Linda was an avid reader, appreciated all types of music, and enjoyed trivia, playing on trivia teams with her friends. She loved the idea of traveling the world and had the pleasure of visiting England, Italy, Austria, East Germany, West Germany, and later, a unified Germany. Linda was a member of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, singing in the choir for many years and helping with the youth group in her younger years. She will be remembered for her sense of humor and infectious laugh.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, James Wilson Southern and Nell Gable Southern. She is survived by her sister Martha Stamitoles (Michael), Pensacola, FL, nephew David Stamitoles (Alison), Cumming, GA, niece Lisa Stamitoles, Marietta, GA, and great nephew Luke Stamitoles.
August 31, 1940 ~ August 11, 2022
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Linda Gayle Southern
Linda Gayle Southern passed away Thursday, August 11, 2022, in Atlanta, GA. She was born August 31, 1940, in High Point, NC, which she always considered home. She attended schools in High Point, NC, Florence, SC, and Macon, GA, graduating in 1958.
Linda, an RN, graduated from Macon Hospital School of Nursing in 1961 and earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Georgia State University in 1977. She was a devoted operating room nurse at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta for 38 years.
GATHERINGPRELUDE
Welcome in the name of Jesus the Savior, who died and was raised to new life by the grace of God. We are gathered here to worship, to remember before God our sister, Linda Gayle Southern, to give thanks for her life, to commend her to our merciful redeemer, and to comfort one another in our grief.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
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ACCLAMATION
Eternal God, maker of heaven and earth, who formed us from the dust of the earth, who by your breath gave us life, we glorify you.| We glorify you. Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, who suffered death for all humanity, who rose from the grave to open the way to eternal life, we praise you. | We praise you. Holy Spirit, author and giver of life, the comforter of all who sorrow, our sure confidence and everlasting hope, we worship you. | We worship you. To you, O blessed Trinity, be glory and honor, forever and ever. | Amen.
HYMN 504 A Mighty Fortress is Our God
When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
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.
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O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our sister, Linda. 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.
GREETING
PRAYER OF THE DAY
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be overthrown; God shall help her at the break of day.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Come now and look upon the works of the Lord, what awesome things, he has done on earth. It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire. “Be still, then, and know that I am God;I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.”
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Revelation 21:2-6
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea; though its waters rage and foam, and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.
4 REFLECTION MarthaLinda’sStaminolessister
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.Romans 5:1-5
The nations made much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken; God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away.
Psalm 46 (read responsively)
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away."
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world."
HOMILY
Pastor Jenny McLellan HYMN 324 O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
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John 11:17-27
And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.
When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother.
God has made us his people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.
PRAYERS
APOSTLES' CREED
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Let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus, full of compassion, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn for Linda, and dry the tears of those who weep. In your mercy, | hear our prayer. Jesus, man of sorrows, you wept at the grave of Lazarus your friend; comfort us who mourn. In your mercy, | hear our prayer. Jesus, firstborn of the new creation, you raised the dead; give to our sister Linda life eternal.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Linda.
Jesus, bread of life, you nourished Linda at your table on earth; Welcome her at your table in the realm of heaven.
In your 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 to all believers. Make us certain that because he lives we shall live also, and that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come shall be able to separate us from your love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. | Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
In your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold,
In your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Jesus, wellspring of life, you washed our sister in baptism and anointed her with the Holy Spirit; give her communion with all your saints.
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.
COMMENDATION
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In your mercy, | hear our prayer.
Jesus, friend of sinners, you promised paradise to the repentant thief; bring Linda to the joys of heaven.
In your mercy, | hear our prayer. Jesus, bright morning star, comfort us in our sorrows at the death of Linda: let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope.
8 a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. 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. HYMN 619 I Know that My Redeemer Lives DISMISSAL Let us go forth in peace. | In the name of Christ. Amen. POSTLUDE Liturgy from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2013 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #21979. Officiants, Pastor Jenny McLellan Organist, Sarah Hawbecker Inurnment in the Redeemer Columbarium
