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Service of Songs Program for Christian Wake Keeping
If you are planning for the service of Songs program for Christian wake keeping or Wake, here is the sample. Service of Song is the name used in Anglican Church to mean the Christian Wake. I used the word “wake” in the caption because it is grammatically wrong to say “wake keeping”. They are tautology, both words mean the same in the context.
It is a brief service organized for a dead person either in his or her residence or in the church before the final burial. Sometimes, wake keeps are done in the street, in the front of the residential house of the dead person.
The Priests or the Church leaders are always the organizers and the presiders of the Christian wake. In many cases, where the person lives in the township, the service of Songs is normally organized twice. One in the town and the second one in the home (the night before the burial day proper).
However, it is about choice. Some people only do that of the town and skip that of the village. They will just proceed with the burial proper. Some also do not border to do in the town. They hold the Wake for their deads in the village.
Here is a sample of a program that can be used in a Christian wake. It comprises Abu Anglican Hymns, Ancient and Modern Hymns, and Church Hymnal. This is what we use in our church for the service of songs.
What is the difference between service of songs and wake keep?
Both means the same but have differences. Any group can organize a wake keeping. A wake keeping is simply means keeping awake for the dead person. It can be organized by a cult group, market women organization, Age grade.
Service of song is purely done by church people. It involves short mass or services with singing of hymns and songs for the dead person. When you service of song what should to your mind is that a church denomination is organizing it. A wake keeping may also continue by family and friends when service of song ends and closes.
The similarity between service of song and wake keeping is that the both activities are organized for the dead and they happen in the evening and night.
Service of Songs Program for Christian Wake (Sample)
Program for Service of Songs (Table of Contents)
1. A&M 372 – Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
2. Abu 193 – Chinekem, Nnam, me ka m’ dike.
3. Opening Prayer (The Lord’s Prayer)
4. Abu 142
5. Bible Reading: Eccl. 3: 1 – 12
6. Blessed Assurance
7. Abu 34
8. Bible Reading: Eccl. 7: 1 – 7
9. What a Friend We Have in Jesus
10. Psalm 90
11. Abu 215
12. Bible Reading Rev. 7: 9 – 17
13. CH. 614 – My Hope is Built on Nothingless
14. Bible Reading: Luke 7: 11 – 17
15. A&M 240 – Pleasant are thy Court above.
16. Bible Reading: Romans 8: 31 – end
17. A&M 140 – Jesus Lives! Thy Terrors Now.
18. Brief Testimonies
19. A&M 348 – Art thou weary
20. Exhortation
21. Abu 191 – Mgb’udo, dik’ Osimiri, nerie n’ uzom. (For the Diseased family to come up for Prayer)
22. General Prayer (Prayer for the Family)
23. A&M 358 – Peace, Perfect Peace
24. Announcement / Vote of Thanks by the Deceased Family
25. Closing Prayers/ Benediction
26. A&M 352 – Nearer, My God, to Thee.
Service of Songs Program for Christian Wake
1. A&M 372 – Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
- Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, thy great Name we praise.
- Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, thou
rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high
soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of
goodness and love.
- To all life thou givest, to both great
and small;
In all life thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish, like
leaves on the tree,
Then wither and perish; but
nought changeth thee.
- Great Father of glory, pure Father
of light,
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling
their sight;
All laud we would render: O help
us to see
‘Tis only the splendor of light
hideth thee.
- Abu 193- Chinekem, Nnam, me ka m’d’ike.
- Chinekem, Nnam, me ka m’d’ike,
Mgbe olu nke ndu sir’ike,
Ikele ya n’abu-nmeri:-
K’eme uche-I!
- Dopu n’anyam ihe-nkpuchi
Ka m’hu, eb’ik’uwa nada,
N’ihu-n’anya-Gi gemeri:
K’eme uche-I!
- N’obi di um’ala m’gahu
Inwe-onwem n’ije-ozi,
Nekp’ekpere nim’olu dum:
K’eme uche-I!
- M’geme ihe kachas’ike;
Ikp’oku n’inye’aka bu nke-I;
Uche-Gi gedozi uzọ;
K’eme uche-I!
- Opening Prayer
(b) The Lord’s Prayer… Our Father, Who art in heaven …
- Abu 142- Abum obia n’ebe a
1. Abum obia n’ebe a,
Igwé b’ulom;
Nani onye-ije,
Igwé b’ulom.
Ih’egwu n’ahuhu
Gbaram gburugburu;
Igwé bu ala-Nnam,
Igwé b’ulom.
2. Ifufe fes’ike,
Igwé b’ulom;
Ije nkem di nkpunkpu,
Igwé b’ulom.
Ma mgbe nsọgbu uwa
Geme ngwa gabiga,
Agamano n’udo,
Igwé b’ulom.
3. N’akuku Onye-nwem,
Igw é b’ulom;
Agenyem otuto,
Igwé b’ulom;
Ebe ndi nsọ Chuku
Nebi ebigh-ebi
Ka ha jesiri ije,
igwé b’ulom.
