Funerals
Our Locum Minister is available to all and any in the Parish in times of bereavement, to conduct a Christian funeral service, and to seek to offer support and prayers.
If you are in the sad position of anticipating the death of a loved one [especially if they are not known to the Minister], you are welcome to contact our Session Clerk (Ralph Boettcher on 0141 637 2965) in order that a visit can be arranged for your loved one.
As soon as we are informed of a death, the family will be visited promptly. The Funeral Director engaged by the family will contact us to discuss initial plans for a service day and time. The Funeral Director is central to all these plans, and co-ordinates the arrangements with the family, the Crematorium or Cemetery, and Minister. Services should not be booked without the Funeral Director confirming the availability of the Minister, as there are times when the Minister cannot change items in his diary – for example, when another funeral has already been booked.
There is no charge for the services of the Minister. If use of the Church is requested, there is no charge for this, but fees for Church officer, cleaner and organist apply. These can be settled directly or may be collected by the Funeral Director.
Hymns and Choruses for during the Service
The following is a list of hymns and choruses that may be used in a funeral service. This is not a complete list, as there are many, many others that might well be appropriate. Also, some of the items in this list will not be appropriate in every situation. Some hymns incorporate a tone of thanksgiving and celebration which may be very suitable for a family giving thanks for a good long life, but may be entirely unsuitable for a family coping with the sudden loss of a younger person. For hymns with several verses, it is not essential to sing all verses.
For services at Linn Crematorium, please note the hymnbooks at The Linn are CH3 and their additional supplementary book.
For services in Merrylea Church, we have CH4 and Mission Praise. If screens are being used in the service [not often chosen for a funeral, but a possibility if desired] hymns and songs from outwith these hymnbooks can easily be shown.
Hymns from The Church Hymnary CH3
6 Thy mercy Lord is in the heavens (Ps 36:5-9)
73 I waited for the Lord my God (Ps 40:1-4)
79 Just as I am
80 Lord Jesus, think on me
102 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place (Ps 90:1,2,14,16,17)
116 Come, gracious Spirit, heavenly Dove
121 Thou art the Way : to thee alone
138 How excellent in all the earth (Ps 8:1,3-5)
223 O Lord, how deep, how broad, how high!
265 The Lord is risen indeed
288 The eternal gates are lifted up
296 Rejoice, the Lord is King
351 O thou my soul, bless God the Lord (Ps 103:1-50)
360 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven
363 Ye holy angels bright
368 Now thank we all our God
371 O for a thousand tongues, to sing
387 The Lord’s my shepherd.
388 The King of Love my Shepherd is
396 Behold the amazing gift of love
413 Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
433 God be in my head, and in my understanding
530 Blest be the everlasting God
534 For all the saints who from their labours rest
535 O what their joy and their glory must be
538 For those we love within the veil
543 Let saints on earth in concert sing
603 Such pity as a father hath
604 Go, happy soul, thy days are ended
605 Jesus lives! thy terrors now
606 O Lord of life, where’er they be
607 God of the living, in whose eyes
608 There is a blest home beyond this land of woe
646 The Day Thou gavest
695 Abide with me
Church Hymnary 4 contains many of the items above but also includes the following :
