Clackamas United Church of Christ

Pentecost! It’s the day the Holy Spirit gave life to the early church and the message of God’s love spread like a flame.

God is often described metaphorically as a gardener in the Bible. God prunes the withered branches of our souls. What are the withered branches in our souls and in our national soul that needs to be pruned? Recent events at a Starbucks and Waffle Houses remind us that racism is a withered branch that continuously needs to be pruned.

God is often described metaphorically as a gardener in the Bible. God prunes the withered branches of our souls. What are the withered branches in our souls and in our national soul that needs to be pruned? Recent events at a Starbucks and Waffle Houses remind us that racism is a withered branch that continuously needs to be pruned.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but if he’s the Good Shepherd, that makes us his…sheep! Raise your hand if you want to be a sheep…No one wants to be sheep! We don’t want to be mindless followers. But Jesus doesn’t want us to be mindless followers either. Jesus meant something totally different – that Jesus loves and cares for his sheep without distinction and we are to love and care for one another without distinction.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but if he’s the Good Shepherd, that makes us his…sheep! Raise your hand if you want to be a sheep…No one wants to be sheep! We don’t want to be mindless followers. But Jesus doesn’t want us to be mindless followers either. Jesus meant something totally different – that Jesus loves and cares for his sheep without distinction and we are to love and care for one another without distinction.

Stephen Colbert claims that life is like improv and that improv calls us to respond in new ways of service to others. The Resurrection was the greatest moment of improv in human history. And how did Jesus respond? By reminding his disciples that their mission was to love, serve, and forgive.

Stephen Colbert claims that life is like improv and that improv calls us to respond in new ways of service to others. The Resurrection was the greatest moment of improv in human history. And how did Jesus respond? By reminding his disciples that their mission was to love, serve, and forgive.

It’s Holy Humor Sunday! According to one ancient Christian tradition, God pulled off a cosmic practical joke on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Listen in, because it’s a pretty big fish tale!

It’s Holy Humor Sunday! According to one ancient Christian tradition, God pulled off a cosmic practical joke on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Listen in, because it’s a pretty big fish tale!

Easter Sunday landing on April Fool’s Day may seem like an awkward coincidence, but what if I told you that Resurrection is for fools? Easter and the Resurrection call us to new life, and that new life will look foolish to many people.