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 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 York15 December 2024 + Advent 6 (Advent 3c)Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18Rev. Josh Evans Rejoice in the Lord always!Again, I say: Rejoice!Don’t be anxious about anything … just… pray. With all due respect to St. Paul,that’s a lot easier said than done. If peace sometimes feels like the hardest candle to …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York8 December 2024 + Advent 5 (Advent 2c)Luke 3:1-6Rev. Josh Evans Over the past four weeks of our extended Advent observance,we have lit our candles… The candle of care –reminding us of our calling to extend to othersthe care of a God who cares for us. The candle of faith …
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. 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 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 Church5 December 2021 + Advent 2cLuke 1.68-79 (Luke 1.5-23)Rev. Josh Evans Almost two years ago, when my best friend was ordained as a pastor, by the time that day finally rolled around, it had been such a long journey … with roadblocks and hurdles and difficulties almost every step of the way. …
Pastor Josh Evans 