Jesus Sends Us Out
HTLC Transition Minister Susan Lindberg Haley spent last week as guest chaplain at Camp Calumet in Freedom, New Hampshire. She delivered the sermon below at Calumet’s Sunday Family Camp worship service on July 6. For more information on Calumet Lutheran Ministries, including childrens camps, family camps, and retreats and special programs, visit the camp’s website at calumet.org.
It is my joy and delight to be worshiping with you this morning in this beautiful space at Calumet. This is my first time serving as Family Camp chaplain so I’m looking forward to all the new experiences this week promises to bring.
Having been raised as a Lutheran in Central Massachusetts, this is not, of course, my first time at Calumet. I’ve been here many times over the years; in every season of the year; stayed in every type of lodging there is; attended many wonderful retreats and programs; sometimes by myself but usually as part of a multigenerational group. Each time has filled my heart with joy and peace.
Calumet is a holy place, is it not? A place where all kinds of people can gather and experience God’s love and know that the kin-dom of God has come near.
It was at Calumet that I first began discerning a call to become a Minister of Word and Service (that is, a Deacon) twenty five years ago. That’s a fun story that I’d love to share with you sometime.
Right now, some of you may be wondering – you’re a what? I’m a Deacon, a Minister of Word and Service. ELCA Deacons are Rostered Ministers, similar to Pastors (Ministers of Word and Sacrament). All Rostered Ministers – Deacons and Pastors – are called and ordained to serve the mission of the church with ministerial leadership.
Deacons serve the church at the boundary of the church and the world – proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ out into the world through what we say and do; and bringing the needs of the world back to the church for prayer and action.
So Deacons are sent out from the church – the assembly of God’s people – and into the world – to be a prophetic voice in the world and to the church – to love and serve and comfort and care for all people and creation, witnessing to God’s steadfast love for all that God has created.
Deacons do not do this work alone. Part of what we do in the sending out into the world is equip and empower people of faith – people like you! – to go out and live your faith in the world – bringing healing and love and joy and peace in the name of Jesus to everyone you meet.
In my first call as a Deacon, I served with and among people who have disabilities. It was a wonderful call; a life-giving call. I got to do ministry with many wonderful people who share their love for God spontaneously, joyously and wholeheartedly.
Part of my ministry included an inclusive worship service for people of all abilities. Once a month a group of faithful people would gather on a Sunday afternoon to worship God with joy and thanksgiving; with song and music and readings and messages and prayer and dancing in the aisles. Following the service we would sit down together and enjoy a potluck meal, with time for conversation and sharing stories and building community.
I did not do this ministry of inclusive worship and community by myself, of course. My partner in this ministry (as in life) was (is) my spouse, John. My role was to plan and lead worship; John’s role was to manage the kitchen and set up the meal. He did an outstanding job.
For all us who were there, eating together and sharing fellowship around the table was an important part of the time we spent together. These were Spirit-filled times; times when the kin-dom of God has come near and our hearts were filled with joy and peace.
As we heard in the gospel reading this morning, when Jesus sends his followers out into the world to do God’s work and to share God’s love, we are not sent out alone; we are sent in pairs; we are sent with other people who love Jesus. Serving the world in the name of Jesus is a community activity.
Jesus sends his followers out in pairs – in community – so we can face the joys and demand of serving God’s people together. We can encourage and support each other as we continue to do the work God has given us to do; even in those times when what we say and do is not well received by those around us.
Jesus sends his followers out in pairs so that we can remind each other that the kin-dom of God has come near and our hearts can be filled with joy and peace.
Even now – today – Jesus continues to send us – his followers – out in pairs – in community – to bring healing and love and joy and peace to the world.
The world is a harsh and scary place these days. It is in desperate need of healing and love and joy and peace.
The cruel budget reconciliation bill that was signed into law in this country on Friday will drastically reduce access to healthcare and food assistance and immigration reform, putting the lives of so many vulnerable people at great risk. People will suffer because of this law. Some of those people could be us; some of those people are us.
This broken world is ripe for harvesting; for hearing and seeing and feeling and tasting that the kin-dom of God has come near and all our hearts can be filed with joy and peace.
This troubled world is waiting for us – as followers of Jesus – to go out into the world and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ through what we say and by what we do.
There is work for each one of us to do – to feed people who are hungry; comfort those who are afraid; care for the sick; clothe the naked; take care of the stranger (the immigrant and refugee), the widow and the poor; speak out for those who are oppressed; stand along side transgender and nonbinary people; advocate for justice and peace in places where international human rights are being violated.
And always, always, we can lift our prayers up to God – prayers of intercession and lament; of praise and thanksgiving; our joys and concerns; praying for God’s will to be done and God’s kin-dom to come. So, pray without ceasing.
The good news for today is that the kin-dom of God has come near and is near to us today; in this holy place called Calumet; and we can be filled with joy and peace.
The good news for today is that Jesus is here – feeding us with his Word and his body and his blood, giving us strength to do the work he has for us to do.
The good news for today is that Jesus is sending us – his followers – out from this holy place, in pairs and in community, to bring healing and love and joy and peace to this world that God so dearly loves. Go on your way from here in the strong name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Say to everyone you meet “The kin-dom of God has come near to you.” (Luke 10:9). Trust that it is so.