Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

  • Our church year ends this morning, the Last Sunday after Pentecost, and we end with a doozy: the crucifixion. The most fitting gospel choice for today, dubbed in 1925 as Christ the King Sunday. The day we are to celebrate the primacy of Christ over human authority. And today, we’re reminded what that primacy actually…

  • At convention this year, our bishop (she’s our bishop for 6 months more!) spoke to the difference between a homily and a sermon. There is no “official” difference between the two. There are no experts to tell us such things anymore, not in this age when truth is so refuted and facts are indeed a…

  • I didn’t watch the returns Tuesday. My excuse was that we don’t have cable. But really, it was because I was afraid. I hadn’t processed what would happen if Trump won, but something told me…I don’t know. Maybe not. I didn’t check until after 9. I listened to Slate’s live feed. And I heard it…

  • Monday night, I gathered with many others in a prayer service on the eve of the election. We prayed for unity and hope and an end to division. This morning I pray we continue to pray. But to also guard against “cheap grace”. The one thing this campaign has made plain is that this was…

  • I know the feeling. All that energy focused on the big event. Working, planning, praying for it to work. And the day comes and before we know it, we’re done; it’s over. And we realize there’s a tomorrow to worry about. We were so busy thinking about the day, we didn’t focus on the day…

  • When I went to vote on Thursday, I drove around the one-way streets trying to figure out where to park. I found a spot on the street and crossed. The sun was out. Our unseasonably warm weather confuses my family. We keep wondering when it will finally cool off. Maybe this will be the week…