BIBLE SERVICE FOR THE DECEASED (English)

I. MESSAGE:

LEADER: My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we are all gathered this evening to
offer our condolences to the family of the late ________________ who just passed away.
Likewise, we are going to offer our prayers for the eternal repose of his/her soul. To the
bereaved family, we are one with you this evening to express our sorrow for the loss of a
beloved father/mother/child who is now with our Lord. Let us ask God to enlighten us in
times of grief as we sing COME, HOLY SPIRIT.

Come, Holy Spirit, we need you

Come, Holy Spirit, we pray
Come, with Your strength and Your power
Come, in Your own special way
Come, like a spring in the desert
Come, with the withered of soul
Lord, let your sweet healing power
Touch me and make me whole.

II. LEADER: Let’s pause for a while and bow down our head and pray for our special
intention for the eternal repose of our brother/sister ______________.

Lord, may you grant all our prayers and wishes for _____________. We hope and
pray that he/she is now in Your kingdom. Amen

III. LEADER: Jesus said to His apostles and followers, “where there are two or three
gathered in my Name, there I am in the midst of them.”
God never fails us in whatever we ask from Him and let’s always be reminded that
beyond the clouds the sun is always shining.

IV. FIRST READING

LEADER: Job, a man in the Old Testament, questions God, “WHY SUFFER? WHY LOSE
OUR LOVED ONES?” He lost all his sons and daughters and he was in deep anguish and
real grief. Let us now listen to the first reading (may be read by any member of the family).

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READER: First Reading, a reading from the Book of Job 19: 23-27
Oh! That my words were on a scroll or recorded on lead with an iron tool or
engraved forever on rock for I know that my redeemer lives and He, the last, will
take His stand on earth, I will be there behind my skin and in my flesh, I shall see
God. With my own eyes, I shall see Him. I, and not another. How my heart yearns.
--- This is the word of the Lord.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

LEADER: Reflection and Insight:

Job is a righteous man who suffered a lot. All his children passed away. He also
lost all his properties and to top it all, his sufferings never seemed to end. Nevertheless, he did
not lose his faith, hope and love for God.
The life story of Job shows the truth of the presence of suffering. Because of what
happened to Job, he asked God, “WHY IS IT THAT THOSE WHOM YOU LOVE ARE
THE ONES LOST?”
We know that death is inevitable. All men go through it and nobody can escape it.

V. SECOND READING

LEADER: Death involves all people. None of us lives for himself only. None of us dies for
himself only. We live and die for the Lord, the giver and taker of our life. Let us now listen to
the second reading (may be read by any member of the family).

READER: Second Reading, a reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans

None of us lives as his own master and none of us as his own master. While we
live, we are responsible to the Lord, and when we die, we die as his servants. Both in
life and in death we are the Lord’s. That is why Christ died and came to life again,
that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. We all have to appear before
the judgment seat of God. It is written “as surely as I live” says the Lord, “every
knee shall bend before me and every tongue shall give praise to God.” --- This is the
word of the Lord.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

HYMN: SEEK YE FIRST, THE KINGDOM OF GOD

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LEADER: St. Paul reminds us that our very life has come from God, the Creator. He has
created man and poured his love on him to share His divine life. We are forever sharers of His
happiness through His Son who died for our salvation. His love is everlasting. We therefore,
respond to that love through our good thoughts, words and action.

Lord, make us instruments of Your love and peace, make the family and relatives of
___________ realize that in dying, _____________ is born to eternal life. Let us express this
prayer by singing THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS.

Make me a channel of Your peace

Where there is hatred let me bring You love
Where there is injury Your pardon, Lord
And where there’s doubt true faith in You

Make me a channel of Your peace

Where there’s despair of life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there is sadness, only joy
Chorus
Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul

Make me a channel of your peace

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we received
And in dying, that we’re born to eternal life

VI. GOSPEL READING

LEADER: We always seek the Lord even when we mortals know there is nothing that can be
done. But Martha put all her trust in Jesus for her brother to come back to life, and so we
listen to the GOSPEL.

GOSPEL READER: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 11:11-28

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ALL: Glory, to You, Oh, Lord.

GOSPEL READER: When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he found that Lazarus had already been
in the tomb for four days. The village was not far from Jerusalem – just under two
miles – and many Jewish people had come out to console Martha and Mary over their
brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet with Him while
Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother
would never have died. Even now, I am sure that God will give You whatever You ask
of Him.”

