St. John’s Lutheran Church6 April 2023 + Maundy ThursdayJohn 13.1-17, 31b-35Rev. Josh Evans This sermon begins with a story. It’s a story about saying goodbye. Tonight, we remember the story of the last meal that Jesus shared with his friends. They were probably sad, and maybe a little afraid. They didn’t know when, or even …
St. John’s Lutheran Church2 April 2023 + Sunday of the PassionMatthew 21.1-11; 26.14-27.66Rev. Josh Evans Paradox abounds in our liturgy today. We began with a festive palm procession, commemorating Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. With the crowds we shout, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of …
St. John’s Lutheran Church26 March 2023 + Lent 5aJohn 11.1-45; Ezekiel 37.1-14Rev. Josh Evans It’s probably the most famous prophecy in the book of Ezekiel: the valley of “dem dry bones.” Truthfully, it’s a bit of a terrifying vision: for these dry bones to suddenly shake and rattle and come together, with sinews and flesh …
St. Philip Lutheran Church26 February 2023 + Lent 1aMatthew 4.1-11Rev. Josh Evans It had to be one of the most difficult and dangerous journeys I ever made. In hindsight, I probably should’ve just canceled. In the winter of 2017, I was in the middle of my year-long seminary internship in Omaha, Nebraska. In February of …
St. Philip Lutheran Church19 February 2023 + Transfiguration of Our LordMatthew 17.1-9Rev. Josh Evans It’s tempting to want to stay in certain moments. No one wants to think about packing up on the last day of a dream vacation – the last poolside breakfast on the brightest, sunniest day before heading back home, probably to …
St. Philip Lutheran Church12 February 2023 + Lectionary 6a (Epiphany 6)1 Corinthians 3.1-9Rev. Josh Evans To what should be absolutely no one’s surprise, I wasn’t exactly one of the “popular” kids in high school. I was quiet and shy. I didn’t play sports or do theatre. During my senior year, I got to be a …
St. Philip Lutheran Church29 January 2023 + Lectionary 4a (Epiphany 4)Micah 6.1-8; 1 Cor. 1.18-31; Matt. 5.1-12Rev. Josh Evans It reminds me of Good Friday. “O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me!” Micah’s lament is leveled squarely at God’s people. Despite God’s clear instructions for …
St. Philip Lutheran Church22 January 2023 + Lectionary 3a (Epiphany 3)Matthew 4.12-23Rev. Josh Evans Dreams are fascinating. According to sleep experts, our dreams can serve a variety of purposes: everything from helping us to process our emotions or recent events … to incidental brain activity that has no real purpose or meaning. Most people dream …
St. Philip Lutheran Church15 January 2023 + Lectionary 2a (Epiphany 2)John 1.29-42Rev. Josh Evans Who is Jesus? That was the question recently posed to me by a colleague. I admit, for someone in my line of work who should have a ready-made answer to that question, it took me by surprise … and I began …
St. Philip Lutheran Church8 January 2023 + Baptism of Our LordMatthew 3.13-17Rev. Josh Evans It started off as an assignment from his therapist: a letter to himself. Dear Evan Hansen,Today is going to be an amazing day. Because today all you have to do is just be yourself. But for Evan, in the Broadway musical …
Pastor Josh Evans 