Singing hymns at a ceremony: stand up, sit down? Help!

[solidgoldbrass]

Sorry, I am flummoxing myself here, haven't been in a church for years and mind has gone blank. I am writing a funeral ceremony which is going to feature hymns, does the officiant ask everyone to stand up and then sit down again afterwards?

normally at a funeral the presider will tell people what to do as far as sitting, standing etc. - they will be used to it.
Am intrigued as to why you are writing ceremony if you haven't been in a church in years?!

I do funerals for pets. I haven't had to do one with hymns before, so am anxious to get it right.

People love their pets and grieve over their loss, what's wrong with saying a ceremonial goodbye to an animal you loved?

Yes, the officiant usually ask them to stand/sit at any points where there is any doubt. People usually stand for hymns.

People need to grieve for their pets and if hymns help them with that grieving, why not?

I'm a weekly churchgoer and I have no problem at all with a proper ceremony for a pet like this. I believe in a universe created by God and you should give every part of that creation the value it deserves accordingly. I'll stop there as SGB will be having a fit of the vapours
As far as singing goes - yes tell people to stand up as you will get a better sound from the congregation if they're standing. You can't sing with a squashed diaphragm! If listening to a piece of music I would instruct them to sit though. Try and space out your hymns so they sit for a bit then stand then sit again. You don't want the congregation to feel like a jack in a box!

If possible, also include all the words of the hymns in an "Order of service" leaflet - non-churchgoers will not have the practice at juggling a hymn book and finding the right page for the hymn number, and you'll find you're halfway through the first verse before everyone has found their place.

You can also put something in the start of the leaflet about "We'll generaly stand to sing the hymns and sit for the rest of the service but please feel free to do what you are comfortable with" or whatever - people will glance through a leaflet before you get started, so at least most people will know what you're planning, and everyone else will follow their lead.

The officiant probably would ask at a funeral on account of there being people who are unaccustomed.

From 'The Laying on of Hands' by Alan Bennett.

'Now from somewhere at the back of the church Father Jolliffe?s voice rang out, ?Would you stand?? and the church shuffled to its feet. ?We shall sing the first hymn on your Order of Service, ?Love Divine All Loves Excelling?.
Once upon a time it would have been enough to announce the hymn and the congregation would have known to stand. Hymns you stand, Prayers you kneel. Nowadays it was prayers you sit, hymns you wait and see what everyone else is doing. "Love" Father Jolliffe reproached himself "We must love one another." '

I like AMIS' idea of a leaflet saying people can do what they feel comfortable with, either standing or sitting, but inviting people to stand if they wish (most will.)

I love the idea of saying goodbye to loved pets with a ceremony. :)

Well it all worked out fine as it was a small family group in the pet crematorium's chapel, and we all stood all the way through. And the client had asked for a printed order of service with the words of the hymns in (though I hope I would have thought of that myself if she hadn't asked).

While I don't believe in any gods, I do believe that funerals are to bring comfort to the bereaved and therefore have no problem with people wanting to have hymns and prayers. I even, actually, quite enjoyed having a good sing with the client and her family.

Glad it went well, sgb :)