St. Philip Lutheran Church20 March 2022 + Lent 3cLuke 13.1-9Rev. Josh Evans “Bloom where you are planted” … or so the saying goes. It’s well-meaning enough, similar to the equally popular: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” The apparent wisdom behind these sentiments is to make the best of a less-than-ideal situation. Don’t get …
St. Philip Lutheran Church13 March 2022 + Lent 2cLuke 13.31-35; Genesis 15.1-12, 17-18Rev. Josh Evans The images are staggering and heartbreaking. Amid the blaring of air raid sirens and the persistent sound of gunfire and missile strikes, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has found residents of Kyiv and neighboring cities taking cover… … in bomb …
St. Philip Lutheran Church6 March 2022 + Lent 1cLuke 4.1-13Rev. Josh Evans Don’t tempt me. Written on a page, those words can hold a plethora of meanings. The key, of course, is in the tone. The server comes to your table: “Here’s our dessert menu!” “Don’t tempt me,” you chime back, knowing full well once …
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Logan Square27 February 2022 + Transfiguration of Our LordLuke 9.28-43aRev. Josh Evans This morning, Pastor Erin Coleman Branchaud (St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square in Chicago) and I did a "pulpit swap." Pastor Erin preached at St. Philip, which you can read/watch/listen to on St. Philip's sermon blog. My …
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 Church6 February 2022 + Lect. 5c (Epiphany 5)Luke 5.1-11Rev. Josh Evans It was a risky venture. Sure, they had always done things together in the past. They collaborated on summer projects and even sat in on each other’s regular weekly gatherings. But something as big and ambitious as this … a merger? …
St. Philip Lutheran Church30 January 2022 + Lect. 4c (Epiphany 4)Luke 4.21-30Rev. Josh Evans Just in case you haven’t picked up on my obsession with Encanto over the past week, including references in Bible Study and in GLOW Exploration – and of course the children’s message just moments ago… Let’s talk about Bruno. Outcast, shamed, …
St. Philip Lutheran Church23 January 2022 + Lect. 3c (Epiphany 3)Luke 4.14-21; Neh. 8.1-3, 5-6, 8-10Rev. Josh Evans There’s a saying: “Patience is a virtue.” I’m sure whatever well-meaning person first thought that up had every good intention in mind, but I’m sorry to say, by that assertion, I am not very virtuous. It’s no …
St. Philip Lutheran Church24 December 2021 + Nativity of Our LordLuke 2.1-20; Titus 2.11Rev. Josh Evans I wonder how she felt when she of all people was chosen to be the first to receive the “good news of great joy.” Lutheran pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber gives us some insight: “We have no idea what Mary was …
Continue reading When the Soul Felt Its Worth + A Sermon for Christmas Eve 2021
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 