Judy Gail Ellermann Hill April 7, 1953 - September 10, 2021

Order of Worship

Welcome & Gathering

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

Friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Judy Gail Ellermann Hill. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow….hope, in death….resurrection.

Added encouragement and

prayer.

Song - Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

Old Testament Reading

Psalm 23 NIV

A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lordforever.

Pastoral Prayer

O God, who gave us birth, you are ever more ready to hear than we are to pray. You know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking. Give to us now your grace, that as we shrink before the mystery of death, we may see the light of eternity. Speak to us once more your solemn message of life and of death. Help us to live as those who are prepared to die. And when our days here are accomplished, enable us to die as those who go forth to live, so that living or dying, our life may be in you, and that nothing in life or in death will be able to separate us from your great love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Add prayer for Carey, kids, grandkids, family, friends.

Amen.

Will you join me in the Lord’s prayer as you are able:

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, FOR EVER AND EVER AMEN

Words of Remembrance

Judy Gail Ellermann Hill 68, passed away peacefully Friday, September 10, 2021 in her home.

Judy was born to Herbert and Josie Ellermann on April 07, 1953. Judy was her Daddy’s girl! She met Charles Hill while attending East Texas State University in 1971. They married on December 29, 1973. Charles and Judy raised three wonderful Christian men, Collin, Chris, and Caleb.

She was a member of Marvin United Methodist Church and a member of her beloved Unity Sunday School class.

Judy was an English teacher and lifelong reader. The public library was one of her favorite places to visit.

Judy will always be remembered as an exceptionally kind woman who loved her family, her friends, and Jesus. One of her greatest joys in life was watching her grandkids play. She had a unique way of making others feel special.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Josie Ellermann. Judy is survived by her husband of 47 years, Charles Hill, her three sons – Collin Hill and wife, Meredith and their children, Madelyn and Coleman, Chris Hill and wife, Christy, and Caleb Hill and wife, Trista and their sons, Josh and Levi. Judy is also survived by her niece, nephews, cousins, and many, many beloved friends.

Chris Hill, Judy’s son would like to come and celebrate her life

Slide Show

New Testament Reading and Message

Romans 8:28–30 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

It has been a joy to get to know Judy and the whole family, but recently to be able to be with her in her home and to hear about her life. It is a unique opportunity to be with someone in the last days, knowing that death is before them and having the comfort and peace and victory and as with Judy, the clear determination for what she was to do in her final days. If I had to title this message it would be in Judy’s words:

Just keep laughing, just keep loving.

These were the words she left for her family and for all of you today. When I asked her what was the final word…the last bit of prayer and wisdom:

just keep laughing, just keep loving.

I cried a few times speaking with her. Judy was a special person and one of God’s saints. She blessed me so greatly just by hearing from her and from the witness of her life.

Judy was a survivor

Actually, I dont think survivor does it justice. She did not just survive but she came through things better and stronger and brought people with her.

She fought for years all kinds of cancer as many know. But she also battled through hardships and ups and downs of life. And she comes through these things with a faith this grows. She comes through unthinkable and still sings....

“It is Well With My Soul.”

When she received her diagnosis, her first thought was joy because she said she was able to raise her children.

Just Keep Laughing, just keep loving

2. Judy was so committed to her family

I love hearing that her favorite memory was spending an entire day in PJs reading a book all day with her kids. I think she said the book was Frecklejuice. Judy beamed when she talked about you boys and daughter-in-laws. There was not a prideful bone in her body, but she sure looked at yall and was as pleased as a momma could be.

My other favorite story was how another son came into the family. There was a young man that Judy and Charles’ Sunday School was hoping to help with a car, and Judy gave him a family. And that was how it was…giving beyond what others could see.

Passing out keys to the whole block to their back fence so the neighborhood could use the pool.

Charles, she loved you dearly. And you did it my friend. You loved her and served her in these hard days.

Just keep laughing, just keep loving.

3. Judy shared her faith in beautiful ways

Judy was unapologetic in her faith. She loved with the grace of Jesus that had been poured in her. Judy had seen a lot, experieced a lot and she knew God’s love was sufficient.

Just keep laughing, just keep loving

But how? Where did this come from in Judy? And others that love in ways that are unimaginable. How can Paul say,

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Because remember, Paul was not absent of hardship, he was not skipped over when it came to suffering. Paul’s life is riddled with poverty, suffering, abuse, and even death for following his calling.

Paul was grounded in the gospel

The context of our passage brings us to a place of understanding how Paul could grasp this truth and how someone like Judy lived so fully.

Paul knew the life that God gives

There is a lot in chapter 8 in comparison of life in the flesh chasing selfish desires and life in the Spirit, but I want to draw your attention to one thing from 8:11...

Romans 8:11 NIV

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

To have a life in God is to have life now. Not just a future hopeful reality, but a life of forgiveness, healing, and power now. For those in Christ, the life giving Spirit of God is please to dwell.

2. Paul had a heavenly perspective

Secondly, Paul’s perspective was heavenly. We can see that from 8:18....

Romans 8:18 NIV

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Even in hardship, Paul knew that his life was not summed up in pain, or victories, or accomplishments, or anything else under the sun. Paul knew that our present life is the firstfruits of a future hope when the glory we will have in Christ shines brighter than any darkness or hardship.

This is what frees Christians (or should free Christians) to walk as non anxious, confident children of God… even when things are bleak.

Listen friends, Judy would not want you to feel sorry in the least for her this day. For she knew that this day would bring a glory that we can barely imagine.

3. Paul knew he was loved

He says nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus. (I think he would clarify, nothing that happens to us…because we can distant ourselves from that love. In the same way we push away others that love us, we do that with God in so many ways), but nothing else in this life can separate you from the love of God. Paul was as free as any person can be because he knew he was loved by Jesus.

So when Paul says, we are more than conquerors,

he is reminding us that we are more than survivors.

He is reminding us that we are as loved now in Christ as we ever will be

He is almost giving us this joyful battle cry.

Kind of life Judy’s:

just keep laughing, just keep loving

In the name of the Father. and of the Son. and of the holy Spirit.

The Last Mile of the Way - Song

Following this benediction, the family will be escorted out to Pirtle, you all are welcome to join them for cookies and punch and continued time of fellowship.

Benediction

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.