4. Agham-atamu kwa,
Igwé b’ulom;
Otu uwa dirim,
Igwé b’ulom.
N’ezie mu geguzọ
N’aka-nri Onye-nwem;
El’igwé b’ala-Nnam,
Igwé b’ulom. Amen.
5. Bible Reading: Eccl. 3: 1 – 12
6. Blessed Assurance
- Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
- Perfect submission, perfect delight!
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
3. Perfect submission, all is at rest!
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
7. Abu 34- Nkume mgbe ebigh-ebi.
- Nkume mgbe ebigh-ebi,
Kwe ka m’zoro nime Gi;
Ka miri na obara
Nke si n’akuku-I puta,
Buru ih’isacha njom,
Nzọputam n’ike nke-ya.
- Ọ bugh olu nke akam
Gemezu iwu nke-Gi;
M’jisiwo’ike mgbe dum,
Nakwa kw’akwa mgbe nile,
H’apugh iwepu nmehiem:
Nani Gi gazọputam.
- Agbam aka biakute I,
Amakurum obe-Gi;
Agbam oto nim’obim,
Nyem uwe, nyerem aka;
Abiam n’is’iyi n’inyi;
Onye-nzpoutam, sacham.
- Ebe m’nek’ume ndu nka,
Mgbe m’echir’anyam n’onwu,
Mgbe m’gala n’uwa ozo,
Hu Gi n’oche-ikpe-Gi,
Nkume nke ebigh-ebi,
Kwe ka m’zoro nime Gi. Amen.
8. Bible Reading: Eccl. 7: 1 – 7
9. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
- What a Friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise,
forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield ,
thou will find a solace there.
10. Psalm 90
- Lord you have/ been our/ refuge:
from one gener/ation/ to an/other. - Before the mountains were born
or the earth and the world were/
brought to/ be:
from eternity to e/ternity/ you are/ God.
- You turn man/ back into/ dust:
saying “return to/ dust you/ sons
of/Adam. - Fora thousand years in your sight
are like/ yesterday/ passing
or/like one/ watch of the/night. - You cut them/ short like a/dream:
like the fresh/ grass/ of the/
6 In the morning it is/ green
and/flourishes;
at evening it is/ withered and/
dried/up.
- And we are con/summed by your/
anger: because of your
indigo/nation we/ cease to/ be. - You have brought our ini/quities
be/fore you:
and our secret/ sins to the/ light of your countenance.
9 Our days decline be/neath your/
wrath:
and our years/ pass a/way like a/ sigh.
10 The days of our life are three score
years and ten or if we
have/ strength for/ score:
and the pride of our labours is but
toil and sorrow
for it passes quickly a/way and/ we
11 Who can know the/ power of your/
wrath:
who can know your indigo/nation like/ those that/ fear you?
- Teach us so to/ number our/ days:
that we may ap/ply our/ hearts to/ - Relent 0 Lord how* long will/ you
be/ angry?
take/ pity/ on your/ servants.
14 O satisfy us early/ with your/
mercy;
that all our days we/ may re/joice and/ sing.
15 Give us joy all the days you/ have
af/flicted us:
for the/ years we have/ suffered ad/versity.
- Show your/ servants your/ work:
and let their/ children / see your / - May the gracious favour of the
Lord our/
God be up/on us:
prosper the work of our hands O/
prosper the/ work of our/ hands!
11. Abu 215- Jis’ike! asula ngongo.
- Jis’ike! asula ngongo
M’uzọ-gi gba ochichi;
Ihe di gedu ndi nwayọ:
Tukwasi Chuku obi!
- Ma uzọ jo njọ, di egwu,
Nsọtu-ya di kwa anya,
Zonye; n’ike, n’adigh-ike,
Tukwasi Chuku obi!
- K’Izuzu ojo la n’iyi,
N’ihe nat’ujo ihe!
Ma i nada, m’i nemeri,
Tukwasi Chuku obi!
- Mad’ufodu gakpo i asi,
Ndi’ozo geleda i anya
Rapu ha, le anya n’elu,
Tukwasi Chuku obi!
- Iwu nfe, n’ezi odudu,
Udo, n’ike nim’obi,
Kpakpando neny;ihe n’uzọ:
Tukwasi Chuku obi!
- Jis’ike! asula ngongo
M’uzọ-gi gba ochichi;
Ihe di gedu ndi nwayọ:
Tukwasi Chuku obi! Amen.
12. Bible Reading: Rev. 7: 9 – 17
13. CH (Church Hymnal) 614 – My Hope is Built on Nothing less
- My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Chorus – On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand
2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
3. His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stays.
4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
In Him, my righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne
14. Bible Reading: Luke 7:11–17
15. A&M 240 – Pleasant Are Thy Courts-Above
- Pleasant are Thy courts above
In the land of light and love;
Pleasant are Thy courts below
In this land of sin and woe:
O my spirit longs and faints For the converse of Thy saints, For the brightness of Thy face, For thy fullness, God of grace.
- Happy birds that sing and fly
Round thy altars, O Most High;
Happier souls that find a rest
In a heavenly Father’s breast:
Like the wandering dove, that
found
No repose on earth around, They can to their ark repair, And enjoy it ever there.
