When farewelling a loved one, expressing your sorrow is often easier through song. The right melody can pay tribute to the life of the deceased and give you strength in their passing.
Lutheran funerals are more traditional than other Christian denominations, including readings from the Old and New Testaments. The purpose of the gathering is to worship and focus on the grace of God.
A typical Lutheran funeral service consists of three to five hymns, with one each at the start and end of the mass. To help you with planning the program, we’ve compiled a list of popular Lutheran funeral hymns below.
Lutheran Funeral Hymns
A Mighty Fortress
Abide with Me! Fast Falls the Eventide
Amazing Grace
Be Thou My Vision
Beautiful Saviour
Blessed Assurance
Borning Cry
Children of the Heavenly Father
Crown Him with Many Crowns
Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Go, My Children, with My Blessing
God, Our Help in Ages Past
God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer
Heaven Came Down
How Great Thou Art
How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
I Know That My Redeemer Lives
I Need Thee
I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry
If You But Trust in God to Guide You
In the Garden
It Is Well with My Soul
Jesus Christ is Risen Today
Jesus Has Come and Brings Pleasure
Jesus Lives! the Victory’s Won!
Jesus, Lead Thou On
Jesus, Priceless Treasure
Jesus, the Very Thought of You
Just as I Am
Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus
Lift High the Cross
Lord of All Hopefulness
Lord Take My Hand and Lead Me
Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Love that Will not Let Me Go
Mansion on a Hilltop
Morning Has Broken
My Faith Looks up to Thee
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds
Now Thank We All Our God
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
O Lord, We Praise Thee
O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Rock of Ages
Savior of the Nations, Come
Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness
The Church’s One Foundation
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
The Lord’s My Shepherd
The Lord’s Prayer
The Tree of Life
There is a Balm in Gilead
There Is a Redeemer
Thine Is the Glory
Thy Strong Word
Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Victory in Jesus
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
When the Roll is Called up Yonder
When We All Get to Heaven
ELCA Lutheran Funeral Hymn FAQs
What is the most popular funeral hymn?
Ave Maria and Amazing Grace are among the most popular hymns played during a funeral service.
How many hymns do you have at a cremation?
A typical cremation will include at least two hymns in the funeral order of service. Most of the time, a hymn will be played to formally open and close the cremation.
How many Lutheran synods are there?
In America, the Lutheran Church comprises 65 synods which vary greatly in membership and geography. These synods are organized into nine regions across the country.
Can Lutherans be cremated?
Lutheran scripture is silent on cremation and the theology does not favor burial. As such, the faith allows cremation as a method of treating remains. This approach is becoming more common over time in the Lutheran community.
Can Lutherans spread ashes?
Lutheran tradition allows for cremated remains to be interred (buried), scattered, or placed in an urn. While the approach for ashes is quite flexible, the priority is to give the deceased appropriate and respectful funeral rites.
