Linda L. Lambert, 80, of Decorah, IA, died Tuesday, July 5, 2022, at Wellington Place in Decorah. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 11th, at 11:00 AM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Decorah, with Pastor Karla Wildberger and Pastor Ken Kimbell officiating. Burial will be at Old West Paint Creek Cemetery, in rural Waukon. Friends may call from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Sunday at Martin – Grau Funeral Home in Waukon and one hour before the services on Monday at the church. Read the full obituary here: https://www.martinfunerals.com/obituary/linda-lambert

Blessed be the memory of Linda Lambert. 

Pastor Karla Wildberger

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church    Decorah, Iowa

Psalm 126, Galatians 3:23-29, Acts 8:26-40   

Grace and peace to you travelers from God our Creator and our Lord and traveling companion, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Good morning!! Again, it is wonderful to be with you today … and for the following two weeks. I was so excited months ago when speaking with Pastor Amy and she told me about the summer series, “Traveling with the Spirit”.

It is always a good reminder on our journey with Jesus that we are never alone – the Holy Spirit is ALWAYS with us through the twists and turns of our faith journey.

My hubby and I LOVE to travel!! We know we are blessed and privileged to do so. Pastor Rolf shared with me that he has spoken about Rick Steves and shown the video of “Why We Travel”. My hubby and I have been on five Rick Steves Tours, through the company. We respect his company and thoroughly enjoy the tours’ focus on history and culture of each city or country we are visiting.

In preparing for my preaching time with you all today, I read an interview Rick Steves did for a podcast on “Why We Travel”. In the interview Rick said, “And I’m realizing that what makes a good traveler is being positive, being curious, being eager to get out of your comfort zone and try something new and to learn from other people.”

My hubby is retired from the USAF. After we were first married we were stationed in the North of England, and for our first anniversary he took me to Paris. Romantic? Right? (heavy sigh) I wish!!! I was so scared and nervous, and my mind was full of the awful stereotypes of Parisiens; I tried to take in how amazing Paris is! This young gal, originally from South Dakota, was standing at the feet of the Eiffel Tower, wow, and eating a pain au chocolat!!! Brilliant!!! But even with all the amazing sites and tasty treats, I was so scared!!! I was a little curious but I was NOT “eager to get out of my comfort zone” as Rick Steves suggests! (I am pretty sure it was also this trip that my hubby learned the hard way that he had to keep me well fed and watered 😊

That was my first visit to Paris. Years and years later (with more travel under my belt), my second visit to Paris was a totally different scenario. I got lost!!! I was by myself, thought I knew my way back to the ho- tel, all I had was this photo copy of a map. When I realized I was lost, I took a few deep breaths and told myself to remain calm. I was walking down a street, decided to turn left; it wasn’t long and I saw some young men standing by the street. As I got closer I realized they were French Army personnel, carrying long guns. I walked up to them and said, “Parlez vous Anglais?” (Do you speak English?) They replied, “oui.” I said, “I am lost, I need to get here (and I point to the map).” They replied, “We are not from Paris! Go ask those boys.” They pointed to some young men coming out of a courtyard. So I go up to them,  again asked, “Parlez vous Anglais?” They said, “oui.” Between the few young men looking at my map, talking with each other, they eventually got me going in the correct direction!!!  Whew!!!

I got back to the hotel, a little shook up, but none the worse for wear. But had that been my first visit to Paris, I seriously would have been a mess and I am sure my anxiousness would have made me sick. I stayed calm, asked for help from strangers and got home. (Turns out the fellas with the long guns were security for a Synagogue, which was where the other young fellas came out of.)

“And I’m realizing that what makes a good traveler is being positive, being curious, being eager to get out of your comfort zone and try something new and to learn from other people.” (Rick Steves) These traits for a good traveler also come in handy as we are on our faith journey. I have found that when we can move out of our comfort zones we can see and experience So. Much. More!!!  

We have the perfect example in front of us this morning with Philip and the Eunuch. Yes, the Spirit was guiding Philip, but we all know that as humans we are VERY good at ignoring the Spirit – turning a blind eye when the Spirit is trying to show us something, right? You know I am right 😉. But this time Philip listened as the Spirit guided him to the chariot. Everything could have come to a screeching halt at that moment because as humans are now, humans were then – judgmental of folks who look different than us.  Acts deliberately calls the gentleman on the chariot an Ethiopian Eunuch. Scholars do not know why he is a eunuch, and I don’t believe it matters. What we know is that this gentleman was learned, had a position of responsibility, and was a person of color. He was reading from the prophet Isaiah when Philip approached the chariot, and look what happened after that!!! Can you imagine being there, listening to them? It sounds like it was the most amazing theological conversation!!! The sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ and the gentleman was baptized. That’s evangelism at its finest and purest. As one of my long ago seminary professors wrote on this event: “This is a sheer miracle – a miracle full of the grace of God in the person of Philip and the waters of renewal. The impossibility of this event is made possible by the unbelievable reach of God’s grace.” (Richard Jensen, Working Preacher) He went on to write: “That’s the whole story of the Book of Acts. God’s grace is wildly inclusive. The church is moved out to the ends of the earth and reaches out still today.”

