Unusual Bible reading for a funeral

[Brian9600]

Any recommendations? I have been asked to choose and deliver a bible reading at a funeral. I’ve been asked to find something appropriate but that doesn’t talk about heaven and eternal life etc, as some family members are atheists who would find this difficult to hear.

The best I have found is Ecclesiastes 3. Can anyone suggest anything else?

John 13
Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The bolded bit is lovely but the bit before could also work depending on circumstances.
sorry for your loss.

My dad is consulting's his list. He takes funerals a lot.

The whole point of a religious funeral is to talk about the hope of the resurrection to eternal life.
Ecclesiastes is a good choice. Or Wisdom 3:1-9

I think Ecclesiastes 3 is a good choice too.

But have you considered 1 Corinthians 13? More popular for weddings but not unsuitable for funerals.

I am an atheist but it isnt difficult to hear bible passages. Is this something they have actually said is an issue?

@RaininSummer
I would imagine that the OP wants to avoid a ‘we will all be together in heaven, eternal life’ type verse.

Thanks, all.

RaininSummer, the issue (as it's been described to me) is that both my friend's (adult) children are atheists and find traditional readings (of the sort that effectively say "don't be sad- be happy because your loved one is in heaven") distressing, because of course they don't believe that and so can't feel happy. Not sure I'm describing it very well. So I'm trying to find something that is appropriate for a Christian service but which doesn't come across as diminishing what's happened for those who don't believe.

Thanks, all, for the suggestions- I will have a read.

I use psalm 23 a lot as it can be used to mirror the journey of grief and that you have to through it and not round it. I do talk about the Lord who accompanies as I'm delivering a Christian funeral. Ecc 3 works well. Psalm 139 can be framed as being known and loved. I've done the 1 Cor 13 passage a number of times as it talks about love. If you include the through the glass darkly bit you can talk about the Christian hope of the resurrection. If you avoid John 14 and Rev 21 you should be fine.