SPECIAL DAY: Holy Humor Sunday

April 19, 1998 - LESSON: Proverbs 17:22, NRSV

SERMON TITLE: A Merry Heart

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A man and a women who had been friends for many years, died and went to heaven.

They told Saint Peter they wanted to be married.

"Take you time and think about it," Saint Peter said.

You have eternity to think about it here.

Come back and talk to me in about 50 years.

Fifty years later, the couple returned and again told Saint Peter they wanted to be married.

"Take your time and think about it some more about it," Saint Peter said.

"Come back and see me in another 50 years.

And if we don't have a preacher up here by then, I'll marry you myself."

To laugh or not to laugh, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to control the impulse and maintain decorum, or give in and enjoy the joyous sound of mirth.

Worship has always been in a state of tension between our understanding of piety and the joy that fills the heart by the good news of the gospel.

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In SUNDAY MORNING: A missing presence, Edward Farley⁽¹⁾, Buffington Professor of Theology Emeritus at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, writes about worship in this way:

"To attend a typical Protest Sunday morning worship service is to experience something odd, something like a charade. "The discourse (invocation, praises, hymns, confessions, sacred texts) indicates that the event celebrates a sacred presence. But this discourse is neutralized by the prevailing mood, which is casual, comfortable, chatty, busy, humorous, pleasant and at times even cute. "This mood is not a sign of a sacred reality but of various congregational self-preoccupations.

The sacred text is not so much a presence as a theme and content of the terrible mystery of God, which sets language atremble and silences facile chattiness. (One has only to attend or even read about the ritual activity that goes on in a Hopi kiva to sense the difference.) If the seraphim assumed this Sunday morning mood, they would be addressing God not as 'holy, holy, holy' but as 'nice, nice, nice.'"

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Dear Abby, "Church applause welcomed as joyful noise to the Lord," Milwaukee Sentinel Journal, Section F, Saturday, (February 7, 1998), p. 1F

It was in regard to an individual who had complained about clapping in church.

One of the responses was from Ronald C. Bauer, Rector, San Juan Capistrano, CA.

"I have been an Episcopal priest for 33 years, ministering to the 'frozen chosen,' as others call us. I began ministerial life as a cleric believing in the rectitude of proper demeanor in worship. This meant that a show of joy or emotion was forbidden.

After looking for years out at a congregation and seeing the frustration on the faces of those who wanted to join in an expression of appreciation for some moving sermon, reading, choir anthem or instrumental piece, I have been converted. In the Old Testament, worshipers are taught: 'Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy,' (Psalm 47:1). In other passages, all of creation is to praise God with clapping and singing. Psalm 98:8 says: 'Let floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy.'

Lest this be biased in favor of the positive, clapping was also used to show negative feelings. One example, Lamentations 2:15 tells us: 'All who pass along the way clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem.'

Freedom to express joy and appreciation is especially important when the young join us. They need to know they are welcomed in worship."

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Here are some quotations from famous people in regard to joy and laughter

Henry Ward Beecher, A Congregational minister, said:

"Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it. Grim care, moroseness, anxiety--all this rust of life--ought to be scoured off by the oil of mirth."

Billy Graham has written:

"People go to a football game today and shout their heads off, or go to a circus and cheer act after act. They become enthusiastic about everything conceivable, but when it comes to spiritual matters they think we are supposed to become sober and wear black, and never have a good time or enjoy a religious event."

Mother Teresa said:

"Joy is prayer. Joy is strength. Joy is love. The best way to show my gratitude to God is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy. Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget for one moment the joy of Christ risen."

From the Bible:

The word laugh:

The word, "laugh," appears the first time in the Bible in Genesis 17:17 ("Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, 'Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?'" (Genesis 17:17, NRSV).

When God informed Abraham that his 90 year old wife Sarah will give birth to a son.

Abraham and Sarah laughed heartily.

God commanded Abraham to name his son 'Isaac', which in the Hebrew means 'God's laugh.'

