Holy Humor Sunday
2nd Sunday of Easter
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Sunday School / Bible Study: 9:00-10:00AM
Exploring Faith / New Member Class: 9:00-9:45AM
Coffee Fellowship: 9:00-10:00AM
Worship: 10:15-11:30AM
Coffee Fellowship after Worship: 11:30AM
Holy Humor Sunday
Each year we pick a different fun theme for Holy Humor Sunday.
During this worship service there will be pauses for children's hands-on activities, humorous interruptions, special decorations, and more.
Jesus By the Seashore
This year’s Holy Humor Sunday theme is “Jesus By the Seashore.” We will be hearing about Jesus’ appearance to the disciples by the seashore after his resurrection. We invite you to come dressed in modest beach ware (not swim ware) for worship this morning (such as shore themed t-shirts or sweatshirts or Hawaiian shirts) or just come dressed in casual clothing.
To help decorate the sanctuary for the theme, please contact any member of the Worship & Music Committee.
What is Holy Humor Sunday?
Holy Humor Sunday is an opportunity to let our hair down - way down - with a very upbeat and fun service, following the somber season of Lent. It is a day of humor and light-hearted fun.
Holy Humor Sunday shares its roots with that of April Fool’s Day. When Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, he defeated death, and in doing so the Great Deceiver (i.e. the Devil) was deceived - bested by the best trick ever. From deceiving the Great Deceiver on Easter, April Fool’s Day came to be celebrated on April 1st, and Holy Humor Sunday came to be most commonly celebrated on the Sunday following Easter Sunday.
This ancient Easter custom was begun by the Greeks in the early centuries of Christianity. For centuries Holy Humor Sunday has been celebrated by Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant countries going by a variety of names, including "Bright Sunday" (the Sunday after Easter) and “days of joy and laughter” with parties and picnics the week after Easter to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Churchgoers and pastors played practical jokes on each other, drenched each other with water, told jokes, sang, and danced.
The custom was written about by early church theologians, including Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and John Chrysostom. These theologians called it “Risus paschalis - the Easter laugh,” referring to God playing a practical joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead.
The custom began to fade by the mid 1900s in many churches. In 1988 the Fellowship of Merry Christians, which bi-monthly publishes The Joyful Noiseletter, began to encourage churches to resurrect “Bright Sunday” celebrations and to call it “Holy Humor Sunday.” The first theme they encouraged was: “Jesus is the LIFE of the party.” The Fellowship of Merry Christians encourages churches in general to uplift the joy and humor found in scripture and in our Christian faith. You can learn more on their website at: https://www.joyfulnoiseletter.com/hhsunday.asp
Sunday Morning Overview
Sunday School / Bible Study classes for youth and adults is from 9:00-10:00AM on a Sunday morning.
Click on this Sunday School for Youth link or this Bible Study for Adults link for more information.
Worship is from 10:15-11:30AM.
Our average Sunday morning worship service includes: scripture, sermon, children’s sermon, choir and/or special music, nursery available (children of all ages are welcome throughout worship), children activity sheets, singing, readings, and prayers.
Holy Communion is usually served on the first Sunday of each month plus on special holy days.
You can participate in worship in-person, or virtually by clicking on this YouTube Live Stream link, or by phone (866) 899-4679 enter code: 686285029.
To receive the weekly worship bulletin, you may contact the church office to be added to the bulletin email list.
Coffee & Light Refreshments are free and served before worship 9:00-10:00AM, and after worship at 11:30AM.