Easter 2: Holy Humor Sunday

Sunday, April 12, 2026
10:30 AM 11:30 AM 10:30 11:30

Union Presbyterian Church 200 E Main St Endicott, NY, 13760 United States (map)

Google Calendar ICS

You are hereby invited to bring your silliest self, your loudest laugh, your sensational smile, a funny hat, and a kazoo or other fancy musical instrument, to join us in celebrating Holy Humor Sunday! This is a custom that arose in the very earliest days of Christianity. It is rooted in the writings of the early church theologians, who reasoned that God had played a tremendous practical joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead. They called it risus paschalis—the Easter laugh!

Today is a day for silliness and light-hearted (and church-friendly!) jokes, all in the celebration of our God’s goodness. This is the feast of victory for our God! Enjoy! And feel free to join us on a “normal” Sunday some time soon.

You can join us in our beautiful sanctuary at 200 East Main Street in Endicott, NY. Or, you can join us online by clicking on the livestream, right here, on Sunday morning at 10:30. You are invited, and will be most warmly welcomed!

Easter 2: Holy Humor Sunday

Not Ready for Prime Time

Psalm 111; John 20:19-31

April 12, 2026 

Union Presbyterian Church 

Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow 

Liturgist: Cathie Makowka Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube 

[Wireless mics for Chris and soloist]

Welcome

This is the day that the Lord has made!

Let us rejoice and be glad in it! ~Psalm 118:24

Announcements          Cathie Makowka

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Oh, Happy Day,” Kenneth W. Louis

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

* Call to Worship
Knock, knock!

Who’s there?

The one!

The one who?

The One who raised Jesus from the dead!

Knock, knock!

Who’s there?

Happy!

Happy who?

Happy are we who trust in the name of the Lord!

Knock, knock!

Who’s, there?

Lettuce!

Lettuce who?

Lettuce worship God!

* Hymn

“This Little Light of Mine”

(Public Domain)

ALL:

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

WOMEN SING, MEN KAZOO:

Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine,

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

MEN SING, WOMEN KAZOO:

Not gonna let you snuff it out, I’m gonna let it shine,

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

ALL:

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

* Call to New Life

The psalms tell us, “God who sits in the heavens laughs.” Let us come to God in confidence, because the God of laughter is also our healer and our hope.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (unison)

God of Delight and Merriment, thank you for the gift of laughter. We confess that we frequently find fault and fail to free our fellows. As we open our mouths to smile or grin, open wide our hearts to your surprising joy. Tickle our funny bones, we pray. Poke holes in our too-serious outlook. Teach us to relish each moment. Sparkle spirit through our entire being, and infect every particle of creation with holy humor. We pray in the name of Jesus, whose rich, warm laughter surrounds us always. Amen.

* Words of Assurance

The laughter of God resonates deep and wide.

What a relief! God forgives even our worst jokes.

The love of God is from everlasting to everlasting.

The Lord is kind and gracious, and always has the last laugh.

Amen! Alleluia!

* Sharing of the Peace

A smiling soul is a peaceful soul.

May the peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us share with one another a sign of God’s peace.

Scripture Psalm 149:1-5 NRSVUE

 Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
    God’s praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.

Let them praise God’s name with dancing,
    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.

For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with victory.

Let the faithful exult in glory;
    let them sing for joy on their couches.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Laughter Lends Itself to Praise,” Daniel Charles Damon

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Anthem TBD

“Christians, We Are Made for Laughter,” Jo Cassiday-Maloney

Used by permission.

Christians, we are made for laughter,

Born to giggle and guffaw!

Even in the great hereafter

Mirth is interspersed with awe.

So don’t hold back, let it fill you,

Let your muscles do their thing!

Don’t you worry, we won’t drill you!

Just let go and laugh and sing.

This is how our great God made us —

Faces, lungs, and hearts for glee.

And it’s how God would parade us,

Showing forth most joyously

All the love and all the gladness,

Such a great capacity

For the joy that drives all sadness

Out of every you and me.

We are people with a Savior

Who was not above a joke.

Play with words was his behavior,

He loved puns with all the folk.

Joy Christ showed us, joy Christ showers

Everywhere on everyone.

Turn your face up like the flowers,

Catch the joy and have some fun!

Christ was dead and now he’s risen!

Isn’t that a cause for glee?

Love has shattered all the prisons

We have built so carefully.

Now unfettered, free as breezes,

Giggles, snorts, and glee abound!

Even when our laughter wheezes,

We praise God with every sound.

Scripture John 21:19-29

When it was evening on that day, the first of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples were closed for fear of the Judeans, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you all.” And having said this, Jesus showed them his hands and his side, and then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Messiah. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you all, just as the Living God has sent me, so I send you all.” When Jesus had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit; if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

But Thomas, one of the twelve who was called Didymus (the Twin) was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Messiah.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

And within eight days his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though the doors were shut, and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you all.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Bring your hand and put it in my side and do not doubt, rather believe.” Thomas answered him, saying, “My Savior and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Was it because you have seen me that you believed? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word.

Thanks be to God.

Sermon “Not Ready for Prime Time”

Affirmation of Faith Philippians 4:4-9

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice.

Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters,

whatever is true, whatever is honorable,

whatever is just, whatever is pure,

whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable,

if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise,

think about these things…

and the God of peace will be with you.

* Hymn

“I’ve Got the Joy”

(Public Domain)

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart,

Down in my heart, down in my heart!

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart,

Down in my heart to stay!

I’ve got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart,

Down in my heart, down in my heart!

I’ve got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart,

Down in my heart to stay!

I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus down in my heart,

Down in my heart, down in my heart!

I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus down in my heart,

Down in my heart to stay!

KAZOOS!

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart,

Down in my heart, down in my heart!

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart,

Down in my heart to stay!

Prayers of the People 

The Lord’s Prayer (Unison)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Prayer Response # 587

“Alleluia!” Fintan O’Carroll, Christopher Walker

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Call for Offering     

* Doxology # 606

“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

(Public Domain)

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,

Praise God, all creatures here below:

Praise God above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

* Dedication of Offering 

* Hymn # 611

“Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”

(Public Domain)

Joyful, joyful, we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts unfold like flowers before thee,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.

All thy works with joy surround thee;
Earth and heaven reflect thy rays;
Stars and angels sing around thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain,
Call us to rejoice in thee.

Mortals, join the happy chorus
Which the morning stars began.
Love divine is reigning o'er us,
Joining all in heaven's plan.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife.
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.

* Benediction 

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“Waltz”

written by Chris when he was a junior high school student

Where an * is indicated, please rise in body and/or in spirit.     

Thanks to “A Joyful Noiseletter” for worship resources.

Scripture Translations are from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney, unless otherwise noted.

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Easter 2: Holy Humor Sunday