A library of resources for funerals

God Is Working His Purpose Out

Arthur Campbell Ainger (1841-1919)

God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year,
God is working his purpose out, and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

From utmost east to utmost west wheree'er man's foot hath trod,
by the mouth of many messengers goes forth the voice of God,
'Give ear to me, ye continents, ye isles, give ear to me,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.'

What can we do to work God's work, to prosper and increase
the brotherhood of all mankind, the reign of the Prince of Peace?
What can we do to hasten the time, the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea?

March we forth in the strength of God with the banner of Christ unfurled,
That the light of the glorious gospel of truth may shine throughout the world.
Fight we the fight with sorrow and sin, to set their captives free,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

All we can do is nothing worth unless God blesses the deed;
vainly we hope for the harvest-time till God gives life to the seed;
yet nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea

God Moves In A Mysterious Way

William Cowper (1731-1800)

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

God Of All Ages And Lord Of All Time

Philip Coutts

God of all ages and Lord of all time,
Creator of all things in perfect design:
For fields ripe for harvest, for rich golden grain,
For beauty in nature, we thank you again.

God of all nations and Lord of all lands,
Who placed the world's wealth in the palm of our hands,
We pray for your guidance to guard against greed.
Though great the resources, still great is the need.

God of compassion and Lord of all life,
We pray for your people in conflict and strife.
The earth you created a vast treasure store,
Yet hunger still thrives while men fight to gain for.

God of all wisdom, take us by the hand
And insight bestow when we ruin your land.
For rivers polluted, for forests laid bare,
We pray for forgiveness for failing to care.

God of all greatness and giver of light,
With each sunlit morning we worship your might,
Our half-hearted service your only reward:
For love beyond measure, we thank you O Lord.

God of mercy and compassion

Edmund Vaughan (1827-1908)

God of mercy and compassion,
look with pity upon me;
Father, let me call Thee Father,
'tis Thy child returns to thee.
Jesus, Lord, I ask for mercy,
knowing it is not in vain:
all my sins I now detest them,
help me not to sin again.

By my sins I have deserved
death and endless misery,
hell with all its pain and torments,
and for all eternity.
Refrain

By my sins I have abandon’d
Right and claim to heaven above,
where the saints rejoice for ever,
in a boundless sea of love.
Refrain

See our Saviour, bleeding, dying
on the cross of Calvary;
to that cross my sins have nailed Him,
yet He bleeds and dies for me.
Refrain

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour,
Was born upon this day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy!

From God our heavenly Father
A blessèd angel came,
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.
Chorus

The shepherds at these tidings
Rejoicèd much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway
This blessèd Babe to find.
Chorus

But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereat this Infant lay,
They found him in a manger
Where oxen fed on hay;
His mother Mary, kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray.
Chorus

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace.
The holy tide of Christmas
All others doth efface.
Chorus

God Sent His Son, They Called Him Jesus

Gloria L Gaither (born 1942) and William J Gaither (born 1936)

God sent his Son, they called Him Jesus;
He came to love, heal, and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Saviour lives.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow;
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a new-born baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.
Refrain

And then one day I'll cross the river;
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.
Refrain

God That Madest Earth And Heaven

Reginald Heber (1783-1826), Richard Whately (1787-1863)

God that madest earth and heaven,
darkness and light;
who the day for toil hast given,
for rest the night;
may thine angel-guards defend us,
slumber sweet thy mercy send us,
holy dreams and hopes attend us,
this livelong night.

Guard us waking, guard us sleeping,
and, when we die,
may we in thy mighty keeping
all peaceful lie:
when the last dread call shall wake us,
do not thou our God forsake us,
but to reign in glory take us
with thee on high.

God’s Spirit is in my heart

Hubert J Richards (born 1921) based on Luke 4: 18, in the version by Alan Taylor Dale

God's Spirit is in my heart,
he has called me and set me apart,
this is what I have to do,
what I have to do.
He sent me to give the good news to the poor,
tell prisoners that they are prisoners no more;
tell blind people that they can see,
and set the down-trodden free,
and go tell everyone
the news that the kingdom of God has come,
and go tell everyone
the news that God's kingdom has come.

