Funerals & Memorial Services

If you have recently experienced a death of a friend or family member, we are deeply sorry for your loss. Your church family is surrounding you with love and prayers. To notify the pastors, please call the church at (570) 253-6316. (After business hours, follow the prompts for a pastoral emergency on the answering system.) The pastor will pray with you and walk with you through this difficult time.

The following is a selection of particularly appropriate scriptures and hymns for use in funerals or memorial services, or for your private reflections.

Suggested Funeral and Memorial Verses

Old Testament Scripture:

I know that my redeemer lives
For everything there is a season
God will swallow up death forever
Comfort my people
Those who wait for the Lord
When you pass through the waters
I am the first and I am the last
Everyone who thirsts
The spirit of the Lord is upon me
I create new heavens and a new earth
The Lord’s steadfast love
Many of those who sleep in the dust shall awake
Return to the Lord with all your heart

Job 19:23–27
Ecclesiastics 3:1–15
Isaiah 25:6–9
Isaiah 40:1–1
Isaiah 40:28–31
Isaiah 43:1–3a, 18–19, 25
Isaiah 44:6–8
Isaiah 55:1–3, 6–13
Isaiah 61:1–4, 10–11
Isaiah 65:17–25
Lamentations 3:19–26, 31–32
Daniel 12:1–3
Joel 2:12–13, 23–24, 26–29

The Psalms:

The Lord is my chosen portion
The Lord is my Shepherd
The Lord is my light and my salvation
Lord, let me know my end
As a deer longs for flowing streams
Why are you cast down, O my soul
God is our refuge and strength
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
You who live in the shelter of the Most High
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O give thanks to the Lord
The Lord has heard my voice
Open the gates of righteousness
I lift up my eyes to the hills
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord
O Lord, you have searched me and known me
I will extol you, my God and King
Praise the Lord, O my soul!

Psalm 16:5–1
Psalm 23
Psalm 27:1, 4–9a, 13–14
Psalm 39:4–5, 12
Psalm 42:1–6a
Psalm 43
Psalm 46:1–5, 10–11
Psalm 90:1–10, 12
Psalm 91
Psalm 103
Psalm 106:1–5
Psalm 116:1–9, 15
Psalm 118
Psalm 121
Psalm 130
Psalm 139:1–12
Psalm 145
Psalm 146

New Testament Scripture:

The Beatitudes
Remember me when you come into heaven
For God so loved the world
I know he will rise again in the resurrection
Do not let your hearts be troubled
All led by Spirit of God are sons and daughters
Nothing can separate us from the love of God
We do not live to ourselves
Where, O death, is your victory?
A house eternal in the heavens
Rejoice in the Lord always
God will bring with him those who have died
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth

Matthew 5:1–12a
Luke 23:33, 39–43
John 3:16–21
John 11:17–27
John 14
Romans 8:14–25
Romans 8:31–35
Romans 14:7–9
1 Corinthians 15:20–26, 35–38, 42–44, 53–58
2 Corinthians 4:16–5:1
Philippians 4:4–9
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Revelation 21:1–4 22–25, 22:3–5

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