St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York8 March 2026 + The Third Sunday in LentJohn 4:5-42; Exodus 17:1-7The Rev. Josh Evans No one could have imagined:back when they were getting ready to leave Egypt,hurriedly cooking, eating,packing up what little they had and could carry with them;on the bank of the Red Sea,the excitement swelling up inside …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York22 February 2026 + The First Sunday in LentGenesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11The Rev. Josh Evans Since its inception in 1947,the so-called Doomsday Clock,an initiative of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists,has served as a clever, if not ominous, visual,warning the public about how close we areto destroying our planetwith …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York18 February 2026 + Ash WednesdayJoel 2:1-2, 12-17The Rev. Josh Evans Twice in my life have I read the book of Joel in its entirety –which is less impressive when you realizeit’s only three chapters long. The first was during study hall in high school –yes, I was that cool …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York15 February 2026 + The Transfiguration of Our LordMatthew 17:1-9The Rev. Josh Evans It begins with a question: “Who do you say that I am?”Which prompts Peter’s bold confession: “You are the Messiah.”Well done, Peter! But when Jesus starts explaining what exactly it meansfor him to be the Messiah –that …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York8 February 2026 + The Fifth Sunday after the EpiphanyLectionary 5aMatthew 5:13-20The Rev. Josh Evans Light is a powerful image. Just about a decade ago, I was on internship –the nearly year-long period of full-time field educationrequired as a part of my seminary formation –at Augustana Lutheran Church in Omaha, …
Continue reading A Sermon for ICE Agents (and the Ordinary People Who Protest Them)
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York18 January 2026 + The Second Sunday after the EpiphanyLectionary 2aJohn 1:29-42The Rev. Josh Evans Who is Jesus? A loaded question if ever there were one.It’s also the question the gospel writer puts before us today.Instead of one, neat answer, though,we get several.And in fact, the entire first chapter of …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York11 January 2026 + The Baptism of Our LordMatthew 3:13-17The Rev. Josh Evans Baptism: what’s the point? To do the thing because it’s what we’re “supposed” to do?To check the “salvation” box and make sure we get into heaven?Or to check the “ELCA” box and make sure we get another …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York24 December 2025 + The Nativity of Our LordChristmas EveLuke 2:1-20The Rev. Josh Evans Christmas is a good time for poetry. Here’s one – or part of it at least:(If you were here for our Christmas pageant on Sunday,you’ll know where this is going.) “As a kid those Sunday mornings …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York14 December 2025 + The Sixth Sunday of Advent(Advent 3a)Luke 1:46b-55 [1 Samuel 2:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10]The Rev. Josh Evans Stories of conception and birth abound,not merely at Advent and Christmas,but throughout the Scriptures.In this way, Jesus‘ conception and birth story appears not out of nowhere,but against the backdrop of a …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York7 December 2025 + The Fifth Sunday of Advent(Advent 2a)Matthew 3:1-12; Isaiah 11:1-10The Rev. Josh Evans In the midst of all the holiday preparations this time of year,it’s not difficult to get lost in all the things to be done.So, to make at least one thing easier to prepare,might I …
Pastor Josh Evans 