"You are invited to help the people of English Lutheran Church resurrect an old Easter custom begun by the Greeks in the early centuries of Christianity, sayd Rev. Kevin Mohr, pastor.

On Sunday, April 11, the congregation will celebrate its second annual "Holy Humor Sunday."

For centuries in Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant countries, the week following Easter Sunday, including "Bright Sunday" (the Sunday after Easter), was observed by the faithful as days of joy and laughter with parties and picnics to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. Churchgoers and pastors played practical jokes on each other, drenched each other with water, told jokes, sang and danced, according to Rev. Mohr.

The custom was rooted in the musings of early church theologians (like Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and John Chrysostom) that God played a practical joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead. "Risus paschalis - the Easter laugh," the early theologians called it.

"Our Bright Sunday celebration will be filled with songs and hymns of joy, clean religious humor, funny skits, and lots of bright and colorful clothing worn by parishioners," said Rev. Mohr.

Worship begins at 9 a.m., with Sunday school for all ages at 10:15 a.m. For more information call 419-358-2591 or email: [email protected].