Graveside Service Order: What Happens at a Committal Ceremony

What a Graveside Service Is (and Isn't)

A graveside service — formally called a committal — is the brief ceremony held at the cemetery after the funeral. It is the final act of the funeral process: the moment when the body or cremated remains are committed to their resting place with prayer, scripture, and a final benediction.

It is not a second funeral. The graveside service runs 10–20 minutes and focuses narrowly on the act of committal itself. The longer worship service, sermon, and family tributes happen earlier at the church or funeral home. By the time the procession reaches the cemetery, the liturgical work is nearly done.

Some families choose a graveside-only service, skipping the church entirely. This is common for private, family-only funerals or for veterans whose burial is at a national cemetery where chapel scheduling is limited. A graveside-only service may run longer — 20–30 minutes — since it incorporates elements that would otherwise happen in the sanctuary.

The Standard Order

The specific elements vary by denomination and pastor, but the evangelical graveside committal follows a consistent structure:

1. Arrival and gathering. The funeral procession arrives at the cemetery. The hearse parks near the gravesite and pallbearers carry the casket to the bier positioned over the open grave. Attendees gather around the gravesite, with the family seated in chairs provided by the cemetery or funeral home. In inclement weather, a tent covers the immediate area.

2. Opening scripture. The officiating pastor opens with a passage of assurance. Psalm 23 ("The Lord is my shepherd") is the most common choice. Other frequent selections include Psalm 121 ("I lift up my eyes to the hills"), John 11:25–26 ("I am the resurrection and the life"), and Romans 8:38–39 ("Neither death nor life … shall be able to separate us from the love of God").

3. The committal. The pastor speaks the committal words — the verbal act of entrusting the body to the ground and the soul to God. A traditional Protestant committal reads: "We commit this body to the ground — earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust — in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ." Some pastors sprinkle a handful of dirt onto the casket at this point; others simply speak the words.

4. Prayer. A brief prayer of comfort for the family and thanksgiving for the deceased's life. This is typically shorter and more personal than the prayers offered during the church service.

5. Benediction. The pastor closes with a blessing — often Numbers 6:24–26 ("The Lord bless you and keep you") or 2 Corinthians 13:14 ("The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all").

6. Military honors (if applicable). For veterans, the committal prayers conclude before military honors begin. The detail may execute a rifle volley, then play Taps, fold the flag, and present it to the next of kin. See Military Funeral Flag Folding for the full protocol.

7. Recession. The pastor typically invites the family to place flowers on the casket or touch the casket one final time. Attendees offer brief condolences to the family and begin walking back to their vehicles. Whether the casket is lowered before guests depart or afterward depends on the cemetery and family arrangements; ask the funeral director.

What Attendees Should Know

• Arrive with the procession. If you drove separately and arrived at the cemetery ahead of the funeral procession, stay in your car until the hearse and family vehicles have parked and the pallbearers have moved the casket into position.
• Stand unless directed to sit. Chairs are reserved for the immediate family. Other attendees stand behind and around the seated family. If additional chairs are available, elderly or disabled guests may be invited to sit.
• Phones off. The graveside is not the place for a vibrating phone. Silent mode is not enough — turn it fully off or leave it in the car.
• Follow the pastor's lead. When the pastor bows their head, bow yours. When they say "Amen," respond. If the pastor removes their hat, male attendees remove theirs. If the pastor keeps it on, so does the crowd.
• Don't photograph the casket being carried or the family grieving. Photographs of the flowers, headstones, or the general gathering from a respectful distance may be acceptable, but never during the committal itself.

Graveside-Only Services

When the entire service happens at the graveside — no prior church ceremony — the pastor typically adds a short homily or devotional between the opening scripture and the committal. This adds 10–15 minutes but keeps the service under 30 minutes total.

The order of a graveside-only service:

1. Opening prayer
2. Scripture readings (2–3 passages)
3. Brief homily or devotional
4. Family remarks or eulogy (optional, 2–3 minutes)
5. Committal
6. Closing prayer and benediction
7. Military honors (if applicable)

For cremation, the same committal structure applies. The urn is placed in a columbarium niche or buried in a smaller plot, and the pastor speaks the same committal words adapted for ashes: "We commit these remains to their resting place."

The Evangelical Funeral — US guide includes a printable graveside service planner with timing blocks, scripture options, and coordination notes for working with the cemetery and military honor guard.