St. John’s Lutheran Church24 December 2023 + Advent 4bLuke 1:46b-55Rev. Josh Evans Between two concerts, Beer & Carols, and a Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, it’s been a very musical week. It started a week ago Saturday, when I had the opportunity to attend Joy & Harmony, the Albany Gay Men’s Chorus holiday concert, …
St. John’s Lutheran Church10 December 2023 + Advent 2bMark 1:1-8Rev. Josh Evans The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God … starts … in the wilderness. Not in a stately palace, fit for a king. Not in Rome, the seat of imperial power. Not even in a house where everything …
St. John’s Lutheran Church26 November 2023 + Christ the KingLast Sunday before AdventMatthew 25:31-46Rev. Josh Evans INTRODUCTION: Keeping Time We keep time in different ways. Most of us keep time according to the calendar year, January through December. Anyone connected to academia keeps time according to the school year, roughly Labor Day through Memorial Day. …
Continue reading (Church) Year in Review: A Sermon-Hymn Sing for Christ the King
St. John’s Lutheran Church19 November 2023 + Lect. 33a (25 Pentecost)Second Sunday before AdventMatthew 25:14-30Rev. Josh Evans There’s no doubt that this parable, like the one before it, is challenging. In the first place, we’re confronted with the language of slavery – which, while different from the history of slavery in this country, is still …
St. John’s Lutheran Church12 November 2023 + Lect. 32a (24 Pentecost)Third Sunday before AdventMatthew 25:1-13Rev. Josh Evans There are two types of people this time of year: those who already have Christmas music resounding from their radios – and those who hate joy. Okay, maybe that’s a little extreme, but what’s life without a little …
St. Philip Lutheran Church18 December 2022 + Advent 4aMatthew 1.18-25Rev. Josh Evans The new chapel was magnificent and nearly perfect in every way … except for one tiny problem: There was no way to access the choir loft. In 1850, when the Catholic bishop of the territory of New Mexico issued a plea for a …
St. Philip Lutheran Church11 December 2022 + Advent 3aMatthew 11.2-11Rev. Josh Evans What do you hear? What do you see? The carols are ringing.The lights are shining.The smell of Christmas cookies and pies wafts through the air.And this morning, we light the rose-colored candle on our Advent wreath, representing joy. What do you hear? What …
St. Philip Lutheran Church4 December 2022 + Advent 2aMatt. 3.1-12; Isa. 11.1-10Rev. 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 suggest for your holiday …
St. Philip Lutheran Church27 November 2022 + Advent 1aMatt. 24.36-44; Isa. 2.1-5; Rom. 13.11-14Rev. Josh Evans There are two types of people: First, there’s the type of person who, at the stroke of midnight on November 1, instantly changes out the carved pumpkins for a brightly lit and spectacularly trimmed Christmas tree, usually while belting …
St. Philip Lutheran Church12 December 2021 + Advent 3cPhilippians 4.4-7Rev. Josh Evans Rejoice in the Lord always!Again, I say: Rejoice!Don’t worry about anything … just pray! Well, Paul, easier said than done. Especially where our world stands these days … a devastating reminder of the impact of gun violence as the community of Oxford, Michigan, …
Pastor Josh Evans 