Remembering those who have gone before us is an important part of parish life.  We pray for our beloved dead, and commend them to the care of God.
 
 "Into your hands, Father of mercies,
we commend our brothers and sisters,
in the sure and certain hope that,
together with all who have died in Christ,
they will rise with Christ on the last day."
(Order of Christian Funerals, #202)
 
At Holy Trinity, funerals and memorials are prepared with the Priest and the Pastoral Associate for Liturgy.  At the time of the death of a loved one please contact the parish office at 202-337-2840.  The Priest and Pastoral Associate for Liturgy will arrange for a time to meet and prepare the funeral liturgy.
 
The following is a guide for preparation:
 
Review the Parish Funeral Policies
 
Review the Music List for Funerals
 
Select Biblical Readings for the Liturgy of the Word
 
Old Testament Readings (select one)
(1)     Job 19:1,23-27 - "I know that my Redeemer lives"
(2a)   Wisdom 3:1-9 - "God accepted them as a holocaust."
(2b)   Wisdom 3:1-6, 9 - "God accepted them as a holocaust." (shorter form)
(3)     Wisdom 4:7-15 - "A blameless life is a ripe old age."
(4)     Isaiah 25:6a,7-9 - "The Lord God will destroy death for ever."
(5)     Lamentations 3:17-26 - "It is good to wait in silence for the Lord God to
                                                 save."
(6)     Daniel 12:1-3 - "Of those who lie sleeping in the dust of the earth many
                                   will awake."
(7)     Maccabees 12:43-46 - "It is good and holy to think of the dead rising
                                              again."
 

Responsorial Psalms (select one)
 
(1)     Psalm 23 - "My Shepherd is the Lord; nothing indeed shall I want."
(2)     Psalm 25 - "To You, O Lord I lift my soul."
(3)     Psalm 27 - "The Lord is my light and my salvation."
(4)     Psalm 42 and 43 - "As the deer yearns for living streams." 
(5)     Psalm 63 - "My Soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God."
(6)     Psalm 103 - "The Lord is kind and merciful."
(7)     Psalm 117 - "In the land of the living I will walk with God all my days."
(8)     Psalm 122 - "Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord."
(9)     Psalm 130 - "Out of the depths I cry to you Lord."
(10)   Psalm 143 - "O Lord, hear my prayer."
 

New Testament Readings (select one) 
 
(1a)     Acts 10:34-43 - "God has appointed Jesus to judge everyone, alive and
                                      dead."
(1b)     Acts 10:34-36, 42-43 - "God has appointed Jesus..." (shorter form)
(2)       Romans 5:5-11 - "Having been justified by his blood, we will be saved
                                        from God's anger through him."
(3)       Romans 5:17-21 - "Where sin increased, there grace abounded all the
                                          more."
(4a)     Romans 6:3-9 - "Let us walk in newness of life."
(4b)     Romans 6:3-4, 8-9 - "Let us walk in newness of life." (shorter form)
(5)       Romans 8:14-23 - "We groan while we wait for the redemption of our
                                          bodies."
(6)       Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39 - "Who can ever come between us and the love
                                                        of Christ?"
(7)       Romans 14:7-9, 10b-12 - "Whether alive or dead, we belong to the
                                                      Lord."
(8a)     1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 24b-28 - "All people will be brought to life in
                                                                 Christ."
(8b)     1 Corinthians 15:20-23 - "All people will be brought to life in            
                                                    Christ." (shorter form)
(9)       1 Corinthians 15:51-57 - "Death is swallowed up in victory."
(10)     2 Corinthians 4:14-5:1 - "What is seen is transitory; what is unseen is
                                                   eternal."
(11)     2 Corinthians 5:1,6-10 - "We have an everlasting home in heaven."
(12)     Philippians 3:20-21 - "Jesus will transfigure these wretched bodies of
                                               ours to be like his glorious body."
(13)     Thessalonians 4:13-18 - "We shall stay with the Lord for ever."
(14)     2 Timothy 2:8-13 - "If we have died with him, we shall live with him."
(15)     1 John 3:1-2 - "We shall wee God as God really is."
(16)     1 John 3:14-16 - "We have passed from death to life, because we love
                                        our brothers and sisters."
(17)     Revelation 14:13 - "Happy are those who die in the Lord."
(18)     Revelation 20:11-21:1 - "The dead have been judged according to their
                                                    works."
(19)    Revelation 21:1-5a,6b-7 - "There will be no more death."
 

Gospel Readings (select one)
 
(1)     Matthew 5:1-12a - "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in
                                         heaven."
(2)     Matthew 11:25-30 - "Come to me...and I will give you rest."
(3)     Matthew 25:1-13 - "Look, the bridegroom comes.  Go out to meet him."
(4)     Matthew 25:31-46 - "Come, you whom my Father has blessed."
(5a)   Mark 15:33-39;16:1-6 - "Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last."
(5b)   Mark 15:33-39 - "Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last."  (shorter
                                     form)
(6)     Luke 7:11-17 - "Young man, I say to you arise."
(7)     Luke 12:35-40 - "Be prepared."
(8)     Luke 23:33,39-43 - "Today you will be with me in paradise."
(9a)   Luke 23:44-46,50,52-53;24:1-6a - "Father, I put my life in your hands."
(9b)   Luke 23:44-46,50,52-53 - "Father, I put my life in your hands."  (shorter
                                                    form)
(10a)  Luke 24:13-35  - "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer and
                                        so enter into his glory?"
(10b)  Luke 24:13-16,28-35 - "Was it not necessary..."  (shorter form)
(11)    John 5:24-29 - "Whoever hears my word and believes has passed from
                                   death to life."
(12)    John 6:37-40 - "All who believe in the Son will have eternal life and I will
                                   raise them to life again on the last day."
(13)    John 6:51-58 - "All who eat this bread will live for ever; and I will raise
                                   them up on the last day."
(14a)  John 11:17-27 - "I am the resurrection and the life."
(14b)  John 11:21-27 - "I am the resurrection and the life."  (shorter form)
(15)    John 11:32-45 - "Lazarus, come out."
(16a)  John 12:23-28 - "If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields
                                      a rich harvest."
(16b)  John 12:23-26 - "If a grain of wheat falls..."  (shorter form)
(17)    John 14:1-6 - "There are many rooms in my Father's house."
(18)    John 17:24-26 - "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me
                                     where I am."
(19)    John 19:17-18,25-30 - "Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
 

General Intercessions  (select four to five intentions)