St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York1 June 2025 + Easter 7cRevelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21The Rev. Josh Evans There’s a danger in hearing only what we want to hear,seeing only what we want to see,believing only what we want to believe. We live in a world that makes it increasingly more possible,even appealing,to live in our …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York18 August 2024 + Mary, Mother of Our LordLuke 1:46-55Rev. Josh Evans Maybe you saw it –the Opening Ceremonies –as the 2024 Summer Olympics kicked off in Paris,just a few short weeks ago. Maybe you marveledat the spectacle and the grandeur of it all. Maybe you saw the almost immediate …
St. John’s Lutheran Church18 June 2023 + Lectionary 11a (3 Pentecost)Matthew 9.35–10.23Rev. Josh Evans Another Sunday, another call story. Actually, make that stories (plural). In the span of a few verses, one disciple becomes twelve – and probably more than that. They’re just the ones (the men) who get named. Their task: Proclaim the good …
St. John’s Lutheran Church11 June 2023 + Lectionary 10a (2 Pentecost)Matthew 9.9-13, 18-26Rev. Josh Evans (Video unavailable this week.) There’s admittedly a lot going on in this Sunday’s gospel reading: a call story, a resuscitation story, and a healing story. Where do we even start? It can feel a little suffocating – perhaps as claustrophobic …
St. Philip Lutheran Church23 October 2022 + Lect. 30c (Pentecost 20)Luke 18.9-14Rev. Josh Evans Every Sunday, the service began with a medley of songs led by the band. As the final song concluded, the worship leader would welcome the congregation, often following the formula of “whether you are ____ or ____.” Gay or straight. Lifelong …
St. Philip Lutheran Church28 August 2022 + Lect. 22c (Pentecost 12)Luke 14.1, 7-14Rev. Josh Evans “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” It’s so simple, so proverb-like, so beautiful of a sentiment. Words to live by. It’s no secret that I like things in order. In my office, books are sorted by category …
St. Philip Lutheran Church29 August 2021 + Lectionary 22b (Pent. 14)Mark 7.1-8, 14-15, 21-23Rev. Josh Evans, preaching Most mornings, when I first open Facebook, at the top of my newsfeed is a section called “Memories.” On this day, 1 year ago… 3 years ago… 7 years ago… and it shows me what I posted or …
St. Philip Lutheran Church6 June 2021 + Lectionary 10B (Pent. 2)2 Cor. 4.13--15.1; Mk. 3.20-35Rev. Josh Evans, preaching I remember it like it was yesterday. It was the summer of 2011 … almost 10 years ago to the day. I had just graduated from college earlier that spring, with my highly honorable -- and practically …
St. Philip Lutheran Church22 November 2020 + Christ the KingMatthew 25.31-46Rev. Josh Evans, preaching Think about the names of churches for a moment - particularly those with names related to Jesus. Immanuel. Lord of Love. Resurrection. Redeemer. Cross of Life. Or perhaps most appropriately for today, Christ the King. What do you notice? They’re all …
St. Philip Lutheran Church11 October 2020 + Lectionary 28AMatthew 22.1-14Rev. Josh Evans, preaching During sophomore year at Lutheran High School North, part of our curriculum included a New Testament class. When it came to parables, we would be taught how to “interpret” them - which meant, more or less, assigning real-life roles to the various …
Continue reading A Sermon about Being Cast Out (and Where God Is)
Pastor Josh Evans 