St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Albany, NY26 October 2025 + Twentieth Sunday after PentecostProper 25 / Lectionary 30cLuke 18:9-14The Rev. Josh Evans (Jump ahead to 23:05 for the beginning of the sermon this week.) I have a confession:I hate stewardship sermons. (How’s that for an intro from the guest preacherbrought here specifically for your stewardship campaign?) …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York31 August 2025 + Twelfth Sunday after PentecostProper 17 / Lectionary 22cLuke 14:1, 7-14The Rev. 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 neatly organized.If we had projection screens in …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York13 July 2025 + Fifth Sunday after PentecostProper 10 / Lectionary 15cLuke 10:25-37The Rev. Josh Evans In nearly seven years of ordained ministry,you might be shocked to learn – as I was –that I have, apparently, never preached on this parable before.This parable of the so-called “Good Samaritan,”as our Bibles …
St. John’s Lutheran Church19 November 2023 + Lect. 33a (25 Pentecost)Second Sunday before AdventMatthew 25:14-30Rev. Josh Evans There’s no doubt that this parable, like the one before it, is challenging. In the first place, we’re confronted with the language of slavery – which, while different from the history of slavery in this country, is still …
St. John’s Lutheran Church12 November 2023 + Lect. 32a (24 Pentecost)Third Sunday before AdventMatthew 25:1-13Rev. Josh Evans There are two types of people this time of year: those who already have Christmas music resounding from their radios – and those who hate joy. Okay, maybe that’s a little extreme, but what’s life without a little …
St. John’s Lutheran Church15 October 2023 + Lect. 28a (20 Pentecost)Matthew 22.1-14Rev. Josh Evans It’s been a difficult week. Because of an act of terror by an extremist group. Because of the resulting humanitarian crisis. And because of the way the present conflict has given rise to a renewed hostility and divisiveness, feeding into an …
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St. John’s Lutheran Church23 July 2023 + Lectionary 16a (8 Pentecost)Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43Rev. Josh Evans As you already know from last week, I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a “country person.” I don’t know the first thing about farming, I can’t keep a houseplant alive, and – I can’t overstate this enough …
St. John’s Lutheran Church16 July 2023 + Lectionary 15a (7 Pentecost)Matthew 13.1-9, 18-23Rev. Josh Evans I am, by all accounts and evidence, a city person. I have never lived, nor do I have any desire to live, on a farm. Really, I don’t even like camping. Don’t get me wrong: That’s no diss to country …
St. Philip Lutheran Church18 September 2022 + Lect. 25c (Pentecost 15)Luke 16.1-13Rev. Josh Evans After a money laundering scheme for a Mexican drug cartel goes wrong, the Byrde family suddenly finds their lives uprooted – as they relocate from their comfortable home in Chicago to a new life in the Lake of the Ozarks. By …
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 …
Pastor Josh Evans 