St. Philip Lutheran Church10 July 2022 + Lect. 15c (Pentecost 5)Amos 7.7-17; Luke 10.25-37Rev. Josh Evans You know the feeling: Enough is enough. Maybe you’re overwhelmed with work or household chores. Or maybe you’re someone who has raised children or grandchildren. You’re exasperated. You’re tired. Your patience is running thin. It’s just…too much. You’re fed …
St. Philip Lutheran Church3 July 2022 + Lect. 14c (Pentecost 4)2 Kings 5.1-14Rev. Josh Evans “Praise to you for your saving waters,”we pray at the font:“Noah and the animals survive the flood,Hagar discovers your well.The Israelites escape through the sea,and they drink from your gushing rock.Naaman washes his leprosy away,and the Samaritan woman will never …
St. Philip Lutheran Church26 June 2022 + Pride SundayRev. Josh Evans Dear church, As I write this on Pride weekend in Chicago, I can’t help but remember my first Pride parade – also in Chicago – now 11 years ago. At 21 years old, after just graduating from college that spring, I was newly out …
Continue reading A Love Letter to the Church for Pride Sunday
I wrote this liturgy for the congregation I serve, St. Philip Lutheran Church in Glenview, Illinois, for Pride Sunday 2022. I offer it here for use by anyone who finds it helpful or enriching for their own community's worship. The base liturgy is drawn from the Affirmation of Baptism rite found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, …
St. Philip Lutheran Church19 June 2022 + Lect. 12c (Pentecost 2)1 Kings 19.1-18Rev. Josh Evans Everything was going great…until it wasn’t. Our first Sunday back in “ordinary time” brings us to the middle of the extraordinary story of Elijah, prophet and “troubler” of Israel. Today’s story opens with Elijah fleeing for his life. He is …
St. Philip Lutheran Church12 June 2022 + The Holy TrinityJohn 16.12-15; Exodus 3Rev. Josh Evans After four years of seminary, including two years of field education placements, and now nearly four years into ordained ministry, I’ve reached the stage of my preaching career where my sermon prep usually begins with a quick search through my …
Continue reading A God Who Cannot Be Explained (But Has to Be Experienced)
St. Philip Lutheran Church5 June 2022 + Day of PentecostActs 2.1-21Rev. Josh Evans [Disclaimer: This sermon is going to be interactive, and in a few minutes, I’m going to invite you to share briefly with someone you’re sitting next to. You’ve been warned.] They were all together in one place. For the past 36 hours, …
Continue reading A Sermon about How the Holy Spirit Shows Up
St. Philip Lutheran Church22 May 2022 + Sixth Sunday of EasterRevelation 21.10, 22–22.5; John 14.23-29Rev. Josh Evans Jesus’s words feel like a hopeful and welcome promise … and, at the same time, such a far off dream and unattainable vision for our time: As our country (yet again) grapples with the grief and terror of …
St. Philip Lutheran Church15 May 2022 + Fifth Sunday of EasterRevelation 21.1-6Rev. Josh Evans What if I told you that one of my favorite books in the entire Bible was the book of Revelation? You might look at me like I had two heads, which, frankly, sounds like something you might read about in the …
St. Philip Lutheran Church8 May 2022 + Fourth Sunday of Easter /Julian of Norwich, renewer of the churchJohn 10.22-30; Psalm 23Rev. Josh Evans In case you still need a Mother’s Day card, might I suggest Cards by Julian? On the front: “The mother’s service is the closest, the most helpful and the most sure, for …
Pastor Josh Evans 