Need information on how to officiate funeral services?

Question

i am a minister, i need to know how to run funeral services

Answer 1

It all depends on what type of minister you are, and what type of service is requested.

"Regardless of one's religious affiliation, whether it be Christian or non-Christian, it is customary to hold a funeral service or ceremony of some type, with the remains present, as a means of giving testimony to a life that was lived. If one does not profess a specific religious belief, he/she may wish to consider having what is called a "humanistic" or "secular service". Generally, a Roman Catholic service will be held in a church, while persons of other denominations may elect to hold services in a Church, or Chapel located in a Funeral Home or Resident Care Facility.

The scheduling of the service will be contingent upon the schedule of the officiating clergy. It is customary to hold Catholic services in the morning while services for other denominations such as Protestant  may be held either in the morning or afternoon. The funeral service may be designed by the family in consultation with the Clergy, Funeral Director and/or members of any fraternal organization or military, if applicable. Many families will simply request the traditional burial service found in the prayer book with appropriate hymns, while others will include rites and customs of other organizations as part of the service. Some families also elect to have a personalized program printed and distributed at the church or chapel outlining the service along with hymns, poems or any other script that had special meaning to the deceased.

The funeral service is usually public allowing relatives and friends the opportunity of sharing their feelings of sorrow with the family. However, private services are held but in smaller surroundings like a home or chapel. Pall bearers may be friends or relatives of the family, representatives of the military, church members of the deceased party, Constabulary, or fraternal organizations such as the Prince Hall Masons."

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