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 York9 February 2025 + Lectionary 5cIsaiah 6:1-13; Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11Rev. Josh Evans It’s been over a decade now,but I remember it like it was yesterday: I was at a small group leaders’ retreat for Urban Village Church in Chicago, where I had been attending during the …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York26 January 2025 + Lectionary 3cLuke 4:14-21, [22-30]; Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19Rev. Josh Evans Words have power. For the community returning from exile,people of every gender and age, of every status and ability,hearing the words of the Torah read by Ezra the priestelicits a variety of responses. This …
St. John’s Lutheran Church6 August 2023 + Lectionary 18a (10 Pentecost)Matthew 14.13-21; Isaiah 55.1-5Rev. Josh Evans I’d like to think I know a thing or two about good food. Within the first few months of moving across the country, I’ve already found my new go-to places for tacos, pizza, and bagels – three of the …
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 Church7 August 2022 + Lect. 19c (Pentecost 9)Isaiah 1.1, 10-20; Luke 12.32-40Rev. Josh Evans Some YouTube videos just speak to you, you know? One of my favorites – aptly titled “[Stuff] Pastors Say (When Writing Sermons)” – hits particularly close to home. As the video opens to the preacher sitting in front …
St. Philip Lutheran Church6 December 2020 + Advent 2BIsaiah 40.1-11; Mark 1.1-8Rev. Josh Evans, preaching Punctuation matters. Maybe you’ve seen an image with these or similar words online:Let’s eat, Grandma!Let’s eat Grandma! The difference a comma makes! Meanwhile, in Isaiah 40, open one translation of the bible and read:A voice cries out: “In the wilderness …
St. Philip Lutheran Church23 August 2020 + Lectionary 21AMatthew 16.13-20; Isaiah 51.1-6; Romans 12.1-8Rev. Josh Evans, preaching I was terrified … and desperately trying to figure out any excuse to say no. I had only been attending this new church for a matter of months. Every week, the pattern of the liturgy was the same: …
Pastor Josh Evans 