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The end of an agu's journey through Orithia.

Certainly a person's death is as important as any other event in their life. Like the birth it is absolutely vital that it be marked. Not for the dead person, who's extension in this Shoku has come to an end, but for the community, most especially for those closest to the deceased, their family and friends, who need an opportunity to speak and hear about the life that is no more, and to express their grief in a supportive environment.

Actors: The deceased, eulogists, the priest.
Front Row Guests: Relatives of the deceased.
Other Guests: Friends of the family, members of the community.
Props:
Hymns:

Agenda:

Arrival

The corpse is arrayed in the coffin with the lid open. People must file past the corpse on their way to their seats.

Some suitable music is played.

Preliminaries

The priest: "Good morning/afternoon etc... Thank you all for coming this important occasion, the last ceremony in the life of ...

We are gathered here to remember the life of ... and to mark its end, whether it be with tears, a tightness in the heart, a sob in the throat, a glad feeling about all that this person was, a sadness that he/she stopped too soon, or all these at once.

But there is no need to feel that this is the end of ... Far from it! The Church of Infinite Dimensions teaches that being born into Velas, not matter how briefly, guarantees one eternal life. This Uru has merely ended his/her stay in Orithia. He/she will be born into an infinite number of other Shoka, in some of them his/her life will be much greater, in others much smaller, in all of them much different from the life he/she lived here.

No matter what sort of person ... was in Orithia he/she will live out other aspects of his/her personality in other Shoka. Personality defects which may have seemed intractable here will become irrelevant in other dimensions. Physical ailments will disappear. On the other hand the new agu will have new problems to deal with in the new Shoka, both physical and mental, but that is the nature of reality; the only heaven is that which we are able to make for ourselves.

Soloist sings the Hymn "Lament For The Dead".

Eulogies

There should be 3 eulogies given, in order:

• From business colleagues, usually the closest workmate or boss.
• From the friends, usually the closest friend.
• From the family, usually the adult child of the deceased, the partner or the parent depending on the age of the deceased.

Music should be played after each eulogy, either something that the deceased loved or something that is appropriate to the situation. If possible the music should be live. If possible performed by people close to the deceased.

All sing the Hymn "Utopia".

Burial/Cremation

Mourners are led to the site of the internment / conflagration or whatever.

Some suitable music is played.