Spiritual Exercise Three: Planning Your Funeral
Testifying to the Communion of Saints
Your funeral is not about logistics. It is your final witness to the world.
A Final Gift of Faith
The priest who presides at your funeral may not be the priest who knows you now. The acolytes, the choir, and perhaps even your grandchildren may not yet understand the full depth of your journey. This exercise invites you to tell them who you are in Christ.
“Planning your funeral is not a task of administration; it is an act of evangelism....”
Planning your funeral offer a final opportunity for you to gather those you love—family, friends, and even strangers—and point them toward the Light of Christ.
In our tradition, the burial office is an Easter liturgy. It is characterized by joy, because the victory is already won. By preparing these details now, you are ensuring that your final message to the world is not one of grief, but of profound hope.
By choosing your hymns and readings—and, crucially, by explaining why they matter—you testify that your faith has prepared you to die in hope. Your funeral becomes a final gift: a moment in which your loved ones see that you were held by the Church, and through the Church, by God.
The Word
Scripture & Readings
Which verses have anchored your life? Choosing your readings is a way of saying, "This is the truth I stood upon."
The Song
Music of Hope
Music carries the theology of the heart. Your favorite hymns and songs invite the congregation to sing your faith with you.
The Presence
The Communion of Saints
You are not alone. Your service is a testament that you have already tasted the communion of saints in this life.
Beyond the Checklist (The Exercise)
Leaving a Landmark for the Soul
In our desert landscape, we know the value of a clear landmark—a peak or a mesa that helps us find our way when the trail grows faint. Your funeral is that landmark for those you love.
While many see funeral planning as a matter of logistics, we invite you to go deeper. This is your personal testament. When you choose a passage from Isaiah or a specific Psalm, you are identifying the Bedrock that held you firm during the shifting sands of life. When you choose a hymn, you are offering the Wellspring—the music that refreshed your spirit in the dry seasons.
As you begin your selections, consider:
The Bedrock: Which scripture or scriptures have been the solid ground beneath your feet when everything else felt uncertain?
The Wellspring: Which hymns or melodies have been a source of life and refreshment for your soul?
The Horizon: If this service were the only time a stranger saw the horizon of your faith, what would your choices tell them about the Resurrection?
A Pastoral Note:
You may find the decisions necessary for your service overwhelming. If so, seek guidance from your priest who can assist you and answer any questions you may have.
[Button: Download the Funeral Planning Guide (PDF)]