St. Philip Lutheran Church17 February 2021 + Ash WednesdayMatthew 6.1-6, 16-21; Joel 2.1-2, 12-17Rev. Josh Evans, preaching “Ashes and anguish” - reads part of the headline of a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, chronicling the impact of the pandemic on local crematoriums. While the practice of cremation has gained increasing popularity and wider …
St. Philip Lutheran Church14 February 2021 + Transfiguration of Our LordMark 9.2-9; 2 Kings 2.1-12Rev. Josh Evans, preaching The thought of a week-long forecast of temperatures in the mid-90s - even reaching the lower 100s - seems unbearable … though maybe not altogether unwelcome on a snowy midwestern day with wind chills well below zero. …
St. Philip Lutheran Church31 January 2021 + Epiphany 4BMark 1.21-28Rev. Josh Evans, preaching What are you possessed by? The truth is we’re possessed by many things - politics, COVID, mental or physical illness, addiction, strained or broken relationships - to name a few. Some of us might feel possessed by our seemingly never-ending to-do lists, …
St. Philip Lutheran Church24 January 2021 + Epiphany 3BJonah 3.1-5, 10; Mark 1.14-20Rev. Josh Evans, preaching Fishing is dangerous work. I’m not talking about hazardous weather conditions at sea for people who make their living catching fish. No, I’m talking about when I was little, and my grandpa taught me how to fish in the …
St. Philip Lutheran Church17 January 2021 + Epiphany 2B1 Samuel 3.1-20; John 1.35-51Rev. Josh Evans, preaching The truth can hurt. We know the feeling. Hearing words we don’t want to hear but very much need to hear for our best interest in the long run: Stay at home, save lives. Online church until further notice. …
St. Philip Lutheran Church10 January 2021 + Baptism of Our LordMark 1.4-11Rev. Josh Evans, preaching So: How are your New Year’s resolutions coming along? Have you given up yet? According to one article, studies show that nearly 80% of all resolutions will fail - many by mid-February. So if you’ve already given up, chances are …
St. Philip Lutheran Church24 December 2020 + Nativity of Our LordLuke 2.1-20Rev. Josh Evans, preaching It’s not Christmas until… how would you fill in the blank? Here’s what a very scientific Facebook poll among my friends this week found out: It’s not Christmas until… the lights and tree are up… we get to sing carols …
St. Philip Lutheran Church20 December 2020 + Advent 4BLuke 1.26-38, 46b-55Rev. Josh Evans, preaching It seemed impossible. That the angel should come to her. Someone so young, so seemingly insignificant and easily cast aside. An apparent nobody. And pregnant?! Is that what angel said? Well, that can’t possibly be… Impossible. It seemed just as impossible …
St. Philip Lutheran Church13 December 2020 + Advent 3BJohn 1.6-8, 19-28Rev. Josh Evans, preaching I admit it: I’m one of those people who puts up their Christmas decorations as soon as the last trick-or-treater leaves my front door. Christmas lights especially may be one of the things I love most about this time of year. …
St. Philip Lutheran Church6 December 2020 + Advent 2BIsaiah 40.1-11; Mark 1.1-8Rev. Josh Evans, preaching Punctuation matters. Maybe you’ve seen an image with these or similar words online:Let’s eat, Grandma!Let’s eat Grandma! The difference a comma makes! Meanwhile, in Isaiah 40, open one translation of the bible and read:A voice cries out: “In the wilderness …