Just as the Father sent me
so I'm sending you out to be
my witnesses throughout the world,
the whole of the world.
Chorus

Don't carry a load in your pack,
you don't need two shirts on your back;
a workman can earn his own keep,
can earn his own keep.
Chorus

Don't worry what you have to say,
don't worry because on that day
God's Spirit will speak in your heart,
will speak in your heart.
Chorus

Going Home, Moving On

Michael L Forster (born 1946)

Going home, moving on,
through God's open door;
hush, my soul, have no fear,
Christ has gone before.
Parting hurts, love protests,
pain is not denied;
yet, in Christ, life and hope
span the great divide.
Going home, moving on,
through God's open door;
hush, my soul, have no fear,
Christ has gone before,
Christ has gone before.

No more guilt, no more fear,
all the past is healed:
broken dreams now restored,
perfect grace revealed.
Christ has died, Christ is ris'n,
Christ will come again:
death destroyed, life restored,
love alone shall reign.
Going home, moving on,
through God's open door;
hush, my soul, have no fear,
Christ has gone before,
Christ has gone before.

Going home

Going home, going home,
I’m a going home,
Quiet like, some still day,
I’m just going home
It’s not far, just close by,
through an open door
Work all done, care laid by,
going to fear no more
Mother’s there expecting me,
father’s waiting too.
Lots of folk gathered there,
all the friends I knew,
All the friends I knew.

Morning star lights the way
restless dreams all done.
Shadows gone, break of day,
Real life just begun,
There’s no break, there’s no end,
Just a living on,
Wide awake with a smile,
Going on and on.
Going home, going home
I’m just going home,
It’s not far, just close by
Through an open door,
I’m just going home

Good King Wenceslas looked out

John M Neale (1818-1866)

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even;
Brightly shone the moon that night,
Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
Gath'ring winter fuel.

Hither, page, and stand by me;
If thou know'st it, telling-
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?'
'Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence,
By Saint Agnes' fountain.'

Bring me flesh, and bring me wine!
Bring me pine logs hither!
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear them thither.'
Page and monarch forth they went,
Forth they went together,
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather.

Sire, the night is darker now,
And the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer.'
'Mark my footsteps, good my page,
Tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.'

In his master's steps he trod,
Where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod
Which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.

Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost

Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885)

Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost,
taught by thee, we covet most
of thy gifts at Pentecost,
holy, heavenly love.

Faith that mountains could remove,
tongues of earth or heaven above,
knowledge, all things, empty prove
without heavenly love.

Love is kind, and suffers long,
love is meek, and thinks no wrong,
love than death itself more strong;
therefore give us love.

Though I as a martyr bleed,
give my goods the poor to feed,
all is vain, if love I need;
therefore give me love.

Prophecy will fade away,
melting in the light of day;
love will ever with us stay;
therefore give us love.

Faith will vanish into sight,
hope be emptied in delight.
love in heaven will shine more bright;
therefore give us love.

7Faith and hope and love we see
joining hand in hand agree;
but the greatest of the three,
and the best, is love.

8From the overshadowing
of thy gold and silver wing
shed on us, who to thee sing,
holy, heavenly love.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness, O God My Father

Thomas O Chisholm (1866-1960)

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not,
as thou hast been thou for ever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided -
great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Summer and winter, and spring-time and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Chorus

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Chorus

Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer

William Williams (1717 – 1791)

Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore.

Open now the crystal fountain
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fiery cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death, and hell’s destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side
songs and praises
I will ever give to thee.

Hail, Queen Of Heaven, The Ocean Star

Hermann the Lame (1013-1054) tr John Lingard (1771-1851)

Hail, Queen of heaven, the ocean star;
guide of the wanderer here below;
thrown on life's surge, we claim thy care:
save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, star of the sea,
pray for the wanderer, pray for me.

O gentle, chaste and spotless maid,
we sinners make our prayers through thee';
remind thy Son that he has paid
the price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, star of the sea,
pray for the sinner, pray for me.

Sojourners in this vale of tears,
to thee, blest advocate, we cry:
pity our sorrows, calm our fears,
and soothe with hope and misery.
Refuge in grief, star of the sea,
pray for the mourner, pray for me.

And while to him who reigns above,
in godhead one, in persons three,
the source of life, of grace, of love,
homage we pay on bended knee,
do thou, bright Queen, star of the sea,
pray for thy children, pray for me.

