Holy Humor Sunday

      Easter Sunday we gather to a packed sanctuary and hear the wonderful story of the empty tomb. It is a day of great joy to celebrate God's triumph over death…but why end there? Why not carry that message of joy into the Easter Season?

     In the early centuries of the Christian church the Greeks began a custom based on the musings of theologians such as: Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa and John Chrysostom, called Risus Paschalis–the Easter laugh. The days following Easter, including "Bright Sunday" were celebrated as days of laughter and joy. Resurrection was God's supreme practical joke played on death. Death is no longer the end and that which awaits humanity is the greatest joy we have yet to know.

     While the Bible and our Worship together is a serious voice to our faith, worship should also carry within it that other important element of human life: Humor. Life is filled with challenges and sorrows to which faith provides comfort and care. But life also includes tremendous joys to which our faith should celebrate. Holy Humor Sunday is intended to be a lighthearted worship service with laughter and jokes to celebrate and commemorate the joy of Christ's resurrection. 

     Sunday, April 7th, we will celebrate Holy Humor Sunday and we need your help to make this service joyful for everyone. We invite you, members and friends, to share with us your favorite jokes or anecdotes–those appropriate for church as well as all viewing audiences–during worship. We ask, however, that you submit your ideas in writing to Rev. Jeff Bell or Rev. Tracy Parker prior to our celebration. If there is an overwhelming response, we may need to limit the number of submissions. 

     There is a modern-day parable that tells of a local church pastor meeting up with the comedic great Groucho Marx at an elevator. The pastor holds out his hand in greeting and offers an enthusiastic, "Groucho, it is a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for all the joy you've given to people." To which Groucho responds with that classic eyebrow action, "Well, thank you sir, for all the joy the church has managed to take out of this world." 

    Let this never be true of us. No longer shall we be referred to as the 'frozen chosen' for we are called to be a people of great joy because the resurrection is still present to us today. Humor has great power to look at life truthfully and boldly and to offer healing where this is much pain or suffering. 

Join us for a day of great fun and celebration the Sunday following Easter as we celebrate Holy Humor Sunday!

Blessings,
Tracy