Order of Service Templates – Wording Examples to Guide You
Putting together an order of service can feel like an enormous responsibility when you are grieving. It is a final farewell, a way to honour someone you love, and a guide for your guests through the farewell you have planned.
You do not need to start from a blank page. The gentle structure below offers a framework you can follow, with sample lines you are free to borrow, adapt, or set aside as feels right to you. There is no single correct way — only the way that fits the person you are remembering.
The Beginning: Welcome and Setting the Tone
The opening of the service welcomes everyone and sets the atmosphere. You might choose a few quiet words, a moment of reflection, or a statement of intent for the gathering. It is perfectly fine to keep this brief and simple.
You may like to acknowledge the weight of the occasion without trying to lift it. Grief belongs in the room, and naming it gently can help everyone feel more settled to be present together.
Welcome. We gather today to remember and celebrate the life of [Full Name].
Please join us for a moment of quiet reflection as we prepare to say goodbye to someone dearly loved.
We come together in sorrow and in gratitude — to mourn [Name]'s passing and to give thanks for the life they lived.
The Heart of the Service: Readings, Music, and Words
This central section holds the elements that tell the story of a life. You might include poems, religious or non-religious readings, song lyrics, a eulogy, or tributes from family and friends. Listing each item with its title encourages guests to find their place.
If a family member or friend is speaking, naming them in the programme can be a quiet vote of confidence. For those reading unfamiliar words, seeing a speaker's name can also soften the walk to the lectern. If someone finds they cannot speak on the day, a celebrant can step in with no pause.
Opening Music: [Song title] by [Artist]
Tribute and Memories — [Name of speaker]
Reading: [Poem or passage title] by [Author], read by [Name]
Reflection — Celebrant [Name]
Hymn: [Title], sung by all who are able
A Moment of Personal Reflection or Participation
Many services include a moment where everyone can take part, in silence or with a small action. This might be a pause for private thoughts, the lighting of a candle, writing a memory to place on a board, or joining in a familiar phrase or prayer.
Describing this moment clearly in the order of service helps people understand what to expect, especially if they are unsure of what to do. The emphasis is not on getting everything perfect, but on creating shared stillness.
As we listen to the music, you are invited to light a candle in memory of [Name] — or simply sit with your own thoughts.
Please take a moment to write a favourite memory of [Name] on the cards provided. These will be collected and treasured by the family.
Let us share a moment of quiet together now, each in our own way, remembering the person [Name] was to us.
The Close: Committal and Farewell
Endings matter. The close of the service may include a formal committal, words of farewell, or closing music that accompanies the final goodbye. Whether the committal takes place at a crematorium or a graveside, the language you choose can reassure people that the one they loved is being honoured to the very last.
It can help to tell guests what comes next, for example if there is an invitation to gather afterwards. Clarity about practical arrangements removes small uncertainties at an emotional time.
Committal Music: [Song title] by [Artist]
The Committal — Celebrant [Name]
Closing Words: Go now in peace, carrying [Name] with you always.
The family warmly invites you to join them for light refreshments at [Venue name and address] following the service.
Donations in memory of [Name] may be left as you leave. The family have chosen [Charity name], a cause close to [Name]'s heart.
The Cover and Final Details: A Keepsake to Hold
The front cover of an order of service booklet becomes something people keep. A photograph, a full name, significant dates and a short line of tribute are all most families need. Inside, you may wish to add a brief thank you from the family, a couple of lines that capture the essence of the person, or the details of a charity chosen for donations.
For the back cover, some find comfort in printing a single line of verse, a silhouette, or a note about the flowers. There are no rules here, only what feels right to you. If choosing a photograph, pick one that looks the way you remember them best.
[Full Name]
[Date of birth] – [Date of death]
Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to so many.
The family would like to thank you for your presence here today and for the kindness shown since [Name]'s passing.
A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered.
We hope these words give you a place to begin. At Grace, you can bring your choices together in your own time to create an order of service booklet that truly honours the person you love, with gentle guidance whenever you need it.
Create an order of service