Description:
In the event of the death of a resident, a long-term care facility may choose to offer a memorial service for the staff, residents and family members to participate in. In the following material a sample invocation and benediction is included, along with a generic announcement to be used on the bulletin boards of the facility, a “Sample Letter to Friends and Family,” and generic Memorial Service Programs. The programs (or service bulletins) offer a format for a service including an invocation, a popular hymn, a responsive reading, a time of reflection on the lives of those who have passed, an appropriate poem and a benediction.
By using these materials and following the simple programs provided, a staff member, a capable resident or a volunteer from the Christian community can conduct the memorial service. The “Sample Notice to Staff and Residents” can be copied and used to invite them to join in the memorial. Copy and use the “Sample Letter to Friends and Family” to invite the loved ones of the deceased to the service.
Memorial Service Invocation Prayer:
Heavenly Father, We set ourselves aside in these moments, before Your Presence, To commemorate the lives of these, our friends and family. We ask you for comfort in this time of loss. May the good memories of our loved ones who have gone before us serve to inspire us here to a better life in Your sight and before our fellow man. Thank you Lord,
Amen.
Memorial Service Benediction Prayer:
Father God, Truly, You are the Hope of life and we acknowledge Your Providence and Care In the lives of these our loved ones. We thank you for letting us be near them and to know them. We thank You for their lives. And we now commit them into Your loving Hands.
Amen.
Sample Notice of a Memorial Service To Staff and Residents
TO: All Staff and Residents
FROM: Activities Department
DATE: xx/xx/xx
R. E: Memorial Service
A brief Memorial Service will be conducted in the dining room, Tuesday, August 19, XXXX at 2:00 PM. This will be a time of reflection on the memories of those residents who have passed away recently.
This commemoration will be conducted by the Activities Department. The service will last approximately fifteen minutes. All residents, staff members, and friends and family of the deceased are encouraged to attend.
Thank you.
[Activity Director]
Sample Letter to Friends and Family for Memorial Service
xx/xx/xx
Dear (friend or relative of deceased):
– facility name – will hold a brief memorial service for all the residents that have passed away in the recent months. – resident’s name – will be remembered on Tuesday, August 19, XXXX at 2:00 PM in the dining room. This service is conducted by the Activities Department.
We know that it helps to share with others who understand and care about your sorrow; therefore, friends, residents and staff will be encouraged to attend. Please let me know how many family members and friends you are aware of that would like to attend. Call me at (757) XXX-XXXX.
Sincerely,
John or Jane Doe
Activity Director
Memorial Service Programs
For use in long-term care center memorial services, the following “.pdf” files can be downloaded and copied to be formatted as bulletin style programs. They are actually four “service programs” (front and back — an 8 1/2 by 11 page folded over) which provide an easy format for a memorial service.
Each program includes an
invocation,
a popular hymn,
a responsive reading,
a time of reflection on the lives of those who have passed,
an appropriate poem and
a benediction.
For a “.pdf” of Four Memorial Service Bulletins Click the “Download” Button Below:
For producing your own memorial service bulletins, if you have the skills, you may wish to fashion the text and clip-art below into your word processor as needed for use in your LTC ministry.
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Below are the contents for the front and back pages of the first Memorial Service Program (8½ X 11 folded over).
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Responsive Reading
As we cry You do not shun us, O God,
In our need, precious Father, You come to us,
Not as a lofty ruler, gazing from on high,
Not as a ghost, gigantic in its outlines!
Father, You come to us as protector of our soul.
You come to us in meekness and tenderness of heart.
As You share our tears You strengthen our hope.
We marvel at Your faithfulness,
For Your Word and Your mercy endure forever.
Only Your Grace is a sufficient answer to our weakness.
You come and teach us love and humble rest
Bringing with You encouragement to our frail faith.
We praise You for Your constant presence in our lives!
Be Forever Mine
by John Newton
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this heart and flesh shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
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Memorial
Service
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Below are the contents for the inside pages of the first Memorial Service Program (8½ X 11 folded over). The instrumental or vocal music for “Amazing Grace” can be found on our CD set for “Favorite Hymns of Grace” – selection number 6 – available free for the asking – click here for more details.
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Amazing Grace
by John Newton
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
Amen.
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Order of Service
Invocation
Song: “Amazing Grace”
Responsive Reading
In Loving Memory of:
Poem: “Be Forever Mine”
Benediction
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Below are the contents for the front and back pages of the second Memorial Service Program (8½ X 11 folded over).
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Responsive Reading
Taken From Psalms 28
Unto thee we will cry, O Lord our rock;
Hear the voice of our supplications, when we cry to Thee.