The gentleman hungered to know the truth. Philip was led by the Holy Spirit and by the actions of both men – being positive, curious, eager – barriers were broken. “God’s grace is wildly inclusive!” I believe that we need to be crying this out from our pulpits and street corners!!! Yes, we each have our own opinions about this, that and the other thing, but when it comes to our faith, our journey with Jesus, we must proclaim: God’s grace is wildly inclusive!!! And to be able to proclaim this amazing, awesome truth we ask the Holy Spirit to fill us to be a good traveler – full of being positive, being curious, being eager to get out of our comfort zone.

Because look what happens when we do – the good news is shared, the waters of baptism rain down, grace is shared, and ALL are included and welcome.

God’s grace is wildly inclusive!  

Amen

Rev. Stacey Nalean-Carlson – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church    Decorah, Iowa

In her book Traveling Mercies, Anne Lamott describes the origin of the book’s title. “‘Traveling mercies,’ the old people at our church said to [our preacher, Veronica] when she left [on vacation]. This is what they always say when one of us goes off for a while. Traveling mercies: love the journey, God is with you, come home safe and sound.”

It’s a command and a promise. Traveling mercies. We can love the journey because God is with us. We can see the mercies attending us along the way—even in a week like this—and hear a sustained and sustaining word of blessing in our ears, because God is with us. No matter where our travels take us, no matter the cost, no matter how they challenge our position or perspective, God is with us. Home—safe and sound—is our journey’s end. 

Today’s theme is ‘Traveling to Serve”. I think there’s an invitation in this reading from Acts to ask how we know when service is needed, what our service is in service to, and how we are equipped for service by way of blessing. 

The Hellenists are complaining against the Hebrews because their widows are being neglected in the daily distribution of food. Remember, in those early days after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, “all who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:44-45). 

But apparently, all didn’t quite mean all. 

The Hellenists were of the Jewish faith, but unlike the Hebrews they had not always lived in Judea. Instead, they had lived in other parts of the world, among people not of the Jewish faith. They spoke Greek instead of Hebrew and had surely been influenced by Greek culture and ideas. Their widows are the ones being neglected, left out, denied what they need to be well.

As people of the way, those who follow Jesus, we travel to serve—making outer and inner journeys—to move from exclusion to inclusivity, from some being worthy to all being fed. 

Service is needed wherever, and whenever; all doesn’t really mean all.

The twelve agree that there is a need to be met, a change that needs to be made, but who’s going to do it? Should they neglect the word of God to serve food instead? This is where I’d like to step into the scene and ask those twelve to clarify. Isn’t feeding vulnerable people serving the word of God? 

I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt, though, because they go on to recognize a truth that’s vital to our life together. They essentially say, “Hey, we see that there’s a need here, but we can’t meet it by ourselves. If we try to do this ourselves, something will have to give and we’ll be trading one instance of neglect for an- other. But if not us, who?” 

The twelve call on the whole community of disciples to select from among themselves seven, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, to be appointed to this task. This is now a journey from recognizing need to meeting need, equipping the community more broadly to serve. The twelve pray and lay their hands on the seven and the word of God continues to spread. The service of the twelve is distinct from the service of the seven, but it’s all meaningful, needed, valuable service. The same Greek word—diakonia—is used in this passage to describe both waiting at tables and serving the word. 

So, yes, feeding vulnerable people is serving the word of God. Preaching and sharing testimony, praying and healing are serving the word of God. Advocating, protesting, making signs, and marching with pride are serving the word of God—a living word that speaks truth to power, looks to the interests of others, embraces those on the margins and overturns tables of greed and corruption. 

Our service—our baptismal journey of loving transformation—is in service to the Word of God made flesh, the one who came not to condemn but to save this weary, warring world.

Rising out of the waters of baptism, the newly baptized receives a blessing with the laying on of hands: Sustain this beloved one with the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and for- ever. Later, when that baptism is affirmed, the blessing is repeated—this time asking God to stir up in this be- loved one the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

We don’t know the words of blessing that the twelve offered to the seven as they were called to a journey of service, but we do know that it involved prayer and the laying on of hands. We are equipped for service by way of blessing. That’s why every week, as we leave this experience of worship for service in the world, we receive a blessing. It’s why every night we trace the sign of the cross on our children’s foreheads and bless them with the promise that they’ve been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever. 

It’s why we offer words of blessing at the ordinations of deacons (God, let your servant’s life and teaching so reflect your grace that many may come to know you and love you) and pastors (God, make her a faithful pastor, patient teacher, and wise counselor), at weddings (God, bless them so that their lives together may bear witness to your love), and when we are in need of healing (be strengthened and filled with God’s grace). We are equipped for service—in the church, in our relationships, and in our daily lives—by way of blessing.

So, traveling mercies today, beloved ones. Together we are on a journey of service, marked by blessing. The gift of the Holy Spirit is ours. Filled with faith and wisdom, we recognize where service is needed and we respond —not all in the same way, not all of us to every situation, but all in service to the Word of God, the crucified and risen Christ.

Traveling mercies, beloved ones. Here’s a blessing I wrote at the water’s edge earlier this month, with the pandemic of gun violence on my mind. It’s a blessing for us today. Bless the river. Bless the birdsong. Bless the ones who know despair. Bless the flowing sanctuary, holding every wordless prayer. Bless the winged kindred calling, “Courage. We have miles to go.” Bless the raging grief. Compel us, Love that will not let us go.

Traveling mercies today, beloved ones. You who rejoice. You who weep. You who see the need and rage with grief. “Love the journey. God is with you. Come home safe and sound.” 

Amen.