Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

Easter

  • 6 Ways We Made This Easter Special

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    4 min read

    Every church with whom I’ve ever celebrated has made a lovely to-do about Holy Week and Easter. They all are different, which is part of the joy and excitement for me to celebrate in a new congregation. I am always excited to see how we do things here. This year was my favorite by far. Let me tell…

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  • Jesus is risen! Now what?

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    2 min read

    As the candles are snuffed from our Easter liturgy and the only reminders of our celebration are the mountain of candy wrappers and plastic strips approximating grass, we go back to our lives as a return to normal, as if nothing is different. And the irony is lost on us all. We go about our…

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  • Seeing the Lord

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    6 min read

    The resurrection and how Jesus wants to be known Easter  |  John 20:1-18   Earlier this week We have come to the end of a long, truly holy week. So much has happened in the story since we gathered last week (was it really only a week ago?) and many of us could benefit from…

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  • He Lives!

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    5 min read

    How the empty tomb provides all the ending we need The Great Vigil of Easter  |  Mark 16:1-8 He isn’t here They bought spices, then brought them to the tomb, to anoint him. Three women: Mary, Mary, and Salome. And they come out in the dark, shortly after the sun fades out of view on…

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  • Love and Sacrifice

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    5 min read

    a Homily for Easter 6B Text: John 15:9-17 Last week’s Gospel pericope ended with verses 7 and 8 which read: If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and…

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  • Stop Staring  –  How the disciples show us a life after Jesus

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    5 min read

    a Homily for Easter 7A Text: John 17:1-11   Being Left Behind It needs to be stated for the record that in our liturgical calendar, Jesus has already ascended. We celebrated the Ascension on Thursday night. So having Jesus talking about going away this morning is kind of weird. Especially since this is Jesus talking…

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