Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

Christmas

  • a Sermon for Christmas 2AText: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 A Troubling History A few years ago, Diana Butler Bass wrote a book called A People’s History of Christianity. Like other “People’s Histories,” it is a history told, not from the perspective of the victors, but of the vanquished: in this case, it is the people, whose…

  • We have two Christmases. We have the one about Santa, gifts, Frank Sinatra & Nat King Cole, snow, generosity, Christmas Spirit, laughter, letting other people cut in line, inviting friends over. The one in which we watch A Christmas Story for 24 hours straight and open presents in Christmas pajamas. The one in which we are…

  • The project I’ve been stewing on for awhile is a new blog called  Break Sabbath. It is a passion project of mine, dealing with the very root of my faith–the notion that we are challenged to find the source of our faith in spite of its trappings. In my third post, I explore what it means…

  • In this version of the story, the three wisemen are spies who invade another nativity set and kidnap Baby Jesus. Maybe this is why we can’t account for Jesus’s childhood. Published via Pressgram

  • With Us

    a homily for Advent 4A Text: Matthew 1:18-25  “Don’t be afraid” The most common phrase Jesus utters in His ministry is some variation of “don’t be afraid”. So often, the disciples are in the midst of something really hard, something truly frightening. Like Jesus appearing to them in the boat, rocked by storms and He…

  • a homily for Advent 3A Text: Matthew 11:2-11 From Repent to Doubt When John appeared in the wilderness, a wild man dressed the prophet’s part, we caught a glimpse of his vision for the kingdom of heaven. He preached repentance and preparation: turning away from our pasts and toward a new future, living in a…