What are Protestant Funerals Like?

[JonNC]

Lutherans can and do pray for the dead.
https://weedon.blogspot.com/2006/09/prayer-for-dead.html?m=1

And from the Book of Common Prayer (1928).
http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1928/Burial.htm

REMEMBER thy servant, O Lord, according to the favour which thou bearest unto thy people, and grant that, increasing in knowledge and love of thee, he may go from strength to strength, in the life of perfect service, in thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

O GOD, whose mercies cannot be numbered; Accept our prayers on behalf of the soul of thy servant departed, and grant him an entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

[TheLittleLady]

There are no prayers for the dead because we believe they the persons fate is sealed at death.

That is the same as Catholic belief.

We pray for the dead because if they died in friendship with God, there is still some “cleaning up” to do before they can enter heaven.

 

[masuwerte1]

From the Book of Common Prayer (1928):
http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1928/Burial.htm

 

[Gingersnaps4]

I’ve been to many over my lifetime. They usually start out with a visitation prior, where people form a line to comfort and commiserate with the closest relatives in front of the casket, and view the body. It’s the same even with cremation, except there is an urn. There are usually boards on easels covered with pictures of the deceased, or else a slide show on a projector. There is an opening hymn, a prayer, and the sermon is usually about the good points of the person and their belief in God and how we can look forward to seeing them one day. Followed by a eulogy given by one or more of the deceased’s family and friends. Then another hymn and usually a closing prayer, then it is over. This style of funeral happens at funeral homes, mainly, although I have attended similar in bible based churches. I’ve been to an episcopal funeral as well and it did have prayers for the dead as well as communion. I believe there was a sermon too but I’m not sure if I remember it correctly.

 

[Phemie]

Well, to be fair, a lot of Catholics also assume the deceased people they knew and loved, who were good people in life, go to Heaven.

No kidding. One of the intercessions at this past Sunday’s Mass was for the soul of our recently deceased Mayor. Whoever wrote the intercession had added “that his family and friends may be comforted by the knowledge that they will join him in the Heavenly Kingdom”… I was tempted to put a line through “Knowledge” and write in “hope”

 

[Gingersnaps4]

Oh yes and it is also very popular in my area to forgo having a public funeral and instead have a memorial get together after the person has already been buried. At memorials there is usually food and people share stories about the deceased and often do something in memory of them like a balloon release, sing their favorite songs, etc. this is a very nifty way to avoid the awkwardness of a funeral with a minister if the person wasn’t religious and/or didn’t believe in God. I have never in my life been to a funeral with a minister where any doubt was shared about where the person may have ended up. That seems like it would be complete taboo.

 

[GKMotley]

And sometimes, at the funeral Mass, we get the full Dies Irae.

 

[Wannano]

Oh yes and it is also very popular in my area to forgo having a public funeral and instead have a memorial get together after the person has already been buried. At memorials there is usually food and people share stories about the deceased and often do something in memory of them like a balloon release, sing their favorite songs, etc. this is a very nifty way to avoid the awkwardness of a funeral with a minister if the person wasn’t religious and/or didn’t believe in God. I have never in my life been to a funeral with a minister where any doubt was shared about where the person may have ended up. That seems like it would be complete taboo.

I was in attendance at an interesting funeral in an evangelical church for a lapsed Catholic. The minister did not know the man but this is what he said:

"I have often wondered when we have the body laying before us in the casket if the one who died would suddenly come back to life at his own funeral, what he would tell us. Now, I did not know Sam, so I have no knowledge of whether he went to heaven or hell, but this I am sure of, if he went to heaven, he would tell us, “it’s real, read your Bible, pray and serve God.” Also, I believe if he went to hell he would say, “it’s real, read your Bible , pray and serve God.”

 

[Gingersnaps4]

ve often wondered when we have the body laying before us in the casket if the one who died would suddenly come back to life at his own funeral, what he would tell us. Now, I did not know Sam, so I have no knowledge of whether he went to heaven or hell, but this I am sure of, if he went to heaven, he would tell us, “it’s real, read your Bible, pray and serve God.” Also, I believe if he went to hell he would say, “it’s real, read your Bible , pray and serve God.”

That seems like such a perfect thing to say under the circumstances, to me.

 

[Kei]

It’s really not that uncommon for someone to be thought dead but actually come back up.
I have even heard that’s one reason they drain the dead of blood nowadays. Not sure about that though.

 

[Augustinian]

It’s really not that uncommon for someone to be thought dead but actually come back up.

I have even heard that’s one reason they drain the dead of blood nowadays. Not sure about that thoug

Nowadays, I think its pretty uncommon. But back in the day, before they invented the monitor when they can see when you “flatline”, it was not unheard of.

St. Christina reported awoke during her (first) funeral back in the 12th Century.

 

[Reuben_J]

Oh yes and it is also very popular in my area to forgo having a public funeral and instead have a memorial get together after the person has already been buried. At memorials there is usually food and people share stories about the deceased and often do something in memory of them like a balloon release, sing their favorite songs, etc. this is a very nifty way to avoid the awkwardness of a funeral with a minister if the person wasn’t religious and/or didn’t believe in God. I have never in my life been to a funeral with a minister where any doubt was shared about where the person may have ended up. That seems like it would be complete taboo.

Thanks God we never had that experience of being ackward during a Catholic memorial service because, regardless whether he was religious or not, we would just pray for his/her soul.

“May the perpertual light shines on …(his/her name) and may his/her soul rest in peace.”

Rosary is really a beautiful prayer in this situation. We had Protestant families who requested us to do memorial services for their departed and they did not mind Catholic prayesr being said. It is really comforting for the bereaved in such a moment.