St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York6 September 2026 + The Fifteenth Sunday after PentecostProper 18 / Lectionary 23aMatthew 18:15-20The Rev. Josh Evans It’s not every Sundayyou encounter a gospel readingthat is cited in the ELCA Model Constitution for Congregations: Chapter 15, Discipline of Members and Adjudication:“Prior to disciplinary action,reconciliation and repentance will be attemptedfollowing Matthew …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York30 August 2026 + The Fourteenth Sunday after PentecostProper 17 / Lectionary 22aMatthew 16:21-28; Romans 12:9-21The Rev. Josh Evans How could Peter have gotten it so rightand then, in the next breath, so wrong? Peter’s stunning confessionand then his spectacular failure in the face of Jesus’ harsh rebukeare actually not …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York16 August 2026 + The Twelfth Sunday after PentecostProper 15 / Lectionary 20a (Mary, Mother of Our Lord)Matthew 15:[10-20], 21-28The Rev. Josh Evans Remember those ubiquitous bracelets: WWJD?What Would Jesus Do? Well, in this particular instance,Jesus done messed up. At worst, Jesus is a sexist, xenophobic jerkwho calls this foreigner …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York9 August 2026 + The Eleventh Sunday after PentecostProper 14 / Lectionary 19aMatthew 14:22-33The Rev. Josh Evans It would be easy to turn this storyinto a mere object lessonwith Peter at the center:Peter who sinks,Peter who doubts,Peter of “little faith,”too little faith,not enough faith. In summary:Don’t be like Peter.Have more …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York2 August 2026 + The Tenth Sunday after PentecostProper 13 / Lectionary 18aMatthew 14:[1-12], 13-21The Rev. Josh Evans Comfort foods –we all have them. Whether it’s splurging at your favorite restaurantor indulging in a pint of ice cream on your couch at home,there’s something, well, comforting about our favorite foods. …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York26 July 2026 + The Ninth Sunday after PentecostProper 12 / Lectionary 17aMatthew 13:31-33, 44-52The Rev. Josh Evans So far,“the kingdom of heaven” has been like: A sower who went out to sow.And as they sowed, some seeds fell on the path,others on rocky ground,still others among thorns,and, finally, others …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York12 July 2026 + The Seventh Sunday after PentecostProper 10 / Lectionary 15aMatthew 13:1-9, 18-23The Rev. Josh Evans As modern readers of scripture,we have this urge to assign neatly defined rolesto the cast of characters – human or otherwise – in a given parable,to find out what it means –as …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York5 July 2026 + The Sixth Sunday after PentecostProper 9 / Lectionary 14aMatthew 11:16-19, 25-30The Rev. Josh Evans “Fellow citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask,why am I called upon to speak here today?What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence?Are the great principles of …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York7 June 2026 + The Second Sunday after PentecostProper 5 / Lectionary 10aMatthew 9:9-13, 18-26The Rev. Josh Evans There’s a song I’ve been hearing on repeat for the past few weeks: All the colors of the rainbow,all the voices of the wind,every dream that reaches out,that reaches out to find …
St. John’s Lutheran ChurchAlbany, New York31 May 2026 + The First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity SundayGenesis 1:1—2:4aThe Rev. Josh Evans When Glendale Community College’s commencement ceremonies“hit a snag” earlier this month,with some graduates’ names being read incorrectlyand others not at all,college president Tiffany Hernandez explained,“We’re using a new AI system as our reader.” Speakers at …
Pastor Josh Evans 