Holy Humor Sunday
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids, Cradled in God's Heart
Series VIII, Cycle A
Object:
(Note: An ancient tradition is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with parties, laughter, joy, and celebrations. In some traditions, the entire first week of Eastertide was filled with such events. Others celebrated the second Sunday of Easter as "Bright" Sunday, the day to tell jokes, and to laugh about the great joke God pulled on the evil one by raising Jesus from the dead. What follows is a liturgy for what many today call Holy Humor Sunday.)
Call To Worship
One: This is the time to rejoice!
All: What better time than now!
One: This is the day to laugh:
What did the cabbage pastor say to the people?
Pastor: Lettuce pray!
One: How many choir directors does it take to change a light bulb?
Choir: No one knows, because no one ever watches the director!
One: How many [insert denomination here] does it take to change a light bulb?
All: Change? [insert denomination here] don't believe in change!
One: What's the greatest joke ever?
All: The one God played Easter morning on death!
Prayer Of The Day
You smiled and the sun burst
through the shadows of chaos;
you chuckled,
and the platypus splashed
in creation's fountain;
you laughed,
and all that is good and beautiful
was given shape by you,
Imaginative God.
Snickering at the feeble attempts
of the evil one,
you showed us
how to resist temptation;
giggling at sin's desperate desire
to hold onto us,
you released us by your love;
howling with laughter
at death's foolish belief
that the tomb could hold you,
you burst forth into the kingdom
as the stars pealed with joy,
Laughing Jesus.
As you fill us with new life,
may we delight in sharing it with others;
as you tell us the good news
which can never be taken from us,
may we rejoice in offering it
to the broken, the sad, the lonely;
as you tickle us with grace,
may we give it away with laughter on our lips
and joy in our hearts,
Spirit of Easter.
God in Community, Holy in One,
our hearts overflow with wonder
as we lift the prayer Jesus has taught us,
Our Father ...
Call To Reconciliation
None of us likes to look foolish, but which is sillier? Chasing after the world and all its gaudy trinkets that flatter our souls, or being a "fool for Christ"; imitating him in service to others, offering ourselves in love and joy to the world? Let us admit to God the foolish choices we make each and every day, as we pray, saying,
Unison Prayer Of Confession
You know better than we do, Amused God, what important people we believe we are. Believing we have to be serious all the time, we miss out on the joy of your creation. Choosing to feast on the pain of the world, we skip the picnic offered in paradise. Clinging to the despair that is our best friend, we ignore Jesus, who can bring us home to your heart.
Forgive us, Heart of Joy, and make us open to the startling, and upside-down, ways in which you work. Fill us with Easter's laughter; fill us with your healing joy; fill us with the love poured into us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance Of Pardon
One: The gospels tell us over and over again of the joy that comes to us through Christ. When Jesus was around, lives were changed, the sick were healed, and the sorrowful began to laugh with joy. The good news is that this joy is now given to us.
All: Through the Holy Spirit, we are gifted with joy. We are sent forth to bring good news to the oppressed, to bring healing to the broken, and to anoint everyone with the oil of gladness. Thanks be to God.
Call To Worship
One: This is the time to rejoice!
All: What better time than now!
One: This is the day to laugh:
What did the cabbage pastor say to the people?
Pastor: Lettuce pray!
One: How many choir directors does it take to change a light bulb?
Choir: No one knows, because no one ever watches the director!
One: How many [insert denomination here] does it take to change a light bulb?
All: Change? [insert denomination here] don't believe in change!
One: What's the greatest joke ever?
All: The one God played Easter morning on death!
Prayer Of The Day
You smiled and the sun burst
through the shadows of chaos;
you chuckled,
and the platypus splashed
in creation's fountain;
you laughed,
and all that is good and beautiful
was given shape by you,
Imaginative God.
Snickering at the feeble attempts
of the evil one,
you showed us
how to resist temptation;
giggling at sin's desperate desire
to hold onto us,
you released us by your love;
howling with laughter
at death's foolish belief
that the tomb could hold you,
you burst forth into the kingdom
as the stars pealed with joy,
Laughing Jesus.
As you fill us with new life,
may we delight in sharing it with others;
as you tell us the good news
which can never be taken from us,
may we rejoice in offering it
to the broken, the sad, the lonely;
as you tickle us with grace,
may we give it away with laughter on our lips
and joy in our hearts,
Spirit of Easter.
God in Community, Holy in One,
our hearts overflow with wonder
as we lift the prayer Jesus has taught us,
Our Father ...
Call To Reconciliation
None of us likes to look foolish, but which is sillier? Chasing after the world and all its gaudy trinkets that flatter our souls, or being a "fool for Christ"; imitating him in service to others, offering ourselves in love and joy to the world? Let us admit to God the foolish choices we make each and every day, as we pray, saying,
Unison Prayer Of Confession
You know better than we do, Amused God, what important people we believe we are. Believing we have to be serious all the time, we miss out on the joy of your creation. Choosing to feast on the pain of the world, we skip the picnic offered in paradise. Clinging to the despair that is our best friend, we ignore Jesus, who can bring us home to your heart.
Forgive us, Heart of Joy, and make us open to the startling, and upside-down, ways in which you work. Fill us with Easter's laughter; fill us with your healing joy; fill us with the love poured into us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance Of Pardon
One: The gospels tell us over and over again of the joy that comes to us through Christ. When Jesus was around, lives were changed, the sick were healed, and the sorrowful began to laugh with joy. The good news is that this joy is now given to us.
All: Through the Holy Spirit, we are gifted with joy. We are sent forth to bring good news to the oppressed, to bring healing to the broken, and to anoint everyone with the oil of gladness. Thanks be to God.
