07/12/2022
Just an idea of what to put on your order of service (this can be changed to your preference)
Information on the front cover
The front cover will feature a large image of the deceased.
Above the photo, usually will sit:
Name of deceased / Date of Birth / Date of Death
Underneath the large photo, usually will sit:
Funeral Location / Date and Time of the funeral (date time and location)
Sometimes on the front cover, you might want to mention the celebrant or the member of the clergy overseeing the ceremony, whichever is applicable.
Information for the centre pages
Depending on the number of pages you choose for your order of service, you may have more or less room to detail the specifics of the funeral order of service. But as a useful guide, the funeral order of service running order would look something like this….
Example One:
Entrance Music / Welcome Words / Psalm 23 / Poem / Eulogy / Song of Reflection / The Lord’s Prayer / Committal / Closing Words / Exit Music
Example Two:
Entrance Hymn / Reflection Hymn / Eulogy or Tribute / Exit Music
Example Three:
Entrance Music / Hymn / Reflection Hymn / The Lord’s Prayer / Committal / Exit Music
Example Four:
Entrance Music / Welcome & Opening Prayers / Hymn / Bible Reading / Eulogy / Reflection Music / The Lord’s Prayer / Poem Reading / Final Prayer / Exit Music
If you are using the services of a funeral celebrant, they will guide you through the process of creating the funeral service running order.
A member of the clergy or the funeral director may also guide you on the creation of the service running order.
If though, you are putting this together yourself, you can download a funeral word template here, it is just a collection of different funeral order of service templates, fill in the blanks and share with whoever is designing your funeral order of service.
The important thing to remember is, there is NO right or wrong way, the funeral order of service is designed to remember and give a glimpse into your loved one’s life, a memory of their time with you.
Information for the Back pages
Typically, the back page will feature one or a few photos of your loved one. These might be photos of them as a child or young adult or photos of them with their partner.
Here are some examples of different approaches to the back page…
Notice how families use this section to say thank you to those who were able to attend, and thank others for their kind words, prayers and involvement in the funeral preparation.
I’ve seen lovely tributes to the care offered at the loved one’s end of life, and mentions of hospice and charities which have played an important part through their life.
Sometimes, a link is shared to leave donations. This could be a donation to a charity, but its common these days to have a fundraising page in the name of the deceased too. These websites offer that facility…
www.justgiving.com
uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving
What should be included in a funeral order of service?
Front Cover:
Name of deceased / Date of Birth / Date of Death
Photo of your loved one
Funeral Location / Date and Time of the funeral
Inner Pages (service running order)
Condensing the information above, the service running order typically takes this format:
Entrance Music / Welcome & Opening Prayers / Hymn / Bible Reading / Eulogy / Reflection Music / The Lord’s Prayer / Poem Reading / Final Prayer / Exit Music
Back Page
Photo or collection of photos of your loved one / Thank you message or Poem of significance / Donations link or mention of how to donate to a specific cause or charity
What do you write on the back of a funeral booklet?
On the back page of the funeral order of service, a thank you message is common. To thank all those who were able to attend, or those who offered support and assistance.
Some examples of messages for the back page of a funeral order of service booklet would be:
Example 1. Mary, Shaun and Martin wish to thank all relatives and friends for the kindness and sympathy shown to that as this sad time. Your attendance here today is greatly appreciated.
Example 2. We would like to thank everyone for their kind words of love and support and for those who attended today.
Example 3. Kathleen’s family would like to thank you all for attending today.
The thank you message, is a nice space to mention anyone who had an impact and offered assistance, I hope the examples above help.
