Order of Service
Order of Service
An Order of Service is a written outline of what will happen during a funeral ceremony. It allows the people gathered to follow the ceremony and know what is happening next, including when particular readings, songs, tributes, rituals or other parts of the service will take place.
A guide for those gathered. An Order of Service provides a simple structure for the people attending a funeral. Rather than having to know what comes next, those gathered can follow along and participate when invited to do so.
What it might contain. An Order of Service can include the names of the people involved in the ceremony, music, readings, prayers, poems, tributes, rituals and other elements of the funeral. It may also include an introduction, a short biography or other information about the person who has died.
Not every funeral needs one. An Order of Service is not a legal requirement and is not necessary for every funeral. A simple funeral with only a few elements may not need a printed guide at all. The celebrant or another person conducting the ceremony can simply explain what is happening as the funeral progresses.
A record of the farewell. An Order of Service can also become something that family and friends keep after the funeral. It may provide a lasting reminder of the ceremony and the people, words and music that formed part of the farewell.
Not the same as a booklet. An Order of Service describes the content and sequence of the ceremony. A Booklet is the physical or digital publication in which that information may be presented, often alongside photographs, stories, poems or other personal material.