In times of trouble the Lord is our strength and shield.
We lift our wounded hearts to Him in His presence: Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance, O Lord,
For You are the saving strength of Your anointed.
We trust in You with our heart: You are our only help.
We regard Your works and the operations of Your hands;
Blessed be the Lord, for He hath heard our prayer!
The Lord is our strength!
Surely, the Lord doth build us up!
Therefore, our heart greatly rejoices!
With melodies from our soul we do praise Him!
Don’t Worry, But Pray
by Lissie DeArmond
God knows every heartache, each burden and care,
The troubles and trials often you bear,
His presence is with you each swift passing day
Then trust in His goodness, don’t worry, but pray.
The clouds may hang heavy, no sunshine appear,
Amid the dark shadows the Comforter’s near,
“Fear not, I am with you,” I hear the voice say,
Then trust in His goodness, don’t worry, but pray.
Just pray when you’re weary at heart and oppressed,
Look unto the Savior and you will be blessed,
He knows ev’ry struggle, along the life-way,
Then trust in His goodness, don’t worry, but pray.
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Memorial
Service
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Below are the contents for the inside pages of the second Memorial Service Program (8½ X 11 folded over). The instrumental or vocal music for the first and last stanzas of “What a Friend” can be found on our CD set for “Favorite Hymns of Grace” – selection number 3 – available free for the asking – click here for more details.
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What A Friend
by Joseph Scriven
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Ev’rything to God in prayer!
O What peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Ev’rything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do they friends despise, forsake, thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
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Order of Service
Song: “What A Friend”
Invocation
Responsive Reading
Poem: “Don’t Worry, But Pray”
In Loving Memory of:
Benediction
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Below are the contents for the front and back pages of the third Memorial Service Program (8½ X 11 folded over).
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Responsive Reading
Dear Lord, in our changing world we seek your face; Through the ages you have proven you are ever the same.
Our hope and trust is answered by your everpresent hand.
Through the ages you have proven you are ever the same.
Our breath and our lives are testimonies of your mercy.
Through the ages you have proven you are ever the same.
Though we wander and waver in our faith you find us.
Through the ages you have proven you are ever the same.
With renewed comfort we commit our lives to your grace.
Thy Wings Of Love
by Thomas Moore
O Thou who driest the mourner’s tear,
How dark this world would be,
If, when deceived and wounded here,
We could not fly to thee!
But, thou wilt heal that broken heart,
Which, like the plants that throw
Their fragrance from the wounded part,
Breathes sweetness out of woe.
O who could bear life’s stormy doom
Did not thy wings of love
Come brightly wafting through the gloom
Our peace-branch from above!
Then sorrow, touched by thee, grows bright,
With more than rapture’s ray;
As darkness shows us worlds of light
We never saw by day.
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Memorial
Service
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Below are the contents for the inside pages of the third Memorial Service Program (8½ X 11 folded over). The instrumental or vocal music for “In The Garden” (which includes three stanzas) can be found on our CD set for “Hymns of Our Redeemer” – selection number 13 – available free for the asking – click here for more details.
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In The Garden
by C. Austin Miles
I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear Falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet, the birds hush their singing
And the melody That He gave to me,
Within my heart is ringing.
Chorus
And He walks with me and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share, as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
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Order of Service
Invocation
Song: “In The Garden”
Responsive Reading
In Loving Memory of:
Poem: “Thy Wings Of Love”
Benediction
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Below are the contents for the front and back pages of the fourth Memorial Service Program (8½ X 11 folded over).
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Responsive Reading
The 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.
Yea, 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.
O God, Our Help In Ages Past
by Isaac Watts
O God, our help in ages past,
My hope for years to come,
My shelter from the stormy blast;
And my eternal home!
Under the shadow of thy throne,
Still may I dwell secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And my defense is sure.
O God, our help in ages past,
My hope for years to come,
Be thou my guide while life shall last,
And my eternal home.
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Memorial
Service
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Below are the contents for the inside pages of the fourth Memorial Service Program (8½ X 11 folded over). The instrumental or vocal music for three stanzas of “Tis So Sweet” can be found on our CD set for “Favorite Hymns of Grace” – selection number 12 – available free for the asking – click here for more details.
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‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
by Louisa Stead and W. J. Kirkpatrick
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise;
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
Chorus
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
O for grace to trust Him more!
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Order of Service
Invocation
Song: “‘Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus”
Responsive Reading
In Loving Memory of:
Poem: “O God, Our Help In Ages Past”
Benediction
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