Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

  • Someone’s In the Kitchen With Martha…

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    6 min read

    a homily for Proper 11C Text: Luke 10:38-42 Dividing Each Other Before we get into the meat of this week’s gospel story, I want us to acknowledge something. This is a divisive gospel. There are many among us that feel recognized and justified. They feel like Mary. They love to be reminded that they are…

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  • Racism Is Not In Your Head

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    3 min read

    This week has been an auspicious week for racism. The strange, Saturday night acquittal of George Zimmerman, who admitted to the killing of Trayvon Martin, led the world to discuss the place of race in the criminal justice system. This was salt in the wound of those shocked by the Supreme Court’s gutting of the…

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  • Sweating It Out: celebrating the Eucharist in a hoodie

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    4 min read

    I had trouble sleeping Saturday night. I was angry. Angry that George Zimmerman wouldn’t be punished, for the fear that has beset the African American community, for all the bullshit post-racism talk of my white neighbors. Mostly, I was angry that I was feeling powerless as a church leader to express myself. It frightened me…

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  • Along the Road: The Good Samaritan, Trayvon Martin, and what it means to be a neighbor

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    7 min read

    a homily for Proper 10C Text: Luke 10:25-37 Unwrapping the Layers We call this the Parable of the Good Samaritan. A traveler is beaten, left for dead, passed by on the road to Jerusalem, and finally helped by this stranger. It is a story so familiar, so recognizable, that any number of us could tell…

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  • Don’t Learn the Wrong Lesson From Capt. Kirk

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    2 min read

    [NOTE: this post is spoiler-free! And long overdue, since I saw it in May…] Something troubled me about the new Star Trek. I loved the movie. I was glad that it surpassed my expectations and that it challenged me. What troubled me is that I’m convinced that people will mistake James T. Kirk for a…

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  • You Are the Servant Leader

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    3 min read

    “You’re the pastor” This is the gentle reminder many clergy receive: as if we’ve forgotten. It usually happens when we’ve invited our people into sharing leadership of a ministry. We say “you can do this” and they say “but you’re the pastor”. And for those of us that wear the dog collar, we get reminded…

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