Presbyterian Funeral Service Programme — Template & Guide
By FuneralPress Editorial Team · 3 min read · Editorially reviewed 09/10/2026
The quick answer
Use the funeral order supplied by the officiating Presbyterian congregation. Assemble its approved Scripture readings, hymns, readers and tributes in a booklet, and confirm whether the graveside service needs a separate programme section.
Begin with the officiating Presbyterian church
Before designing the booklet, ask for the approved running order and the exact wording the congregation wants printed. Confirm the service date, church address, minister’s name, language and burial arrangements. The family can prepare personal material while the church decides the worship order.
This is an editorial preparation guide, not a Presbyterian Church of Ghana liturgical document. A suggested list of prayers, hymns and tributes cannot replace the order supplied by the officiating congregation. The church decides whether and where any additional family material belongs.
Prepare the material the church needs
- An approved biography with names and dates checked by the family.
- Scripture references and the required translation, with readers assigned.
- Hymn titles, numbers where used, and versions agreed with the choir or organist.
- Tribute speakers and their approved time allowances.
- The church and cemetery locations, transport arrangements and public contact.
- Any family acknowledgements the church agrees to include.
A planning sequence for the booklet
- Obtain the church’s final order before arranging headings and pages.
- Enter the approved service sequence and participant names in the booklet editor.
- Place personal tributes where the service leader has agreed. Text can also be included for reading privately without a live speech.
- Send a proof to the minister and a separate proof to the family organiser for factual checks.
- Correct the proof, download the unlocked final design and ask the printer for a sample before the full run.
Keep church and graveside instructions distinct
If a committal takes place at another location, show that location and the agreed transition clearly. Do not invent prayers or responses to complete an empty section. The relevant minister supplies the wording and identifies which parts are said by the congregation. Make the booklet easy to follow with readable type and clear participant labels.
Proofread hymn numbers and reader names as carefully as the cover. A polished layout cannot correct the wrong song version or an unapproved service order. Keep one dated final file with the family organiser and printer so earlier drafts are not printed accidentally.
Common questions
Is this an official PCG service order?
No. This is a family preparation checklist. Obtain the authorised order and wording directly from the officiating congregation.
Should I include a graveside section?
Include it if the minister provides one. Identify its location and participants so mourners can follow the transition from church to burial.