- Happy souls, their praises flow
Even in this vale of woe;
Waters in the desert rise,
Manna feeds them from the skies;
On they go from strength to
strength,
Till they reach thy throne at length,
At thy feet adoring fall,
Who hast led them safe through all.
- Lord, be mine this prize to win,
Guide me through a world of sin,
Keep me by Thy saving grace,
Give me at Thy side a place;
Sun and Shield alike Thou art,
Guide and guard my erring heart;
Grace and glory flow from Thee; Shower, O shower then, Lord, on me.
16. Bible Reading: Romans 8: 31 – end
17. Jesus Lives! Thy Terrors Now
- Jesus lives! Thy terrors now
Can no longer, death, appall us;
Jesus lives! by this we know
Thou, 0 grave, canst not enthrall
Alleluia!
- Jesus lives! henceforth is death
But the gate of life immortal;
This shall calm our trembling
breath
When we pass its gloomy portal.
Alleluia!
- Jesus lives! for us he died;
Then, alone to Jesus living,
Pure in heart may we abide,
Glory to our Saviour giving.
Alleluia!
- Jesus lives! our hearts know well
Nought from us His love shall
sever;
Life, nor death, nor powers of hell
Tear us from His keeping ever.
Alleluia!
- Jesus lives! to Him the throne
Over all the world is given:
May we go where He has gone,
Rest and reign with Him in heaven.
Alleluia!
18. Brief Testimonies About the dead by Friends, family, and colleagues.
19. A&M 348 – Art thou weary
- Art thou weary, art thou languid,
Art thou sore distressed?
“Come to Me,” saith One, “and
coming, Be at rest.”
- Hath he marks to lead me to him,
If he be my guide?
In his feet and hands are wound prints And his side.
- Is there diadem, as monarch,
that his brow adorns?
Yes, a crown in very surety,
but of thorns.
- If I find him, if I follow,
What his guerdon here?
Many a sorrow, Many a labour,
Many a tear.
- If I still hold closely to him,
What hath he at last?
Sorrow vanquished, labor ended,
Jordan passed.
- If I ask him to receive me,
Will he say me nay?
Not till earth and not till heaven
Pass away.
- Finding, following, keeping,
struggling,
Is He sure to bless?
Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs,
Answer, yes!
20. Exhortation
21. Abu 191- Mgb’udo, dik’osimiri, neru n’uzọm.
- Mgb’udo, dik’osimiri, neru n’uzọm,
Mgbe nsọgbu biara k’ebili;
N’onodum o bula I mewom ka m’si,
“Ọ di nma, o diri obim nma.”
Kọrọs:–
Ọ di nma . . . o di nma;
Ọ di nma, o diri obim nma.
- Ekwensu gesogbu, onwunwa gabi;
Ka m’tukwasi obim na nka:
Na Kraist amatawo na ike adighm,
We wusi obara-Ya n’ihim.
- Nmehiem-echiche nka nanyem ok’onu?
Nmehiem-ha nile, ka ha ra,
Di n’obe Jisus, ebughkwam ha ozo:
To Chuku! to Chuku, nkpur’obim!
- N’ebe m’no idi ndu bu Kraist mgbe nile!
Ọ buru na onwu abia,
Ọ gagh-ewutam; n’onwu dika na ndu,
I genye nkpur’obim Udo-Gi.
- Jisus, o b’obibia-G k’ayi nechere;
Ili agagh-ab’ulo-ayi:
Opi nke mo-ozi! olu nke Chuku!
Olil’anya, n’iz’ike obim! Amen.
22. General Prayer
(A) Prayer for a Safe journey and successful burial
(B) Prayer for the Deceased family for God’s protection upon them.
23. A&M 358 – Peace, Perfect Peace
- Peace, perfect peace, in this dark
world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
- Peace, perfect peace, by thronging
duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.
- Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows
surging round?
On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found.
- Peace, perfect peace, with loved
ones far away?
In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they.
- Peace, perfect peace, our future all
unknown?
Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.
- Peace, perfect peace, death
shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all
its powers.
- It is enough: earth’s struggles soon
shall cease,
and Jesus call us to heaven’s perfect peace.
24. Announcement by the Priest*
i. Vote of Thanks by a Member of a deceased family (Normally the First Son or the head of the family)
25. Closing Prayers / Benediction
26. Concluding Hymn
A&M 352 – Nearer, My God, to Thee
- Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to
thee! ‘
E’ven though it be^ cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee.
Refrain:
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
- Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a
stone.
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my
God to thee.
3. There let the way appear, steps
unto heav’n;
All that thou sendest me, in mercy
given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my
God, to thee.
4. Then, with my waking thoughts
bright with thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll
raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my
God, to thee.
- Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the
sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee.
- There in my Father’s home, safe
and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly
blest;
Age after age to be, nearer my God
to thee.
Amen.
Service of Songs Program for Christian Wake
Service of Songs Program for Christian Wake
Service of Songs Program for Christian Wake
