Sample Clergy Service

" A few who have watched him sail away

will miss his craft from the busy bay

Some loving souls his heart held dear

In silent sorrow will shed a tear

But he has peacefully furled his sail

In moorings sheltered from storm or gale

And greeted the friends who have sailed before

O'er the unknown Sea to the Unseen Shore "

Scattering ashes at sea

If ashes are consigned to the ship to be scattered at sea the wishes of the consignors should be complied with as reverently as possible. The Committal service has already been performed by the appropriate religious body and does not need to be repeated. However, if it is generally felt that there should be some acknowledgment of the solemnity of the occasion and in the absence of other instructions there is no objection to the use of the burial services.

Honoring Those Who Served Our Country The rendering of Military Funeral Honors is a way to show the Nation's deep gratitude to those who, in times of war and peace, have faithfully defended our country. This ceremonial paying respect is the final demonstration a grateful Nation can provide to the veterans' families. Burial at sea is an increasingly accepted and preferred method of interment. Many spouses are now considering burial at sea as an affordable, thoughtful, reasonable and timely solution. The National Cemetery Administration cannot provide burial at sea. A recent newspaper article stated As more and more aging military veterans die each day, their families are discovering there is a final stinging indignity. There are not enough places to bury their bodies. Many aging spouses find themselves storing away their husband's ashes in small brown boxes, waiting for the time they can be buried nearby. Unfortunately the fight to greatly expand the national veterans'Here follows two short forms of service approved by the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Churches respectively for the Burial of the Dead at Sea.

A short form of Protestant service

MASTER: Let us pray.

We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord.

PSALM 23
The Lord is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing, He shall feed me in a green pasture, and lead me forth besides the waters of comfort.

He shall convert my soul; and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for His Name's sake.

Yes, 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 comfort me.

Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me; thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full. But thy loving kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

MASTER: For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God to take unto himself the soul of our dear brother/sister here departed, we therefore commit his/her body (ashes) to the deep in sure and certain hopes of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(The body is then lowered into the sea, or the ashes are scattered)

I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me: from henceforth blessed are the dead which die in the Lord; even so saith the Spirit; for they rest from their labors .

Let us pray.

Most merciful father we beseech thee of thine infinite goodness to give us grace to live in thy fear and love and to die in thy favor, that when the judgment shall come we may be found acceptable in thy sight through the love of thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

PRESENT: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

MASTER: The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

OR

A short form of Roman Catholic Service from the Catholic Seafarers Prayer Book 1977

MASTER: Let us pray.

It is our solemn duty to commit to the sea this mortal body (these ashes). As we do so, we call trustfully upon God from whom all creation has life. May He in due time, by His power, bring to resurrection with all the saints, the body of this our brother /sister, may God unite his/her soul with those of all the saints and faithful departed, may he/she be given a merciful judgment, so that redeemed from death, freed from punishment, reconciled to the Father, carried in the arms of the Good Shepherd, he/she may deserve to enter fully into everlasting happiness in the company of the eternal King together with all the saints.

(There follows a short period of silent prayer)

From the depths I call to you Lord, Lord listen to my cry for help!
Listen compassionately to my pleading!

If you never overlooked our sins Lord,
Lord, could anyone survive?
But you do forgive us;
And for that we revere you;

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits for him,
I rely on his promise, my soul relies on the Lord
more than a watchman on the coming of dawn.

Let Israel rely on the Lord,
as much as the watchman on the dawn!
For it is with the Lord that mercy is to be found,
and a generous redemption;

It is he who redeems Israel from all their sins.

(The body is then lowered into the sea, or the ashes scattered)

It has pleased Almighty God to call our brother/sister from this life to himself. Accordingly we commit his/her body (ashes) to the sea. Since Christ, the first fruits of the dead, had risen again and will refashion our frail body in the pattern of His glorious risen body, we commend our brother/sister to the Lord. May he embrace him/her in his peace and bring his/her body to life again on the last day.

May his/her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen

PRESENT: The Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven Hallowed by thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil. Amen.

MASTER: Grant, O God, that while we lament the departure of this Your servant, we may always remember that we are most certainly to follow him/her. Help us to prepare for that last hour by a good life that we may not be surprised by a sudden and unprovided death, but be ever watching that when you call we may enter into eternal glory. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.