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 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 …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York23 March 2025 + Lent 3cIsaiah 55:1-9The Rev. Josh Evans “Water! Water! We praise you, O God, for water –the rain that nourishes animals and plants,the water for drinking and bathing.We praise you, O God, for water. “We praise you, O God, for our water stories –a flood that cleansed …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York12 January 2025 + Baptism of Our LordLuke 3:15-17, [18-20], 21-22Rev. Josh Evans “Verify you are human.” Nothing quite brings you to the brink of an existential crisis quite so quickly as a tiny dialogue box, prompting you to check a box to confirm that you are indeed a human …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York23 June 2024 + Lectionary 12bMark 4:35-41Rev. Josh Evans A mysterious new alarm appears on the console. “It’s probably not important,” they say, dismissively. Such is where we leave the intrepid crew of personified emotions – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust – safely in “Headquarters,” having navigated now 12-year-old …
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 …
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 Church13 February 2022 + Lect. 6c (Epiphany 6)Jer. 17.5-10; Psalm 1; Luke 6.17-26Rev. Josh Evans What is filling your cup? Every Monday morning, I get a weekly email from a friend who serves as a pastor in the Milwaukee area. These emails always include a short devotion – which, admittedly, I don’t …
St. Philip Lutheran Church2 May 2021 + Fifth Sunday of EasterActs 8.26-40Rev. Josh Evans, preaching Before we get to the wilderness road between Jerusalem and Gaza, there’s another road between Jerusalem and Emmaus. Two disciples are walking along together, in shared grief over the death of Jesus, when they are joined by an unknown traveler, …
Pastor Josh Evans 