Friday, April 20, 2012

Bright Sunday 2012

Background:  “For centuries, in Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant countries, Easter Monday and “Bright Sunday” (the Sunday after Easter) were observed by the faithful as “days of joy and laughter” with parties and picnics to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. ”Parishioners and pastors played practical jokes on each other, drenched each other with water, sang, and danced. It was a time for clergy and people to tell jokes and to have fun.  The custom of Easter Monday and Bright Sunday celebrations were 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. Easter was ‘God’s supreme joke played on death.’ (from Bonnie)
St. John's Episcopal Church celebrates Bright Sunday with The Rt. Rev. Scott Hayashi, Eleventh Bishop of Utah
Enjoy!