St. Philip Lutheran Church26 June 2022 + Pride SundayRev. Josh Evans Dear church, As I write this on Pride weekend in Chicago, I can’t help but remember my first Pride parade – also in Chicago – now 11 years ago. At 21 years old, after just graduating from college that spring, I was newly out …
Continue reading A Love Letter to the Church for Pride Sunday
I wrote this liturgy for the congregation I serve, St. Philip Lutheran Church in Glenview, Illinois, for Pride Sunday 2022. I offer it here for use by anyone who finds it helpful or enriching for their own community's worship. The base liturgy is drawn from the Affirmation of Baptism rite found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, …
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 Church6 June 2021 + Lectionary 10B (Pent. 2)2 Cor. 4.13--15.1; Mk. 3.20-35Rev. Josh Evans, preaching I remember it like it was yesterday. It was the summer of 2011 … almost 10 years ago to the day. I had just graduated from college earlier that spring, with my highly honorable -- and practically …
St. Philip Lutheran Church6 September 2020 + Lectionary 23AMatthew 18.15-20; Ezekiel 33.7-11; Romans 13.8-14Rev. Josh Evans, preaching We need to talk. Anyone who has ever been in any kind of relationship with any other human being knows what that means. Something uncomfortable - but necessary - is coming. Therein lies the problem, though: It feels …
St. Philip Lutheran Church16 August 2020 + Lectionary 20AMatthew 15.21-28Rev. Josh Evans, preaching Maybe you’ve seen the popular meme online: A man casually sits behind a table, a cup of coffee in his hand, and a sign on the table that reads: [fill in the blank - some provocative statement] … Change my mind. I’ve …
Preacher's Editorial Note: I have the privilege of serving a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation, meaning they have made the decision to be intentionally welcoming and affirming of the diversity of God's people, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community. When I was looking for an internship site, it was important both to me and to the …
Pastor Josh Evans 