ashes to ashes, dust to dust [Rel.] A phrase from the burial service in the Book of Common Prayer: 'we therefore commit this body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life.
We have commended N to God's eternal love, and committed his/her body to be cremated. We now inter his/her ashes in this ground (scatter his/her ashes in this place), in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. In the earth, we give him/her a final place to rest.
The origin of ashes to ashes, dust to dust was first mentioned in the Bible in the book of Genesis. Over time, this phrase has been used in poetry, literature, and speeches to convey that humans are made of the earth and will return to the earth after passing away.
In reality, this phrase highlights what happens to all bodies during burial ceremonies. Whether your body is cremated or buried within this earth, you will return to ashes and dust.
Almighty God, look with pity upon the sorrows of your servants for whom we pray. Remember them, Lord, in mercy; nourish them with patience; comfort them with a sense of your goodness; lift up your countenance upon them; and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Funeral Closing Prayer
Strengthen our faith that all your people who have died in the love of Christ will share in his resurrection, who lives and reigns with you, now and forever. May we, and those who have departed, be blessed with the benefits of Jesus' death and resurrection.
These three powerful morning prayers are the prayers of thanksgiving, the Lord's Prayer, and the prayer of Jabez. Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, the Bible tells us to enter his gates with thanksgiving, and Jabez prayed to God and God granted him his request.
Families can choose to split the ashes of the deceased among the wider family, where the individual families can choose what they want to do with them. This can assist with the grieving processes by offering everyone in the family a chance to remember the life of the departed the way they wish.
If a person who has recently deceased is cremated their body will be burnt to ashes and therefore no DNA samples can be extracted from the ashes. There may be instances where there are some remating bone shards but, the rate of success in extracting DNA is low.
Interment is ideal for people who do not wish for their ashes to be scattered or displayed in the home. There are also religious reasons for ashes to be interred. For example, Catholicism states that ashes should not be scattered, kept at home, or altered in any way.
As the priest applies the ashes to a person's forehead, he speaks the words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Alternatively, the priest may speak the words, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
What does the Bible say about cremation? According to most Biblical study websites, there is no explicit scriptural command for or against cremation. There are no passages that forbid cremation, according to most Biblical scholars. However, some passages describe standard death practices during these times.
A common question that we find in the cremation diamond industry is do ashes have an expiration date? The short answer is they don't; at least not in our lifetime. It would take around one million years for ashes to dissolve since they are made solely of inorganic material.
During the process of cremation, the body's remaining energy is converted into heat energy, which is then distributed into the atmosphere. What little energy remains in the ashes is, again, “rest” or dormant energy.
The body parts that do not burn are bone fragments. Teeth usually burn during cremation, but not entirely. Teeth are made up of four different kinds of tissue—the soft tissue (pulp) is burned during cremation, while the toughest tissue (enamel) may survive the cremation.
Items that are not safe for the water or marine life are not permitted. What happens to ashes scattered at sea? Human ashes are like sand and they do not float. They will not dissolve in the water; instead, they will descend into the ocean until they hit the floor.
When a family hasn't yet collected the cremation ashes of a loved one, funeral directors are expected to hold ashes for at least five years before disposing of them accordingly.
Occasionally ashes can be available for collection on the same day, although ordinarily cremated remains can be ready for collection within one working day.
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13): “'Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
There are times when we can say, “Your will be done” without having to struggle. Yet, for all Christians, there are times when, like Jesus, we find “Thy will be done” to be one of the hardest prayers ever.
The Day Thou Gavest Lord Has Ended
The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended; The darkness falls at Thy behest; To Thee our morning hymns ascended, Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.
Almighty God, we rejoice in your promise of love, joy and peace. In your mercy turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life, and the sorrow of parting into the joy of heaven; through our Saviour Jesus Christ, who died, rose again and lives for evermore. Amen.