Just this past week, I was surfing around for sermon fodder for my sermon on UU evangelism on the topic of “why people go to church and why they stay away,” when I stumbled on an article entitled, “People Flock To The Church of the Confused Chicken.” (Extra points for the “flock” pun!) When I opened the link and saw the accompanying photo, a prolonged giggle fit ensued.
 
But this is serious business, folks. According to the article, “A congregation in Florida is crying fowl (ugh) after pictures of its chapel made the Internet rounds this week for an unholy reason: the building looks like a chicken. The “Chicken Church” — also known as The Church by the Sea in Madeira Beach and not to be confused with Church’s Chicken (touché) — went viral when a photographer noticed that, from just the right angle, the structure’s round windows look like eyes and its roofing tiles resemble wings and a beak. Tourists, reportedly by the hundreds, now line up to take pictures of the visage.  

Dee Dee Parker, a longtime member of the church, told the Daily Mail that the Holy Cluck is “funny” and she welcomes the newfound popularity. But church employees interviewed disagree. “We’re not fond of it being called the “Confused Chicken Church,'” said one. “It’s attracting people to us for all the wrong reasons. I don’t think they’re attracted to come in and worship, I think they’re making fun of it.” She said that the chapel, built in 1944, “was not designed to look like a clucker or that the congregation wants to give the community “the bird.” (OMG – stop!)

Another website called “Roadside America” noted that the Chapel was “an easy stop and snap” and directed pilgrims to also notice the large crucifix sculpture on the exterior wall. Apparently, Jesus appears to have leaned down and pulled one of his arms off its nail to help a white dove take flight. “Don’t miss that,” he says (tongue firmly planted in cheek).  

Surely, we would not want visitors to Gresham (or locals, for that matter) to congregate outside of Eastrose UU and make fun of it, or find it satirical. Don’t we want folks to be attracted to us for the right reasons, too, and have them do more than take Instagram selfies of “that church where the free-thinking different drummers hang out?”

What brings you to this place of worship and why do you stay away? What can you and will you tell others about Eastrose UU that will help them be less “confused” about us Unitarian Universalists, and might entice them to join us for worship, get togethers, life span education, social action, fun, and yes, good old-fashioned chicken dinners? We can’t grow the flock without some proud clucking. That’s my Bird’s-Eye View.