After she gave birth to Isaac, Sarah exclaimed:"God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me." (Genesis 21:6 NRSV)

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Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus.

It is said in an old legend that his life was filled with laughter.

This is why his home in Bethany is known as "The House of Laughter."

Jesus appeared to 500 people at once after the resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:6)

How do you think 500 people would have related to this incredible event?

They would have a party?

Humor from Holy Humor, More Holy Humor and The Joyful Noiseletter

Dr. Halford Luccock, Professor of Preaching at Yale Divinity School for over 25 years, was renowned for his sense of humor.

He liked to tell the story of a distressed pastor who rushed to his church after a report that it had caught fire.

The pastor was surprised to see so many non-church people among the huge crowd gathered to watch his church go up in flames.

The pastor couldn't resist asking one of the onlookers. "Sir, I don't remember seeing you at this church before."

The spectator replied: "Well, this is the first time this church has ever been on fire!"

-via Rev. David J. Droog, Austin, MN

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Here is a riddle for you

Question: Why did the Israelites wander 40 years in the desert?

Answer: Even then the men would not stop and ask for directions.

Out of the mouths of children

On Easter Sunday, FMC member Rev, Karl R. Kraft of the First United Methodist Church of Mantua (NJ) walked through the congregation giving them an Easter "pep talk."

The pastor invited the congregation to sing and shout out whatever they felt would make them joyful on Easter, such as "Praise the Lord!" or "Thanks be to God!"

A small pre-school boy shouted: "I want to go home!"

A little girl became restless as the preacher's sermon dragged on and on.

Finally, she leaned over to her mother and whispered, "Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?"

-Jim Reed, Cotter, Arkansas

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Humorous stories:

About 10 o'clock one cold February morning a man was in bed sound asleep. His mother came into the room.

"Son, it's time to get up. You gotta get ready for church," she implored.

"I'm too tired. Leave me alone," he said.

"Son, you gotta get up and get ready for church."

"I'm not going to church. Give me one good reason why I have to go to church," he protested.

"I'll give you two good reasons: one, it's Sunday and two, you're the pastor!"

-via Deacon William McAvoy, Lenexa, KS

Toward the end of his life, when he was suffering from the accumulated effects of a lifetime of drinking, an ill W.C. Fields was discovered reading the Bible by one of his friends.

The astonished friend asked: "What are you - an atheist - doing reading the Bible?"

"I'm looking for loopholes," Fields replied.

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An elderly priest, who had spent 50 years preaching in parish missions, dreamed one night that he died and knocked on the pearly gates.

"Who is there?" St. Peter asked.

"I am Fr. Clyde, preacher of missions for over 50 years."

"Ah, yes, Fr. Clyde," St. Peter said, "I'm sorry, but you can't come in yet- First you will have to spend three months in Purgatory."

"Three months in Purgatory!" the priest exclaimed. "I spent my life preaching missions all over Australia!"

"Please be calm, father," St. Peter said. "You won't have to work. We have a comfortable chair for you in a comfortable room. You won't have to do anything except listen to your own sermons day and night. We taped all the sermons you preached at those missions."

The priest woke up in a sweat.

-via Fr. Jim Carroll, OMI Blessed Eugene de Mazenod Parish, Burpengary, Australia

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Imagine praying and hearing this:

"Thank you for calling My Father's House. Please select one of the following four options: Press I for a request. Press 2 for a thanksgiving. Press 3 to complain. For all other inquiries, press 4."

So you press 1 and hear: "We're sorry. All of the angels are helping other customers right now. Please stay on the line. Your call will be answered in the order it was received."

What would it be like if you heard the following responses- as you called God's answering machine?

"To receive the latest promotional gift with your order from Paradise Parlor, press 0, and an operator will assist you.

"To find out how many angels dance on the head of a pin, press 5.

"If you'd like King David to sing a psalm for you, press 6.

"To find out if your relative is here, enter his/her date of death and listen for the list that follows.

