Hymn for funeral

[scarbados]

We've been asked to come up with a hymn to be sung at MIL's funeral on the 12th. My family's stand-by has always been 'The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended' because of the connections it has for us. I'm reluctant to suggest it for her for several reasons but I'm getting a bit stuck for other ideas.

DH has said 'nothing too sad' so that rules out Abide With Me and O, God Our Help In Ages Past, and as MIL was very scathing about churchgoers, I don't want to go too overdone with the religious aspect. (I've almost ruled out 'How Great Thou Art' because of this although we both love the hymn.)

For background, MIL was 88 and most of her friends who will be able to attend are about the same age so we want something fairly conventional. The collection and requested donations are going to the Alzheimers Society at the request of the rest of the family. She was a WI member at one time and we think some of her local group may be there so we wondered about Jerusalem (even though we both hate it).

Can anyone suggest anything?

Amazing Grace? It’s lighter than Abide With Me.

The Old Rugged Cross is a firm fixture in my family.

I’m so sorry about your MIL. I hope you’re able to find the perfect hymn for her.

Immortal, invisible? Always good for the not hugely religious.

Just as I am, without one plea? I love it, but prob a bit obscure now.

Lord of the dance? The thing is, it's actually quite easy to sing with a small range. Hence why people sing it quite loudly as a rule.

The Lord's my Shepherd?

The King of Love my Shepherd is?

We didn't want anything sad at my dad's funeral so we chose a couple of his favourite hymns but it was a little different because he had such a strong Christian faith.

So sorry about your MiL.

Make me a channel of thy peace?

Of the father's heart begotten?

Another Country?

FWIW, I adore Jerusalem - lovely choice if all the women there will be WI members.

To Be A Pilgrim?

The Lord's My Shepherd?

At my MiL's funeral we sang All Things Bright and Beautiful as that was her favourite. It was such a lovely hymn to sing about such a lovely woman.

Or if you want something really jaunty - Lord of the dance!

Jerusalem is lovely
Some of the john Rutter ones are lovely too.

I'm a church organist and play Amazing Grace and The Lord's My Shepherd at pretty much every other funeral. Most people know them, Amazing Grace is not massively religious.

That one that goes
“Do not be afraid as I am beside you,
I have called you by your name you are mine”
It’s beautiful and I would like it at my funeral. Or another gentle and lovely one is “My God Loves Me”

At my mum’s funeral we had her personal favourite “How Great Thou Art”.

‘Lord of all hopefulness’?
‘All things bright and beautiful’?
‘Morning had broken’?
‘The Lord’s my shepherd’?
‘Amazing grace’?
Jerusalem is a good call for WI member though.
Sorry for your loss.

Mu mum's funeral is next week. We have chose The old rugged cross and Abide with me.

One of The Lord is my shepherd/ Make me a channel of your peace/ Jerusalem would be my suggestion. I considered all of these for dd’s funeral but in the end we decided to have no hymns.

Will your Anchor Hold?

My Song is Love Unknown

Thank you for the suggestions. I've run them all past DH and he seems to favour Jerusalem.

Incidentally, I'm a WI member and used to love Jerusalem until I heard it screeched by too many elderly all-female groups. I'm not a fan of female voices en masse - Welsh male voice choir fan here!

But seriously, thanks to you all. Jerusalem it looks like being as it ticks all the boxes.

I think it is very fitting for your MIL’s WI connection.

Please listen to jealous of the angels, its simply beautiful.

We had “oh love that wilt not let me go” at both my Dad and Mum’s funeral (27 years apart). I think the words are so beautiful.

I trace the rainbow through the rain
And feel the promise is not in vain
That morn shall tearless be

Sorry, I’m a bit melancholy tonight.