“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus assured her.

“I know he will rise again,” Martha replied, “in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus told her:
“I am the resurrection and the life:
Whoever believes in me, though he should die, will come to life
And whoever is alive and believes in me will never die
Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she replied. “I have come to believe that You are the Messiah. The Son
of God, He who is to come into the world.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

ALL: Praise to You, Oh, Lord, Jesus Christ.

HYMN: HE WILL CARRY YOU

There is no problem too big, God cannot solve it

There is no mountain too tall, He cannot move it
There is no storm too dark, God cannot calm it
There is sorrow too deep, He cannot soothe it

If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders

I know my friends that He will carry you (2x)

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VII. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

LEADER: Let us turn to Christ Jesus with confidence and faith in the power of His cross and
resurrection. Let our response be: LORD, HAVE MERCY

Risen Lord, pattern of our life forever. Response: Lord, have mercy
Promise and image of what we shall be. R: Lord, have mercy
Son of God, who came to destroy sin and death. R: Lord, have mercy
Word of God, who delivered us from the fear of death. R: Lord, have mercy
Crucified Lord, forsaken in death, raised in glory. R: Lord, have mercy
Lord Jesus, gentle Shepherd who brings rest to our soul,
give peace to our brother/sister __________ R: Lord, have mercy

With one voice, may we now pray [sing] the prayer that Jesus Christ has taught us.

HYMN: OUR FATHER

VIII. CONCLUDING PRAYER

LEADER: Lord God, in whom all find refuge. We appeal to Your boundless mercy. Grant
to the soul of your servant _________ a kind welcome, cleansing of sin, release from the
chains of death, and entry to everlasting life. We ask these through Christ our Lord.

ALL: AMEN.

IX. CONLUDING RITES

LEADER: Blessed are those who have died in the Lord. Let them rest from their labors for
their good deeds go with them. Eternal rest grant unto ____________, Oh, Lord

ALL: And let perpetual light shine upon him/her.

LEADER: May he/she rest in peace.

ALL: AMEN

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LEADER: May the peace of God, which is beyond all understanding keep your hearts and
minds in the knowledge and love of God and of His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

ALL: AMEN

CLOSING HYMN: SINO AKO

Hiram sa Diyos ang aking buhay

Ikaw at ako’y tanging handog lamang
Di ko ninais na ako’y isilang
Ngunit salamat, dahil may buhay

Refrain
Ligaya ko na ako’y isilang
Pagka’t tao ay mayroong dangal
Sinong may pag-ibig, sinong nagmamahal
Kung ‘di ang tao, Diyos ang pinagmulan

Kung ‘di ako umibig, kung ‘di ko man bigyang halaga

Ang buhay kong handog, ang buhay kong hiram sa Diyos
Kung ‘di ako nagmamahal
Sino ako… (Repeat Refrain)

HINDI KITA MALILIMUTAN

Hindi kita malilimutan, Hindi kita pababayaan

Nakaukit magpakailanman, sa 'king palad ang 'yong pangalan
Malilimutan ba ng ina ang anak na galing sa kanya
Sanggol sa kanyang sinapupunan, paano niya matatalikdan
Ngunit kahit na malilimutan, ng ina ang anak niyang tangan

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Chorus Hindi kita malilimutan, kailanma'y 'di pababayaan
Hindi kita malilimutan, kailanma'y 'di pababayaan (Repeat)

LEAD ME, LORD

Lead me Lord
Lead me by the hand
And help me face the rising sun
Comfort me through all the pain that life may bring
There's no other hope that I can lean upon
Lead me Lord. Lead me all my life
Walk by me
Walk by me across the lonely roads that I may face
Take my arms and let your hand
Show me the way
Show the way to live inside your heart
All my days, all my life
Chorus
You are my light
You're the lamp upon my feet
All the time, my Lord I need you there
You are my light
I cannot live alone
Let me stay by Your guiding love
All through my life
Lead me Lord
Lead me Lord
Even though at times I'd rather go along my way
Help me take the right direction, take Your road
Lead me Lord and never leave my side
All my days, all my life (Repeat Chorus)

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NEARER MY GOD TO THEE

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me.

Still all my songs shall be

Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!

Though like the wanderer,

The sun gone down,
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!
Or if, on joyful wing
Cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly,
Still all my songs shall be
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!