Free order of service template
Baptist Funeral Order of Service Template
A free Baptist funeral order of service template with the usual sequence, hymn and scripture suggestions, sample program wording, and timing.
Typically 45 to 60 minutes
Baptist funeral services are congregational and comparatively flexible. There is no fixed liturgy, so the pastor and family build the order together, and the shape varies noticeably between churches and regions.
What is consistent is the emphasis: scripture, congregational singing, a message from the pastor, and time for the family to hear the person spoken of by name. The outline below is the arrangement most Baptist churches use, and it is straightforward to adapt.
The order of service
01Prelude
15 min before
Piano or organ music as the congregation gathers, often hymns the family selected.
02Processional
The family is seated, usually after the congregation. Some churches seat the family before the service instead.
03Opening words and prayer
The pastor welcomes those gathered and offers the invocation.
04Congregational hymn
"Amazing Grace," "How Great Thou Art," and "It Is Well with My Soul" are the most frequently chosen.
05Scripture reading
Psalm 23, Psalm 121, John 14:1-6, and Revelation 21:1-4 are common. Often read by an associate pastor or family member.
06Prayer of comfort
A pastoral prayer for the family and those grieving.
07Obituary reading
2 to 3 min
The obituary is read aloud or, in many churches, read silently by the congregation while music plays.
08Special music or solo
A soloist, family member, or church musician performs a hymn or gospel song the family chose.
09Words of remembrance
10 to 15 min
One to three family members or friends speak. Most churches ask each speaker to keep to three to five minutes.
10Eulogy and message
10 to 20 min
The pastor's message, which typically combines remembrance with a scripture-based sermon.
11Closing hymn
A final congregational hymn chosen by the family.
12Benediction
Closing prayer and blessing.
13Recessional and viewing
Pallbearers accompany the casket out. Some churches include a final viewing before the recessional; the funeral director will guide this.
14Committal at graveside
10 to 15 min
Brief scripture, prayer, and committal words at the cemetery.
Program wording you can copy
Replace the bracketed prompts with your own details. Every block below is free to copy and use.
Celebrating the Life of [Full Name] Sunrise [Birth date] · Sunset [Date of death] [Church name] [City, State] [Date] · [Time] [Rev. Name], Officiating
Order of Service Processional Invocation ....................... [Rev. Name] Hymn of Comfort ........... "Amazing Grace" Scripture ....................... Psalm 23, read by [Name] Prayer ............................ [Name] Obituary ........................ Read silently Selection ....................... [Song title], [Performer] Reflections .................... Two minutes, please Eulogy ........................... [Rev. Name] Benediction Recessional
Family and friends are invited to share brief reflections. In consideration of time, we ask that remarks be limited to two minutes.
Acknowledgement The family of [Name] gratefully acknowledges the many acts of kindness, the prayers, the calls, and the food shared with us during this time. Your love has carried us. May God bless each of you.
The family invites you to join them for the repast in the [fellowship hall name] immediately following the interment.
How this fits on a folded program
A standard funeral program is a single sheet folded once, giving four panels. Here is where each part usually goes.
- Front cover: photograph, name, dates, church, service date and time, and the officiating pastor
- Inside left: the order of service with names beside each part
- Inside right: obituary, followed by the survivor listing
- Back cover: pallbearers, acknowledgement, repast details, and often a poem or favorite scripture
Practical notes
- Ask the church whether reflections from the floor are open or invitation-only. Open microphones lengthen services unpredictably, and a printed two-minute request in the program is the most effective way to manage it.
- "Sunrise" and "Sunset" for birth and death dates is a widely used convention in many Baptist congregations and reads well on a cover.
- If the obituary will be read silently, print it in full inside the program, because that becomes the only place people encounter it.
- Confirm hymn selections with the church musician; some hymns have several tunes and arrangements.
When you are ready
Print this as a finished program
This template is free. If you want the finished piece, TributeReady lays out a four-panel bifold program with your order of service, photograph, and tribute, and gives you print-ready files for a one-time $34.99. You review and edit everything first.
Questions families ask
- How long is a Baptist funeral service?
- Most run 45 to 60 minutes, though services with several speakers and multiple musical selections often reach 90 minutes. The most reliable way to control length is to limit the number of people speaking from the floor and to print the time request in the program.
- What is a repast?
- A repast is the meal shared after the burial, usually hosted in the church fellowship hall and often organized by a church ministry rather than by the family. Its location and timing are normally printed on the back panel of the program.
- Who reads the obituary?
- Practice varies. In many churches the obituary is read silently by the congregation while a musician plays, which keeps the service moving and spares a family member from reading aloud. In others it is read by a pastor, church clerk, or family friend.
Other service types
Editorial note
Customs and requirements vary by congregation, officiant, cemetery, and region. Confirm the order, the readings, the music, and the timing with your officiant and funeral director before printing anything. Names in sample wording are placeholders.