"For reservation information or to confirm your reservations at My Father's House, press the letters J-O-H-N, followed by the numbers 3-1-6.

"To know what your pastor is doing at this moment, press 7.

"For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs, the age of the earth, and where Noah's Ark is, wait till you get here!

"If you want to know what I think of American politics, don't press anything. Hang up and listen for laughter.

"Our computers show that you have called once today already, Please hang up immediately.

"This office is closed for the weekend. Please call again Monday."

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IN CONCLUSION:

There is an old European story about a traveler who came upon a barn where the devil had stored seeds which he planned to sow in the hearts of people.

There were bags of seeds variously marked "Hatred," "Fear," "Doubt," Despair," "Unforgiveness," "Pride," "Greed," etc.

The devil appeared and struck up a conversation with the traveler. He gleefully told the traveler how easily the seeds he sowed sprouted in the hearts of men and women.

"Are there any hearts in which these seeds will not sprout?" the traveler asked.

A melancholy look appeared on the devil's face. "These seeds will not sprout in the heart of a thankful and joyful person," he confessed.

The writer of Proverbs demonstrates keen insight and great wisdom when he says:

A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.

We can laugh and applaud and enjoy ourselves in worship.

The good news of the gospel ought to bring great joy and happiness that is revealed in all that we are, do and say.

1. Edward Farley, Buffington Professor of Theology, Emeritus, Vanderbilt University Divinity School, "Sunday Morning: A missing presence," The Christian Century, Vol. 115, No. 9, (March 18-25, 1998), p 276.

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SPECIAL DAY: Holy Humor Sunday

April 19, 1998 - LESSON: Proverbs 17:22, NRSV

SERMON TITLE: A Merry Heart

A man and a women who had been friends for many years, died and went to heaven.

They told Saint Peter they wanted to be married.

"Take you time and think about it," Saint Peter said.

You have eternity to think about it here.

Come back and talk to me in about 50 years.

Fifty years later, the couple returned and again told Saint Peter they wanted to be married.

"Take your time and think about it some more about it," Saint Peter said.

"Come back and see me in another 50 years.

And if we don't have a preacher up here by then, I'll marry you myself."

To laugh or not to laugh, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to control the impulse and maintain decorum, or give in and enjoy the joyous sound of mirth.

Worship has always been in a state of tension between our understanding of piety and the joy that fills the heart by the good news of the gospel.

In SUNDAY MORNING: A missing presence, Edward Farley(1), Buffington Professor of Theology Emeritus at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, writes about worship in this way:

Dear Abby, "Church applause welcomed as joyful noise to the Lord," Milwaukee Sentinel Journal, Section F, Saturday, (February 7, 1998), p. 1F

It was in regard to an individual who had complained about clapping in church.

One of the responses was from Ronald C. Bauer, Rector, San Juan Capistrano, CA.

"I have been an Episcopal priest for 33 years, ministering to the 'frozen chosen,' as others call us. I began ministerial life as a cleric believing in the rectitude of proper demeanor in worship. This meant that a show of joy or emotion was forbidden.

Lest this be biased in favor of the positive, clapping was also used to show negative feelings. One example, Lamentations 2:15 tells us: 'All who pass along the way clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem.'

Freedom to express joy and appreciation is especially important when the young join us. They need to know they are welcomed in worship."

Here are some quotations from famous people in regard to joy and laughter

Henry Ward Beecher, A Congregational minister, said:

"Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it. Grim care, moroseness, anxiety--all this rust of life--ought to be scoured off by the oil of mirth."

Billy Graham has written:

Mother Teresa said:

"Joy is prayer. Joy is strength. Joy is love. The best way to show my gratitude to God is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy. Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget for one moment the joy of Christ risen."

From the Bible:

The word laugh:

The word, "laugh," appears the first time in the Bible in Genesis 17:17 ("Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, 'Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?'" (Genesis 17:17, NRSV).

When God informed Abraham that his 90 year old wife Sarah will give birth to a son.

