St. John’s Lutheran Church4 June 2023 + The Holy TrinityMatthew 28.16-20Rev. Josh Evans People can become famous for many things. Some write best-selling novels. Others paint masterpiece artwork. And still others compose magnificent pieces of music. Me? I went viral for a TikTok video. Well, at least church-world viral. Two years ago, as I sat …
St. John’s Lutheran Church9 April 2023 + Resurrection of Our LordMatthew 28.1-10Rev. Josh Evans The possibilities are endless:Happy birthday!Congratulations!Thank you!Even “Just because!” It looks like a harmless enough greeting card, but after you sign it, close it, and pull a little tab out of the side, the recipient will be greeted not just with your …
St. John’s Lutheran Church2 April 2023 + Sunday of the PassionMatthew 21.1-11; 26.14-27.66Rev. Josh Evans Paradox abounds in our liturgy today. We began with a festive palm procession, commemorating Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. With the crowds we shout, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of …
St. Philip Lutheran Church26 February 2023 + Lent 1aMatthew 4.1-11Rev. Josh Evans It had to be one of the most difficult and dangerous journeys I ever made. In hindsight, I probably should’ve just canceled. In the winter of 2017, I was in the middle of my year-long seminary internship in Omaha, Nebraska. In February of …
St. Philip Lutheran Church19 February 2023 + Transfiguration of Our LordMatthew 17.1-9Rev. Josh Evans It’s tempting to want to stay in certain moments. No one wants to think about packing up on the last day of a dream vacation – the last poolside breakfast on the brightest, sunniest day before heading back home, probably to …
St. Philip Lutheran Church29 January 2023 + Lectionary 4a (Epiphany 4)Micah 6.1-8; 1 Cor. 1.18-31; Matt. 5.1-12Rev. Josh Evans It reminds me of Good Friday. “O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me!” Micah’s lament is leveled squarely at God’s people. Despite God’s clear instructions for …
St. Philip Lutheran Church22 January 2023 + Lectionary 3a (Epiphany 3)Matthew 4.12-23Rev. Josh Evans Dreams are fascinating. According to sleep experts, our dreams can serve a variety of purposes: everything from helping us to process our emotions or recent events … to incidental brain activity that has no real purpose or meaning. Most people dream …
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 …
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 …
