Since 1986 the Fellowship of Merry Christians as
been promoting April as Holy Humor Month. Each year churches notify
them about how they celebrated the resurrection of Jesus on the Sunday
after Easter.
This article is excerpted from the April 2001 edition of
The Joyful Noiseletter.
Churches resurrect old Eastertide Tradition
Many churches have discovered that Holy Humor Sunday --
an ongoing celebration of the resurrection of Jesus on the Sunday after
Easter -- is an idea that works and builds attendance.
Lots of churches are resurrecting this old Eastertide
tradition, which earlier Christians of all denominations observed for
centuries.
A great 'Bright Sunday'
The First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven, FL [USA], called it
"Bright Sunday." "It was a marvelous day for
our congregation," reported Rev. C. Alan Harvey, associate
pastor. "They enjoyed it greatly."
Here are some of the things that Harvey said the church did:
"We publicized its observance in the church
newsletter and newspaper articles. We invited people to dress in
their brightest colors that day."
"We reprinted 'The Risen Christ by the Sea'
on the cover of our bulletin.
"White paraments with yellow 'smiley' faces, whose
eyes' pupils were crosses, covered the lectern and pulpit. The word
'Rejoice!' was written on each parament.
"Bright sunflowers were used in the floral
arrangement in the sanctuary.
"During the children's sermon, I taught them the
song, Bubblin' Bubblin', whose lyrics are: 'Jesus' love is bubblin'
over, Jesus' love bubbles in my soul.' A bubble machine spewed
bubbles out over the congregation as we sang. Then each child was
presented with a bottle of 'Easter Bubbles.'
"The choir's anthem was In Thee is Gladness
by Daniel Kallman.
"The sermon was entitled 'How Great Their Joy
... Our Joy,' based on Matthew 28:1-10 and 1 Peter 1:3-9. It
incorporated humorous stories and jokes.
"The affirmation of faith was 'Lord of the Dance'
by Ann Weems. The last hymn was I Danced In the Morning, and
we had three young women with batons of yellow streamers doing liturgical
dance.
"Wallet-size pictures of 'The Risen Christ by
the Sea' were distributed to worshippers as they left the service, as
a reminder of Christ's joy and to encourage them to share the joy of
Christ with others."
Harvey added: "It really was a great day, and our
congregation has really embraced this worship service. I believe
that it will be included in our church calendar for many years to
come."
Rev. James A. Clark's sermon on Holy Humor Sunday at Cross
& Crown Lutheran Church, Chamblee, GA [USA], was entitled "Holy
Humor: Is There Any Other Kind?" The Risen Christ by the
Sea was reprinted on the front cover of the bulletin. The
bulletin also featured eight cartoons from [The Joyful Noiseletter].
"We had a great day," Clark reported.
Smile bucks and bubbles
On Holy Humor Sunday, Rev. Jerry Gilmer of the Arlington
and Wasco (OR) United Methodist Churches [USA], had fun redistributing
the morning offering with 'smile bucks.'
He printed on his computer the fake smile bucks,
scanning the print of "The Risen Christ by the Sea" and
the message: "This note is legal tender for all debts of hope,
love, and you."
His own children the regular offering that morning, and
then took the offering to the office. When they returned and brought
the offering forward, there was no real money in the collection.
Gilmer filled the plates with smile bucks, and the
children distributed them to the congregation. the children also
blew bubbles on each member of the congregation, saying "May the
peace of Christ be with you."
"We did it! And it was a hit!" Pastor Ruby
Nelson of St. John's United Methodist Church in Port Arthur, TX
[USA], reported of the church's first Holy Humor Sunday.
The sanctuary was decorated with helium balloons,
plastic Easter eggs filled with candy were placed in the pews. The
children passed out postcard-size prints of the 'Risen Christ by the
Sea' to everyone.
They switched roles
The Holy Humor Sunday bulletin of Corinth Reformed
United Church of Christ in Hickory, NC [USA], reprinted a Family
Circus cartoon by Bil Keane from [The Joyful Noiseletter] on
its cover.
"The choir director, the organist and the pastor
switched roles for the day," reported Pastor Robert M.
Thompson. "Our attendance defied the old pattern of a
post-Easter drop. Holy Humor Sunday will continue to be a big part
of our tradition."
The front page of the Holy Humor Sunday bulletin of
St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Decatur, IN [USA], declared: "Christ
is Risen! Smile!", reported Associate Pastor Fuhrman
Miller.
Mililani Presbyterian Church in Mililani, HI
[USA], celebrated Holy Humor Sunday with "lots of jokes and humor
surrounding the morning message," reported Pastor James A. Tweedie. "The
Risen Christ by the Sea" was reprinted on the cover of the
bulletin, which also featured cartoons from [the Joyful Noiseletter].
Bright Sunday at Parkside Community Church in
Sacramento, CA [USA], "was a complete success," reported Pastor
Susan Hamilton. "We passed out buttons saying 'God loves the clown in
me,' and people told their favorite church jokes."
The United Methodist Churches in Downieville, N.
San Juan, and Sierra City, CA [USA], observed Holy Humor Sunday.
Pastor Paul Bascom Guffin invited members "to come dressed in a
joyful manner and to come with funny stories to tell."
The sanctuary of the United Methodist Church of Mantua,
NJ [USA], was decorated with 30 helium-filled, smiley-face balloons, and
dozens of cardboard smiley faces were taped to the altar, lectern, and
pulpit paraments, as well as the ends of the pews and on doorways.
Each member was given a prescription medicine
bottle. Inside was a joke, humorous story, or riddle, some from [The
Joyful Noiseletter]. Each "Humor Dose" had a label on it:
"RX. Take as often as needed to be uplifted.
Side-effects: chuckles, giggles or at least a smile. Refills remaining:
unlimited." People were invited to read the joke in the bottle
or share one of their own.
Rev. Dr. Karl R. Kraft reported the message included a
satiric little script written by Randy Greene called, "Who wants to
go to Heaven?", parodying the "Who Wants to Be A
Millionaire" TV program.
For ongoing information and resources on how many churches of all
denominations are celebrating Holy Humor Sunday this April and future
Eastertides, you may subscribe to The Joyful Noiseletter by calling
toll-free: 1-800-877-2757 or ordering from the Fellowship of Merry
Christians' web site:
www.joyfulnoiseletter.com.
The increasingly popular print, 'The Risen Christ by the Sea,' and the
books, Holy Humor and More Holy Humor (which also offer tips
on how to celebrate Holy Humor Sunday) may also be ordered from the
Fellowship."
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