Abraham and Sarah laughed heartily.

God commanded Abraham to name his son 'Isaac', which in the Hebrew means 'God's laugh.'

After she gave birth to Isaac, Sarah exclaimed:"God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me." (Genesis 21:6 NRSV)

Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus.

It is said in an old legend that his life was filled with laughter.

This is why his home in Bethany is known as "The House of Laughter."

Jesus appeared to 500 people at once after the resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:6)

How do you think 500 people would have related to this incredible event?

They would have a party?

Humor from Holy Humor, More Holy Humor and The Joyful Noiseletter

Dr. Halford Luccock, Professor of Preaching at Yale Divinity School for over 25 years, was renowned for his sense of humor.

He liked to tell the story of a distressed pastor who rushed to his church after a report that it had caught fire.

The pastor was surprised to see so many non-church people among the huge crowd gathered to watch his church go up in flames.

The pastor couldn't resist asking one of the onlookers. "Sir, I don't remember seeing you at this church before."

The spectator replied: "Well, this is the first time this church has ever been on fire!"

-via Rev. David J. Droog, Austin, MN

Here is a riddle for you

Question: Why did the Israelites wander 40 years in the desert?

Answer: Even then the men would not stop and ask for directions.

Out of the mouths of children

On Easter Sunday, FMC member Rev, Karl R. Kraft of the First United Methodist Church of Mantua (NJ) walked through the congregation giving them an Easter "pep talk."

The pastor invited the congregation to sing and shout out whatever they felt would make them joyful on Easter, such as "Praise the Lord!" or "Thanks be to God!"

A small pre-school boy shouted: "I want to go home!"

A little girl became restless as the preacher's sermon dragged on and on.

Finally, she leaned over to her mother and whispered, "Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?"

-Jim Reed, Cotter, Arkansas

Humorous stories:

About 10 o'clock one cold February morning a man was in bed sound asleep. His mother came into the room.

"Son, it's time to get up. You gotta get ready for church," she implored.

"I'm too tired. Leave me alone," he said.

"Son, you gotta get up and get ready for church."

"I'm not going to church. Give me one good reason why I have to go to church," he protested.

"I'll give you two good reasons: one, it's Sunday and two, you're the pastor!"

-via Deacon William McAvoy, Lenexa, KS

Toward the end of his life, when he was suffering from the accumulated effects of a lifetime of drinking, an ill W.C. Fields was discovered reading the Bible by one of his friends.

The astonished friend asked: "What are you - an atheist - doing reading the Bible?"

"I'm looking for loopholes," Fields replied.

An elderly priest, who had spent 50 years preaching in parish missions, dreamed one night that he died and knocked on the pearly gates.

"Who is there?" St. Peter asked.

"I am Fr. Clyde, preacher of missions for over 50 years."

"Ah, yes, Fr. Clyde," St. Peter said, "I'm sorry, but you can't come in yet- First you will have to spend three months in Purgatory."

"Three months in Purgatory!" the priest exclaimed. "I spent my life preaching missions all over Australia!"

"Please be calm, father," St. Peter said. "You won't have to work. We have a comfortable chair for you in a comfortable room. You won't have to do anything except listen to your own sermons day and night. We taped all the sermons you preached at those missions."

The priest woke up in a sweat.

-via Fr. Jim Carroll, OMI Blessed Eugene de Mazenod Parish, Burpengary, Australia

Imagine praying and hearing this:

"Thank you for calling My Father's House. Please select one of the following four options: Press I for a request. Press 2 for a thanksgiving. Press 3 to complain. For all other inquiries, press 4."

So you press 1 and hear: "We're sorry. All of the angels are helping other customers right now. Please stay on the line. Your call will be answered in the order it was received."

What would it be like if you heard the following responses- as you called God's answering machine?

In SUNDAY MORNING: A missing presence, Edward Farley⁽¹⁾, Buffington Professor of Theology Emeritus at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, writes about worship in this way: