Sherry McHugh Memorial by redeemeratl

Sherry McHugh

August 18, 1952 – June 5, 2024

Welcome in the name of Jesus, the Savior of the world. We are gathered to worship, to proclaim Christ crucified and risen, to remember before God our sister, Sherry, to give thanks for her life, to commend her to our Merciful Redeemer, and to comfort one another in our grief.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Morning Has Broken Joe Crabb, guitar

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our sister Sherry. We thank you for giving her to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may live in confidence and hope until, by your call, we are gathered to our heavenly home in the company of all your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. | Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. | And also with you.

We gather to grieve the loss and celebrate the life of Sherry Reavis McHugh. | We give thanks for her life and for all she shared with and gave to her family, friends and community.

We gather in assurance that God is faithful and abides in light and love for us all. | Let us trust in God whose love is revealed in many ways.

HYMN 618

WORD

God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.

Guide Me, Great Redeemer Sarah Hawbecker, organ

Seated

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Friend Remembrance by Amy Carpenter, Merilee Kelley, David Pena

Micah 6:8

And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Remembrance by Robin Huskey and Beth Herndon

Standing HYMN 787

On Eagle’s Wings

Dedra Mobley, vocalist

THE HOLY GOSPEL

Matthew 11:28-29

Before the Gospel: The Holy Gospel according to Matthew the 11th chapter. | Glory to you, O Lord.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

After the Gospel is read: The Holy Gospel of the Lord. | Praise to you, O Christ.

Seated HOMILY

Standing HYMN 732

Borning Cry

Pastor Mark H. Larson

Trusting in God’s steadfast love and grace for us, let us pray for the church, the world, and all in need.

Almighty God, in holy baptism you have knit your people together into one communion of saints in the body of Christ. Give to your whole church in heaven and on earth your light and your peace. God of mercy, hear our prayer

God, we ask for the gifts of courage and faith as we mourn. Send your Holy Spirit to offer us the sure and certain hope that we live in your loving care. Help us to cast all our sorrow on you that we may have strength for the days, weeks, months, and years ahead. God of mercy, hear our prayer.

God, for those of us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, your love and care so that where this world groans in grief and pain, your Holy Spirit may lead us to bear witness to your light and life. God of mercy, hear our prayer.

God, help us, in the midst of things that are impossible, to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting. When it’s hard to believe, give us the gift of others who will believe for us. Grant our congregation the wisdom, love, and tenderness as we care for Sherry’s family and friends, and all who knew and loved her. God of mercy, hear our prayer.

God of all grace, we give you thanks because by his death our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed the power of death and by his resurrection opened the kingdom of heaven. Make us certain that because Jesus lives, we shall live also, and that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, will be able to separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

MEAL

God gives us a foretaste of the feast to come.

Standing GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you. | And also with you. Lift up your hearts. | We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. | It is right to give our thanks and praise.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead, and in whom our hope of resurrection dawns. The sting of death has been removed by the glorious promise of his risen life.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. | Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Remembering, therefore, his salutary command, his life-giving passion and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension, and the promise of his coming again, we give thanks to you, O Lord God Almighty, not as we ought but as we are able; we ask you mercifully to accept our praise and thanksgiving and with your Word and Holy Spirit to bless us, your servants, and these your own gifts of bread and wine, so that we and all who share in the body and blood of Christ may be filled with heavenly blessing and grace, and, receiving the forgiveness of sin, may be formed to live as your holy people and be given our inheritance with all your saints. To you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory in your holy church, now and forever. | Amen.

Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Seated

HOLY COMMUNION

Standing PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life. In your mercy, strengthen us through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. | Amen.

SENDING

God gives us grace and one another to go back out into the world.

COMMENDATION

Let us commend Sherry into the mercy of God, our maker and redeemer.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Sherry. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a child of your house, a lamb of your own flock, a daughter of your own love. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. | Amen.

Standing HYMN

1. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now am found

Was blind, but now I see

Chorus:

'Cause I gotta peaceful easy feeling And I know you won't let me down 'Cause I'm already standing

On solid ground

Amazing Grace

2. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace, my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

Chorus

3. When we've been there ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we've first begun

Chorus

COMMITTAL

Go in peace, God is with you. | Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Sherry Carlisle Reavis McHugh, 71, died unexpectedly on June 5, 2024. She was born in Atlanta, on August 18, 1952, to Jewel Carlisle Reavis and Robert Logan Reavis.

Sherry was active in her youth group at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, and she was President of the Y-Teen Club at Dykes High School ’70. She attended Winthrop College and earned a degree in Recreation from Georgia Southern College '74. She enjoyed a near 40-year career of leadership roles in Smyrna and Peachtree City Parks & Recreation Departments. As a member of the Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) since 1973, Sherry served on multiple committees and through her Districts. She was a mentor to many, and her outgoing personality inspired collaboration across local government to achieve lasting community impact.

Sherry was married to Emory Lorenzo McHugh for 21 years until his early passing in 2017. Their Fayetteville, GA, home was filled with University of Georgia memorabilia and "Life is Good" décor. Indeed, it was. They enjoyed UGA football, golf, concerts, travel, game nights, and time with their friends, family and dogs at Lake Oconee and Ellijay. They also braved whitewater rafting and went skydiving for Sherry’s 60th birthday.

Sherry cherished staying connected with long-time friend groups-- Nursery School Gang, Burgiss Glen Campers, Luther League, Georgia Southern Roomies, Game Night Gals, Lunch Buddies, and more. She also loved Christmas with her Carlisle cousins in Greenville, SC, comforted by traditions including Christmas Eve service at Trinity Lutheran, family meals, playing "Santa," and treating all to a movie.

Sherry is survived by: Carlisle cousins Eliza Stockman, Jane Stockman, Janet Huskey (Tom), Jimmy Stockman, Tom Stockman (Shannon), William Thorpe (Patty), David Huskey (Angie Hart), and Robin Huskey (Beth Herndon); and extended Carlisle and McHugh family.

We are grateful to the staff at Holbrook of Decatur for their patient, personalized, and loving care for Sherry as she lived with rapid onset dementia for two years. Sherry remained an energetic community leader engaging everyday with the Holbrook staff, residents, and all who walked through the doors. She never lost her sense of humor, her drive for "directing," or her eagerness to connect with others.

Cousins Robin and Beth also wish to thank friends and family for staying connected with Sherry through cards, calls, or visits. Special thanks to: Merilee, Vicki, Gaines, and Bruce, for being on the journey; Hilda and Doug for adopting Sherry's dogs; Pat and Glenn for frequent cookie visits; and Amy and the Congregational Care Ministry of Redeemer Lutheran for "bringing church" and friendship to Sherry. Gratitude to all who touched our lives through prayers, listening, supportive words, humor, helping hands, hugs, and friendship.