeral Bulletins and Memorial Cards
Funeral bulletins welcome in and set the tone for a celebration of life. Choose from 27 full color options. 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" folded. Packaged in multiples of 100.
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These full-color memorial gift acknowledgment cards are a beautiful way to thank individuals for gifts given in memory of a loved one. They are packaged in sets of 25 cards and include envelopes. Designed with rich color, a prayerful, elegant look, and updated typography, these cards are suitable for congregational or individual use.
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5. In Heaven Above: Piano Music for Funerals and Memorials
In Heaven Above is a collection of mostly hymn-based piano music particularly well suited to use in funerals and memorial services, but with many other uses throughout the year. Written in accessible styles and in easy to moderate difficulty range, this volume will be used often. Gifted composers like Bert Carlson, Anne Krentz Organ, David Cherwien, Michael Hassell, Nancy Raabe, Mark Sedio, and many others have contributed 75 arrangements that will enhance services of many kinds.\
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6. Augsburg Organ Library: Healing and Funeral
Augsburg Organ Library: Healing and Funeral, contains 40 pieces for worship or recitals based on Healing and Funeral hymn tunes. The Augsburg Organ Library is a highly acclaimed multi-volume series that reflects the twentieth century renewal of the organ and its music.
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7. For All the Saints: Hymn Preludes for Funerals
Those in grief frequently turn to the hymns of the Church as a source of comfort. This collection of ten hymn preludes is specifically designed to feature commonly-sung and commonly-requested hymns. Most of the settings are extended but can easily be shortened to fit the occasion. Useful throughout the year as well.
Tunes: Converse, Duke Street, Ein feste Burg, Eventide, New Britain, O store Gud, Schonster Herr Jesu, Sine Nomine, St. Columba, and Tryggare kan ingen vara.
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Bonus: Funeral Planning for Self Resources
Explore more books on funeral planning and grief for children and adults with our sister imprints.
- Beaming Books Grief and Loss Collection
- Broadleaf Books: Comforting Books on Grief, Loss, and Bereavement