Hail, glorious Saint Patrick

Sister Agnes

Hail, glorious Saint Patrick, dear saint of our isle,
on us thy poor children bestow a sweet smile;
and now thou art high in the mansions above,
on Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.
On Erin's green valleys, on Erin's green valleys,
on Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

Hail, glorious Saint Patrick! thy words were once strong
against Satan's wiles and an infidel throng;
not less is thy might where in heaven thou art;
O, come to our aid, in our battle take part.
Chorus

In the war against sin, in the fight for the faith,
dear saint, may thy children resist unto death;
may their strength be in meekness, in penance, in prayer,
Their banner the Cross which they glory to bear.
Chorus

Thy people, now exiles on many a shore,
shall love and revere thee till time be no more;
and the fire thou hast kindled shall ever burn bright,
Its warmth undiminished, undying its light.
Chorus

Ever bless and defend the sweet land of our birth,
where the shamrock still blooms as when thou wert on earth,
and our hearts shall yet burn, wheresoever we roam,
For God and Saint Patrick, and our native home.
Chorus

Hark,! Hark, My Soul! Angelic Songs Are Swelling

Frederick William Faber (1814-1863)

Hark,! hark, my soul! angelic songs are swelling
o'er earth's green fields and ocean's wave-beat shore:
how sweet the truth those blessèd strains are telling
of that new life when sin shall be no more!
Angels of Jesus, angels of light,
singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night!

Onward we go, for still we hear them singing,
'Come, weary souls, for Jesus bids you come,'
And through the dark, its echoes sweetly ringing,
the music of the Gospel leads us home.
Chorus.

Far, far away, like bells at evening pealing,
the voice of Jesus sounds o'er land and sea,
and laden souls by thousands meekly stealing,
kind Shepherd, turn their weary steps to thee.
Chorus.

Rest comes at length: though life be long and dreary,
the day must dawn, and darksome night be past;
faith's journey ends in welcome to the weary,
and heaven, the heart's true home, will come at last.
Chorus.

Angels, sing on, your faithful watches keeping,
sing us sweet fragments of the songs above;
till morning's joy shall end the night of weeping,
and life's long shadows break in cloudless love.
Chorus.

Hark, My Soul! It Is The Lord

William Cowper (1731-1800)

Hark, my soul! It is the Lord;
'Tis thy Saviour, hear his word;
Jesus speaks, and speaks to thee:
'Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou me?

I delivered thee when bound,
And, when bleeding, healed thy wound;
Sought thee wandering, set thee right,
Turned thy darkness into light.

Can a woman's tender care
Cease toward the child she bare?
Yes, she may forgetful be,
Yet will I remember thee.

Mine is an unchanging love,
Higher than the heights above,
Deeper than the depths beneath,
Free and faithful, strong as death.

Thou shalt see my glory soon,
When the work of grace is done;
Partner of my throne shalt be;
Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou me?'

Lord, it is my chief complaint
That my love is weak and faint;
Yet I love thee, and adore;
O for grace to love thee more!

Hark, The Herald-Angels Sing

Charles Wesley, (1707-1788), George Whitfield (1714-1770), Martin Madan (1726-1790)

Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,
'Christ is born in Bethlehem.'
Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see:
hail, the incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace:
hail, the Sun of Righteousness.
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth.
Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

He Who Would Valiant Be

Percy Dearmer (1867-1936) after John Bunyan (1628-1688)

He who would valiant be
'Gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy
Follow the Master.
There's no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.

Who so beset him round
With dismal stories,
Do but themselves confound -
His strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might,
Though he with giants fight:
He will make good his right
To be a pilgrim.

Since, Lord, thou dost defend
Us with thy Spirit,
We know we at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away!
I'll fear not what men say,
I'll labour night and day
To be a pilgrim.

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Resources for funerals

Browse Hymns, Songs, Poems, Readings, Imagery and Literature

God Is Working His Purpose Out

God Moves In A Mysterious Way

God Of All Ages And Lord Of All Time

God of mercy and compassion

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

God Sent His Son, They Called Him Jesus

God That Madest Earth And Heaven

God’s Spirit is in my heart

Going Home, Moving On

Going home

Good King Wenceslas looked out

Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost

Great Is Thy Faithfulness, O God My Father

Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer

Hail, Queen Of Heaven, The Ocean Star

Hail, glorious Saint Patrick

Hark,! Hark, My Soul! Angelic Songs Are Swelling

Hark, My Soul! It Is The Lord

Hark, The Herald-Angels Sing

He Who Would Valiant Be