Bible Scriptures for Funeral or Memorial Services

For funeral or memorial services with cremations in College Park, MD, the Bible can be incorporated because there are many encouraging, hope-filled, and comforting words that can bring solace and relief to grieving families. (All scriptures quoted here are from the New King James Version.)

One Bible scripture that is frequently read at a funeral or memorial services is Revelation 21:3-4. It reads, “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.'”

Psalm 23 is often included in funeral or memorial services: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads 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 You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (A wonderful version of this in song is the hymn by Isaac Watts, “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need,” which was sung during the 9/11 memorial service in Washington, DC.)

Understanding that death is one of the seasons of life and there’s a time when it comes, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is frequently read during funeral or memorial services. It reads, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

A very encouraging and hopeful scripture is John 5:28, which are the words of Jesus Christ, is: “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice.”

If you’d like more information about memorial services and cremations in College Park, MD, you can talk with our expert staff at Donald V. Borgwardt Funeral Home, P.A. We can help you plan a memorial on a budget. You can drop by our funeral home at 4400 Powder Mill Rd., Beltsville, MD, 20705, or you can contact us today at (301) 937-1707.