Poems & Prayers

Poems & Prayers

Here are some common poems and prayers you may wish to include in the funeral service. You may browse the full listing or click the links below to jump to a specific reading.

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy. 

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive, 
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, 
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

Her Journey

Don’t think of her as gone away 
her journey’s just begun.
Life holds so many facets,
this earth is only one.
Just think of her as resting 
from the sorrows and the tears,
in a place of warmth and comfort 
where there are no days or years.
Think how she must be wishing 
that we could know today,
how nothing but our sadness 
can really pass away.
And think of her as living 
in the hearts of those she touched,
for nothing loved is ever lost 
and she was loved so much.

23rd Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Afterglow

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one
I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. 
I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways
of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. 
I’d like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun 
of happy memories that I leave behind when day is done.

I'm Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free,
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard his call,
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I've found that peace at the close of the day.

If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My Life's been full, I savoured much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch,

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me,
God wanted me now, He set me free.

Autumn Rain

Do not stand at my grave and weep 
I am not there. I do not sleep. 
I am a thousand winds that blow. 
I am the diamond glints on snow. 
I am the sunlight on ripened grain. 
I am the gentle autumn rain. 
When you awaken in the morning's hush 
I am the swift uplifting rush 
Of quiet birds in circled flight. 
I am the soft stars that shine at night. 
Do not stand at my grave and cry; 
I am not there. I did not die. 

A True Fisherman

A true fisherman knows when and where the fish are biting.
He rises up early in the morning,
plying the water for that elusive catch,
waiting in the stillness for a nibble.
A slight twitch in the line,
expertly he reels it in.
A good fisherman knows a keeper
when he sees one, he knows when to toss one back,
and when to head for home.  

Fill Not Your Heart

Fill not your heart with pain and sorrow, 
but remember me in every tomorrow.
Remember the joy, the laughter, the smiles, 
I've only gone to rest a little while.

Although my leaving causes pain and grief, 
my going has eased my hurt and given me relief.

So dry your eyes and remember me
not as I am now, but as I use to be.

Because I will remember you all and look on with a smile, 
Understand, in your hearts, I've only gone to rest a little while.
As long as I have the love of each of you, 
I can live my life in the hearts of all of you. 

Dad

Do you know our pain?
Do you know our hearts are breaking? 
Our childhood years with fun and games. 
Our adult lives sometimes brought pain. 
You were there when you were needed. 
Your love for us was all we needed.
Now you're gone and we're still here. 
We'll miss you more each passing year.
Our hearts are heavy filled with pain.
Life will never be the same.
We saw a rainbow bright and clear.
We hope that means you're staying near.
If w could have just one more day.
We'd tell you all we didn't say.
We'd tell you how we love you dear.
And how we wish that you were here.
And when our saddest days are done.
One day we'll look and see the sun.
Maybe see a bright blue sky.
A river gently flowing by.
Thoughts of you will ease our pain.
We'll remember you and smile again.

God's Garden

God looked around his garden
And found an empty place, 
He then looked down upon the earth
And saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you
And lifted you to rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering
He knew you were in pain.
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough
And the hills were hard to climb.
So he closed your weary eyelids
And whispered, ‘Peace bethine’.
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn’t go alone, 
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home. 

Safely Home

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh, so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.

All pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly
Trod the valley of the shade'
Oh! But Jesus’ love illumined
Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me 
In that way so hard to tread;
And with Jesus’ arm to lean on,
Could I have one doubt, dread'

Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still:
Try to look beyond earth’s shadows,
Pray to trust our Father’s will.

There is work still waiting for you, 
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now, while life remaineth
You shall rest in Jesus’ land.

When the work is all completed,
He will gently call you home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
Oh, the joy to see you come!

Share by: