Claremont United Church of Christ

We have all seen the effects of religious communities leading with hatred and division and dogmatism. As we launch this year’s stewardship season, we explore what it looks like when spiritual communities lead with love beginning with a beautiful story in Luke 5 of a group of friends supporting one another.

Dr. Philip Clayton directs the PhD program in comparative theologies and philosophies at the Claremont School of Theology. As a scholar, he works at the intersection points of science, philosophy, and theology. As an activist he is president of EcoCiv.org. The organization works internationally to support multi-sector innovations toward a sustainable society through collaborations between governments, businesses, policy experts, and NGOs.

As part of our earth month sermon series, Pastor Jen explores the mystery and majesty of the oceans. This element of God’s creation not only contains endless wonder, but also sustains life on earth and must be protected.

Today we launch a new sermon series and adult education lineup focused on climate justice. While it can feel like preaching to the choir at Claremont UCC to talk about environmentalism, it is an issue that must stay at the forefront of our minds because progress is dependent on people of faith uniting to protect our planet. In today's sermon, Pastor Jacob explains how creation care is not a political issue, or even a hot-button issue, instead it is an integral part of what it means to be a Christian.

On Easter morning, Pastor Jen considers why Mark ended his gospel story with more questions than answers. How might we find the risen Christ among us?

In the shadows of Good Friday, Pastor Jen takes us to the final hours of Jesus’ life and examines the fact that everyone was frustrated and angered by his refusal to answer their questions. In what ways do we still try and force Jesus to say and do what we want? And what can we learn from his silence?

The story of the Last Supper comes right in the middle of Jesus telling his disciples that Judas is going to betray him and that Peter is going to deny him. And yet, Jesus still sits down with these two men and shares a meal. Jesus informs them that they should eat this meal again and again to remember one simple fact: God's love and grace is always with them. No matter what.

Pastor Jen brings us another Easter Egg from the Gospel of Mark. Join her as she examines the symbolism of the withered fig tree that Jesus curses and compares it to his infamous “Temple Tantrum,” during which he quotes the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah in an effort to highlight God’s love for ALL people.

In Mark 14, the Chief Priests and scribes are conspiring to find a way to secretly put Jesus to death. But in the middle of their plans comes the story of an unnamed woman with an alabaster jar. Her small act of kindness serves as a subversive act of goodness to counter the hatred of the Chief Priests' plans. And now, her amazing story calls us to join the revolution of kindness.

In the blockbuster movie Inception, the characters travel into a dream within a dream within a dream. This week, Pastor Jacob explains that the Gospel of Mark is a story within a story within a story. But what all of these layers of stories reveal is that a life of faith doesn't mean we have all of the answers. There is never a pint where we have "arrived at faith." Instead, a life of faith is a continuous journey of learning more about ourselves and the world around us.

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy serves as President of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. One of the UCC seminaries, PSR is a progressive, multidenominational seminary and center for social justice that prepares theologically and spiritually rooted leaders to work for the well-being of all. A committed pastor, a nationally recognized higher education and immigration leader, and a sought after speaker, Vásquez-Levy leads at the intersection of faith, higher education, and social change. His innovations have led to cinrease access in theological education and leadership formation. Originally from Guatemala, Vásquez-Levy has lived in four countries, including working on refugee resettlement in Canada, and taught courses and led international study and service trips across the globe.

When Jesus sends the disciples to do ministry in the Gospel of Mark, the story of their ministerial exploits is interrupted by a flashback to the death of John the Baptist. We continue our series on a unique aspect of the Gospel of Mark where one story is hidden inside of another in something called a Markan sandwich. What does Mark have to teach us about the cost of following Christ? And if the cost is so high, what do we get in return?

Pastor Jen kicks off our Lenten sermon series by introducing the concept of a Markan sandwich and invites us to examine two stories that are intentionally placed together in the Gospel of Mark. What is Mark trying to tell us about Jesus’ purpose through the lens of these healings?

Pastor Jen kicks off our Lenten season with a story from the gospel of Mark in which Jesus heals people, prays, and heals more people. If reconnecting with Divine Love is what keeps Jesus going, might we try and do the same?

On our annual Fat Sunday we explore the spiritual discipline of celebration. The spiritual discipline of celebration does not ignore the pain in the world or the pain in our lives, but instead invites us into a radical act of joy that declares that no matter how dark the world may become, we will keep working and serving with our spiritual community around us for support.

Pastor Jen talks about the spiritual discipline of confession and why it is good for our souls. God’s grace isn’t a free pass on our bad behavior, but rather her fierce determination to love us into our best selves.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells the crowds gathered to listen to his Sermon on the Mount, "Do Not Worry." But Jesus' words seem a little shortsighted in a world where there is an abundance of issues to worry about. Pastor Jacob digs deeper into Jesus' sermon to discover how we might confront the worries of our present in an attempt to cultivate the spiritual discipline of simplicity

Pastor Jen examines prayer. She asks us to consider how Jesus prayed and how prayer might remind us of our relationship with our loving Creator.

When people hear the term “Prophet,” they often think of someone who can predict the future with great accuracy. However the prophets in the Bible often focused on much more concrete issues in the present. In this teaching, Pastor Craig Hadley, talks about what a prophet is, how Martin Luther King and Amos are kindred spirits, and how we can best honor their legacies with a lifestyle of service today.

Pastors Jen and Jacob launch a new sermon series by inviting us to put our lives in airplane mode and quiet all of the electronic interference, if only for a moment, as we practice ancient spiritual disciplines that are meant to strengthen our connection to the Divine. This week, we explore meditation, something the Old Testament encourages us to do 58 times!