The Funeral Officiant Handbook

Funerals are some of the most sacred and vulnerable moments you will ever lead as a Christian minister. Families are in shock, grief, and transition—and they are looking to you for calm, clarity, and hope.

The Funeral Officiant Handbook is a practical, field-tested guide for pastors, chaplains, and lay leaders who want to serve grieving families with confidence, compassion, and a clear gospel-centered focus. Whether this is your first funeral or your fiftieth, this handbook will walk you step-by-step through the ministry moments that matter most.

Inside you’ll find:

• How to prepare for a funeral or memorial service from the first call to the final amen

• Sample orders of service for traditional, contemporary, graveside, and celebration-of-life services

• Scripture readings, prayers, blessings, and benedictions specifically chosen for times of loss

• Guidance for writing eulogies and funeral messages that are both personal and Christ-centered

• Pastoral care skills for meeting with the family, navigating intense emotions, and offering comfort without clichés

• Practical tips for working with funeral homes, churches, and families on logistics and expectations

• Checklists and prompts so you don’t forget important details on a very emotional day

Written from a distinctly Christian perspective, this handbook is designed to sit on your desk, travel in your bag, and be opened again and again as you walk with people through the valley of the shadow of death.

If you sense God calling you to serve as a funeral officiant—or you want to deepen your confidence in this sacred work—this book will help you lead services that honor the deceased, comfort the grieving, and point clearly to the hope we have in Christ.