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III. Service at the Grave

The Minister shall throw earth upon the body three times while he says:

Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; Jesus Christ, our Saviour, shall at the latter day raise thee from the dead.

Let us pray:

Almighty, Merciful, and Eternal God! Thou hast by reason of sin appointed unto men once to die; but, that we might not remain forever in the power of death, Thou hast given Thy Son Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, to suffer death for us, and through Him hast taken away the sting of death. Help us ever to remember that we also at Thy good pleasure shall be called hence and our bodies return to dust. Grant us grace to remember that we have not here an abiding city. Teach us to seek the things that are eternal, and so to walk in accordance with Thy Holy will that on the last day we may arise to everlasting life; through Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Or:*

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

daily to die 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.

Or:**

Amen.

O Lord God, Father in heaven. O Lord, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. O Lord, Thou Holy Spirit. Have mercy upon us. In the hour of death, and at the last judgment, help us, merciful Lord God. Amen.

Let us now hear the Word of God concerning death and the resurrection.

Then are read some suitable passages from Scripture, such as those quoted hereafter, as well as suitable hymns or stanzas from the Hymnal.

*This alternative may not be used if an altar service follows.

** Here a Hymn, or part of a Hymn, may be read.

Scripture Selections

But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.-1 TH. 4. 13, 14.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on Me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth on Me shall never die.-JN. 11. 25, 26.

Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.-JN. 5. 28, 29.

Man, that is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.-JOB. 14. 1, 2.

Behold, Thou hast made my days as handbreadths; and my lifetime is as nothing before Thee: surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Surely every man walketh in a vain show; surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in Thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because Thou didst it.-Ps. 39. 5-9.

It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment.— HEB. 9. 27.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.-REV. 14. 13.

Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden my right hand. Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides Thee. My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.-Ps. 73. 23-26.

Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction, and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the

night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.-Ps. 90. 1–6.

For we are consumed in Thine anger, and in Thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in Thy wrath: we bring our years to an end as a sigh.-Ps. 90. 7-9.

The days of our years are threescore years and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years; yet is their pride but labor and sorrow; for it is soon gone, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of Thine anger, and Thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto Thee? So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom.-Ps. 90. 10-12.

He entereth into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walketh in His uprightness. -Is. 57. 2.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.-PHIL. 1. 21.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth Him that sent Me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself, even so gave He to the Son also to have life in Himself. JN. 5. 24-26.

In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.-JN. 14. 2, 3.

Father, I desire that they also whom Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world.-JN. 17. 24.

And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, He that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that dwelleth in you.-Roм. 8. 10, 11.

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified with Him. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward.-Roм. 8. 17, 18.

For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. -ROM. 14. 7-9.

If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable. But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at His coming.-1 COR. 15. 19-23.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law: but thanks be to God, Who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.-1 Cor. 15. 50, 53-57.

Hymnal Selections

For Infants and Young Persons: 599, 607, 608, 609.

For Older Persons and in General: 595, 598, 604, 606.

Thereupon the Minister shall pray:

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 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.

Morning Prayer

I give thanks unto Thee, Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast protected me through the night from all danger and harm. I beseech Thee to preserve and keep me this day also from all sin and evil, that in all my thoughts, words, and deeds, I may serve and please Thee. Into Thy hands I commend my body and soul and all that is mine. Let Thy holy angels have charge concerning me, that the wicked one have no power over me. Amen. LUTHER.

Evening Prayer

I give thanks unto Thee, Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast this day so graciously protected me. I beseech Thee to forgive me all my sins and the wrong which I have done, and by Thy great mercy defend me from all the perils and dangers of this night. Into Thy hands I commend my body and soul and all that is mine. Let Thy holy angels have charge concerning me, that the wicked one have no power over Amen.

me.

LUTHER.

Sunday

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Almighty Father, enter into our midst to-day and fill us with Thyself. Say unto each one of us, "I am thy salvation.' So speak to us that we fail not to hear. Show us Thyself and our need of Thee. Uphold Thy servants who to-day proclaim Thy word in Thy temple and with Thy people worship Thee. Touch the hearts of the hearers so that they may receive and serve Thee. Hear us, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of Thine only begotten Son. Amen. AUGUSTINE.

Monday

Lord God, Heavenly Father, Thou whose will it is that we should love one another, give us grace to love every one we meet in our daily life. We pray Thee to be merciful to all men, but we pray especially for those whom Thy love hath given to us. Though our prayers be weak and faint, do Thou bestow upon them greater blessings than we know how to pray for. For Thy love surpasseth the love of men. Do unto them according to Thy will, that they may always and everywhere be under the shadow of Thy wing. Help them to love Thee, so that they may will and speak and do that which is pleasing in Thy sight. And may they at last attain unto life incorruptible. To Thee be all praise forever.

Amen.

ANSELM.

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