Our Saviour teaches us in the nineteenth chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew that marriage is a holy covenant, which cannot be set aside by men at will: "And there came unto Him Pharisees, trying Him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? and He answered and said, Have ye not read, that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh? So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

The Minister shall then say to the Man and the Woman:

Consider these words of the Lord Jesus Christ! Forget not that your marriage covenant, according to God's will, cannot be revoked, and receive with patience and thanksgiving all that may betide you in the providence of God.

The Minister shall then continue:

The Lord be with you and guide you in His truth and fear, now and forevermore.

The Man and the Woman shall kneel, and the Minister shall say:

Let us pray.

Almighty, Eternal God, unchangeable in grace and mercy: We pray Thee to fill the hearts of these Thy servants with Thy Holy Spirit, and graciously to bestow upon them every spiritual and temporal blessing. Bless the solemn covenant which they now have made before Thee, that loyalty and happiness may ever abide in their home, that unity and love may lighten their labors, (and that a virtuous posterity may cheer their declining years). Merciful God, hear their prayers, and be their very present help when they call upon Thee. Guide them with Thy counsel, that when their pilgrimage is ended they may be received into the Father's house of many mansions, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

God Almighty send His light and truth to keep you all the days of your life. The hand of God protect you. His holy angels accompany you. God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit cause His grace to be mighty upon you. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in heaven: Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

and give you peace.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I. Service at the House

When a brief service is held at the House before going to the Church or to the Grave, a Hymn may be sung, followed by a Prayer or a Collect.

II. Service at the Church

The Service shall begin with an appropriate Hymn.

Then shall be read from the Altar one or more of the following Scripture selections:

Psalm 130; Psalm 90; 1 Th. 4. 13-18; 1 Cor. 15. 12-26, 35-38; John 11. 21-27; Luke 7. 11-15; Matt. 9. 18, 19, 23-26.

Then the Minister shall turn to the Altar and pray:

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who by Thy Son hast promised us forgiveness of sin and deliverance from everlasting death: Strengthen us, we beseech Thee, by Thy Holy Spirit, that our trust in Thy grace in Christ Jesus may daily increase. Grant that with sure confidence we may hold fast the blessed hope that we shall not die, but only sleep, and at the last day be raised up unto eternal life, through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Then shall be sung a Hymn or an Anthem, after which shall follow the Sermon.

The Sermon

After the Sermon the Minister shall pray as follows:

O Lord God, heavenly Father, Thou Who didst not spare Thine onlybegotten Son, but hast given Him for us all: We most heartily thank Thee that through His burial our graves have been hallowed as places of rest. Grant us, we pray Thee, that He may so abide in our hearts that after the sufferings of this present time we may rest in peace, looking for a blessed resurrection: through the same Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Church Service may close with a Hymn.

Or, it may conclude with the Altar Service which follows.

Or, when the Body is committed in the Church, the Service at the Grave, as far as the Benediction, is read at this point, concluding with the Lord's Prayer.

The Salutation

A short Hymn is then sung, during which the Minister proceeds to the Altar. The singing ended, the Minister shall turn to the Congregation and sing or say:

The Minister shall turn to the Altar and say the following prayer:

O Lord God, Who, on account of sin, turnest man to destruction, so teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom. Grant us a true faith in Thy Son, Jesus Christ, Who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification, and liveth forever. Give us grace to die daily from sin and so to live in accordance with Thy holy will, that in the hour of death we may be prepared for a blessed departure. Receive then our souls unto Thyself, and suffer our bodies, when they have rested in their graves, to rise on the last day to everlasting life. Amen.

Then, if it be convenient, one or two of the following burial Antiphons may be sung by the Minister and the Congregation:

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Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their la

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bors,

Bow your hearts to God and receive the Benediction.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee.

The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Congregation shall sing:

men.