Order of Service for SRF Memorial Service

1. Opening Prayer: May include a short, appropriate prayer by Paramahansa Yogananda.

2. Remarks: Brief explanation of the purpose of the service: to offer our love and goodwill to the deceased.

3. Chant: One or two appropriate chants from Cosmic Chants.

4. Meditation: Short meditation during which those present may offer prayers for the person being

remembered.

5. Readings: "Twenty-third Psalm," and "There is No Death" (a leaflet of excerpts from The Song Celestial),

(copies to be added to packet)

6. Chant: (optional).

7. Meditation: (optional).

8. Remarks: A few words about the deceased and family, if desired, eulogies by family and friends.

9. Flowers: An offering of one red and one white rose to the departed soul. The roses may be placed at the

base of a portrait or photograph of the deceased. Explain that the white rose symbolizes the purity of Spirit,

the purity of the soul. The red rose symbolizes the love and goodwill of all present toward the departed. All

are asked to concentrate on sending their love and goodwill to the departed soul.

10. Reading: At the service leader's discretion, selected passages from, or the entire poem, "Thou and I Are

One," by Paramahansa Yogananda, may be read. (copy to be added to packet). This poem appears in the

SRF publication Songs of the Soul. (It is permissible to change the word "son" in the ninth verse to "child" or

"daughter," if appropriate to do so).

11. Benediction: Service leader asks all to stand, raise the hands (as is done in the SRF Prayer Service), and

send thoughts and vibrations of peace and love to the departed soul while chanting "Aum" several times.

12. Closing Prayer: Another short prayer appropriate to the occasion, ending with Paramahansa

Yogananda's universal prayer: "May Thy love shine forever on the sanctuary of my devotion, and may I

bebe be able to awaken Thy love in all hearts."