725 Today I live, one day shall come my death
726 When we are living, we are in the Lord
727 In the bulb there is a flower
728 God of the living, in whose eyes
729 Hear me, dear lord, in this my time of sorrow
730 From the falter of breath
731 When grief is raw and music goes unheard
732 When Jesus longed for us to know
733 We cannot care for you the way we wanted
734 O Christ you wept when grief was raw
735 Go, silent friend, your life has found its ending
736 Give thanks for life
Mission Praise
4 Abide with me
14 All heaven declares
16 All my hope on God is founded
20 All people that on earth do dwell
25 All to Jesus I surrender
31 Amazing grace
33 And can it be
38 As we are gathered Jesus is here
45 At your feet we fall
48 Be still and know that I am god
50 Be still for the presence of the Lord
51 Be Thou my vision
52 God sent His Son [Because he lives I can face tomorrow]
59 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
73 Christ is made the sure foundation
77 Christ triumphant, ever reigning
85 Come and see
94 Come let us sing of a wonderful love
109 Crown him with many crowns
111 Dear Lord and Father of mankind
115 Do not be afraid
121 Emmanuel
122 Eternal Father strong to save
133 Father I place into your hands
135 Father in heaven how we love you
155 For this purpose Christ was revealed
170 Give thanks with a grateful heart
200 Great is Thy faithfulness
201 Guide me O Thou great Jehovah
222 He was pierced for our transgressions
237 Holy, Holy, Holy.
241 Holy Spirit we welcome You
247 How lovely is Thy dwelling-place
251 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
254 I am a new creation
263 I am weak but Thou art strong
264 I believe in Jesus
266 I cannot tell why/how
269 I do not know what lies ahead
275 I heard the voice of Jesus say
288 I need Thee every hour
295 I serve a risen Saviour
296 I stand amazed in the presence
307 I will enter his gates
308 I will give thanks to Thee
315 I will sing the wondrous story
319 I’d rather have Jesus
325 I’m special because God has loved me
331 In heavenly love abiding
333 In loving-kindness Jesus came
334 In moments like these
366 Jesus is King
396 Just as I am
428 Lord for the years
445 Lord the light [Shine, Jesus shine]
449 Love Divine
453 Low in the grave He lay
456 Make me a channel of your peace
473 My hope is built on nothing less
482 Nearer my God to Thee
494 O for a closer walk with God
498 O God our help in ages past
499 O happy day!
501 O Jesus I have promised
502 O let the Son of God enfold you
506 O Lord my God [How great Thou art]
515 O love that wilt not let me go
517 O perfect love
520 O sacred head, once wounded
536 On a hill far away [The old rugged cross]
540 One day when heaven [Living, he loved me…]
543 Onward Christian soldiers
549 Our eyes have seen the glory
565 Praise you Lord for the wonder of your healing
582 Rock of ages
584 Saviour again to Thy dear name we raise
605 Soon and very soon
613 Spirit of the living God
617 Stand up! Stand up for Jesus!
619 Such love
628 Tell me the old, old story
630 Tell my people I love them
641 The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended
649 The King of love my Shepherd is
660 The Lord’s my Shepherd
673 There is a Redeemer
678 There’s a quiet understanding
685 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord
689 Thine be the glory
704 Through the love of God our Saviour
705 Thy hand, O God has guided
708 To God be the glory
712 O soul are you weary and troubled [Turn your eyes upon Jesus]
730 We have heard a joyful sound : Jesus saves!
746 What a friend we have in Jesus
748 What a wonderful change
754 When I look into your holiness
755 When I survey the wondrous cross
757 When peace like a river [It is well with my soul]
759 When the trumpet of the Lord [When the roll is called up yonder]
760 When we walk with the Lord [Trust and obey]
765 Who can cheer the heart like Jesus
770 Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?
784 Ye servants of God
795 You laid aside your majesty
Other sources
My Jesus, My Saviour
Faithful One, so unchanging
Index of first lines from Linn Crematorium Book
30 Abide with me
7 Amazing Grace
24 Bind us together, Lord
9 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
1 By cool Siloam’s shady rill
12 Do not be afraid
25 God be with you till we meet again
19 Great is thy faithfulness
21 Hail Queen of heaven, the ocean star
15 How lovely on the mountains (Our God reigns)
13 I’ll sing a hymn to Mary
27 I am weak but Thou art strong (Just a closer walk with thee)
5 I need thee every hour
29 I watch the sunrise
11 Lord, the light of your love is shining
22 Make me a channel of your peace
14 Morning has broken
8 O Lord my God (Hoe great Thou art)
28 O Perfect Love
3 On a hill far away
2 Safe in the arms of Jesus
16 Seek ye first
17 Shall we gather at the river
31 The Lord’s my Shepherd
6 There is a happy land
10 There’s a Land that is Fairer than Day
20 There is a Redeemer
26 To God be the glory
23 Walk with me
4 What a friend we have in Jesus
18 When the trumpet of the Lord