Have you ever heard a gospel choir belt out a song and felt the weight on your shoulders lift? That surge of hope, that deep well of comfort — that's the power of gospel music.
Now imagine that same power filling a funeral service, surrounding you with love as you celebrate the life of someone special. Gospel music for a funeral can be a beautiful way to honor your loved one and find solace during a difficult time.
But where do you even begin? This guide is here to help!
We'll walk you through a list of 60 powerful gospel songs, and provide tips on what you need to know about incorporating gospel music into a funeral or memorial service, from selecting the perfect songs to finding the right moment to play them.
Best Gospel Songs for Funerals and Memorials
When choosing Christian funeral songs, take some time to reflect on your loved one's faith and personality. Did they have a favorite gospel choir or artist? Perhaps they found solace in a particular hymn or a contemporary Christian song with a powerful message.
Think about songs that evoke cherished memories of them. Including a song they loved to sing along to or one that reminds you of their unwavering faith can add a beautiful personal touch to the service.
- Abide With Me — Henry Francis Lyte
"Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me."
- The Storm Is Over Now — Kirk Franklin
"I feel like I can make it; the storm is over now."
- Let The Church Say Amen (Radio Edit) — Andrae Crouch, Marvin Winans
"God has spoken, so let the church say Amen."
- Stand — Donnie McClurkin
"After you’ve done all you can, you just stand."
- Till We Meet Again — Kirk Franklin
"May His peace be with you till we meet again."
- Mighty God — Deitrick Haddon
"What a mighty God we serve."
- More Than I Can Bear — God's Property
"He'll never put more on me than I can bear."
- I'll Fly Away — Albert E. Brumley
"I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away."
- His Strength Is Perfect — CeCe Winans
"His strength is perfect when our strength is gone."
- Great Is Thy Faithfulness — Thomas O. Chisholm (recently performed by Carrie Underwood and CeCe Winans)
"Morning by morning, new mercies I see."
- Just Don't Wanna Know — Marvin Winans
"I hurt you, but I just don't wanna know."
- Silver and Gold — Kirk Franklin
"I'd rather have Jesus than silver and gold."
- Grateful — Hezekiah Walker, Love Fellowship Choir
"I am grateful for the things that You have done."
- Praise Is What I Do — William Murphy
"Praise is what I do when I want to be close to You."
- I Shall Wear a Crown — Thomas Whitfield
"I shall wear a crown when it's all over."
- "Safe In His Arms" — Vickie Winans
"Because the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need."
- I Need Thee — Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr.
"I need Thee, oh I need Thee."
- His Eye Is on the Sparrow — Mississippi Children's Choir
"I sing because I'm happy; I sing because I'm free."
- You Are My Strength — William Murphy
"You are my strength, strength like no other."
- The Battle Is the Lord's — Yolanda Adams
"There is no pain Jesus can't feel."
- No Weapon — Fred Hammond, Radical For Christ
"No weapon formed against me shall prosper."
- My Life, My Love, My All — Kirk Franklin
"My life, my love, my all."
- He'll Take The Pain Away — God's Property
"He'll take the pain away; I know He will."
- That Name — Yolanda Adams
"That name heals all; that name delivers all."
- Hallelujah Praise (The Highest Praise) — CeCe Winans
"Hallelujah, for the Lord God Almighty reigns."
- I Will Rise — Chris Tomlin
"I will rise when He calls my name, no more sorrow, no more pain."
- Still — Hillsong Worship
"When the oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar with You above the storm."
- Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest) — Kari Jobe
"In You, I rest; in You, I found my hope."
- Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus — Hillsong Worship, Brooke Ligertwood
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face."
- It Is Well with My Soul — Audrey Assad
"Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, it is well with my soul."
- Peace — We The Kingdom, Bethel Music
"Peace, bring it all to peace, the storm surrounding me."
- When the Tears Fall — Tim Hughes
"When the tears fall, still I will sing to You."
- Come to Jesus — Chris Rice
"Come to Jesus and live."
- There Will Be A Day — Jeremy Camp
"There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears."
- How Great Thou Art — Carrie Underwood
"When Christ shall come, with sounds of acclamation, and take me home; what joy shall fill my heart."
- Blessed Assurance — Carrie Underwood
"Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!"
- Amazing Grace — Carrie Underwood
"I once was lost, but now, I’m found. Was blind, but now, I see.”
- Because He Lives — Carrie Underwood
"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone."
- Great Is Thy Faithfulness — Carrie Underwood, CeCe Winans
"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with Thee."
- In Christ Alone — Shane & Shane
"No guilt in life, no fear in death; this is the power of Christ in me.”
- Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) — Hillsong Worship, TAYA
"All these pieces, broken and scattered, in mercy gathered, mended and whole."
- O Praise the Name (Anástasis) — Hillsong Worship
"O praise the Name of the Lord our God. O praise His Name forevermore."
- Save A Place For Me — Matthew West
"Save a place for me, save a place for me. I'll be there soon."
- Blessed Be Your Name — Matt Redman
You give and take away; my heart will choose to say; Lord, blessed be your name.”
- Never Would Have Made It — Marvin Sapp
"Never would have made it, never could have made it without You."
- The Best in Me — Marvin Sapp
"He saw the best in me, when everyone else around could only see the worst in me."
- My Testimony — Marvin Sapp
"So if you see me cry, it's just a sign that I'm still alive."
- Made a Way — Travis Greene
"You made a way, don't know how, but You did it.”
- Victory Belongs to Jesus — Todd Dulaney
"Victory belongs to Jesus; victory belongs to Him."
- Praise Is What I Do — Shekinah Glory Ministry
"Praise is what I do when I want to be close to You."
- It's Working — William Murphy
“This is my season for grace, for favor.”
- I Give Myself Away — William McDowell
"I give myself away so You can use me."
- Draw Me Close/Thy Will Be Done — Marvin Winans
"Draw me close to You; never let me go."
- The Old Rugged Cross — Bart Millard
"So I'll cherish the old rugged cross till my trophies at last I lay down."
- Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy) — Shane & Shane
"Surely goodness, surely mercy, right beside me all my days."
- I Can Only Imagine — MercyMe
"Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for You, Jesus, or in awe of You, be still?"
- Give Me Jesus — Shane & Shane
"In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus."
- "Softly and Tenderly" — Audrey Assad
"Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me."
- Turn Your Eyes — Sovereign Grace Music
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face."
- Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) — Chris Tomlin
"My chains are gone; I've been set free. My God, my Savior has ransomed me."
How To Choose the Right Gospel Songs for a Funeral or Memorial Service
Gospel music can be a beautiful way to bring comfort and celebrate the life of your loved one during a funeral or memorial service. Here are some tips to help you incorporate this uplifting music into the ceremony:
Live performances vs. recordings
Both live performances and recordings have their merits when it comes to gospel music at a funeral. Live performances by a choir or soloist can create a truly powerful and intimate atmosphere. The raw emotion and energy of a live gospel performance can be incredibly moving and uplifting for those attending.
On the other hand, recordings offer a wider selection of music and can provide more flexibility in terms of scheduling and budget. Consider the size and feel of the venue when making this decision. If you choose a recording, search for high-quality versions that capture the spirit and energy of the music.
Placement in the service
When choosing placement for the songs, consider the flow of the service. Uplifting hymns like "Amazing Grace" or "How Great Thou Art" might be a source of strength during the opening, setting the tone for the event.
A more reflective song like "In Christ Alone" or "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" could provide comfort during a quiet moment of reflection. Consider ending the service with a triumphant song like "Blessed Assurance” to leave a lasting impression of hope.
Personal touches
Don't hesitate to personalize the song choices to truly reflect your loved one and the family's wishes. Perhaps there's a gospel song that holds special meaning for your family or one that reminds you of your loved one's unwavering faith.
Include a song that speaks to their journey in life or a message of comfort you'd like to convey to those attending.
Remember, there are no right or wrong choices when it comes to gospel songs for funerals. The most important thing is to choose music that brings you and those attending a sense of peace and celebrates the life of your loved one.
Next Steps
We hope this list of gospel songs for funerals helps you personalize the occasion and make it more meaningful with music.
If you’re still planning out a funeral or memorial event in the Los Angeles area, consider using Meadow.
At Meadow, we understand the weight of this moment. We offer a more compassionate and meaningful way to celebrate a life well-lived with customized memorial planning services. Our team of caring memorial planners will partner with you during this tender time to create an occasion as remarkable as the life it honors.
With our licensed team, you can expect:
- A weight off your shoulders: Our memorial planners will take care of every detail, and they’ll be in the background at your memorial, making sure everything runs smoothly.
- The perfect location: Our planners help you find the perfect location, whether that’s an idyllic beachfront, your loved one’s favorite restaurant, or the comfort of your own home.
- Transparent pricing: Starting from $1,295 for a cremation only or you can add on a memorial service package starting at an additional fee of $1,970.
- The personal touch: Our memorial planners will make sure your loved one’s presence is felt throughout the occasion.
Explore our personalized memorial services.
