Beloved Community Through the Eyes of Humor
Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting
Pastor Bob Henry
November 16, 2025
Good morning, Friends, and welcome to Light Reflections. The scripture I have chosen for this week is from Psalm 126:2 from the New Revised Standard Version.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
I want to begin my final message in this Beloved Community series this morning by sharing some Quaker humor.
· A Meeting was raising funds for a new meetinghouse, and the clerk was calling on members for pledges. One weighty and affluent but tightfisted Friend rose and said, “I’ll subscribe five dollars.” Just then a piece of old plaster fell on his head. Half stunned, the weighty Friend mumbled, “I mean f-five hundred dollars.”
At that point a voice was raised in prayer from the back of the room: “Oh, Lord, hit him again!”
· A Meeting in the West once considered whether to reestablish its Garden and Flowers Committee, which had languished and withered some years before. When the subject came up for discussion, a former meeting Clerk spoke up: “Oh yes, I remember the Garden committee; I was on it for awhile. That’s where they sent you for Rest & Relaxation after too many years on Ministry and Counsel.”
· How many Quakers does it take to change a meetinghouse light bulb?
Why, the whole congregation, of course. One Friend can install it, to be sure–but only after the rest have weightily considered whether they wouldn’t be bearing a truer testimony to the Inner Light, not to mention simplicity, by learning to get along without it.
That’s enough of those jokes.
Sometimes, I think we Quakers take ourselves way too seriously. Friend Kerry O’Reagan wrote in a special edition of Friends Journal on humor that
“We Quakers have a bit of an image problem when it comes to fun and frivolity, and I suspect that goes back to the beginning. For all his talk of cheerful walking, George Fox was not really much of a cheerful chappy. I think he meant something quite different by the term, but I am glad he used it.”
I agree and hope that we would seek ways to expand Fox’s understanding of “walking cheerfully over all the world, answering that of God in everyone,” especially for our condition and world, today.
I sense we need more than ever to find ways to bring humor, laughter, joy into our lives, especially when so much is being questioned and not making us feel like even smiling.
One Quaker who I believe understood this was Friend Thomas Kelley. Even though he wrestled with Quaker views on humor, he said he had a sense of pervading joy, and even speaks of his attempts “to keep one’s inner hilarity and exuberance within bounds.”
How many of us have an “inner hilarity and exuberance” that we need to get in touch with?
But Kelley also was honest in saying,
“I’d rather be jolly Saint Francis hymning his canticle to the sun than a dour old sobersides Quaker whose diet would appear to have been spiritual persimmons.”
I cannot agree more. Most of us are drawn to people who make us laugh. When someone is too serious or doesn’t seem able to laugh at themselves or other things around them, then we seem to wonder what has happened in their life to make them this way. J ust maybe they have lost their humor and joy, or they do not take the time to engage it.
I believe humor can be a powerful force that creates connections and builds a vibrant beloved community.
I remember when I was student teaching fourth grade, and my lead teacher told me the way to get the kids to come around a lesson and really make it stick in their minds was to get them to laugh about it. I remember I was leading a science lesson, so, I started with a joke about E.T. the Extra Terrestrial.
But sadly as I made the joke, I realized my class were all born after E.T. was released in theaters and (at that time) it wasn’t even released yet on video for them to watch. For the next several minutes I floundered, began to sweat, and had a hard time getting the students to come together.
At this same time, a funny kid in the class said, Mr. Henry that was a terrible joke (which made us all laugh out loud). He then said, “I have a better one, can I share it?” I said sure. He then told a joke that had us all rolling. Immediately, my little misstep turned into an opportunity and that lesson may have been the best in all of my student teaching. You want to know the joke that he told?
Why is the mushroom always invited to parties? He’s a fungi. 30 years later, I remember that joke and how those fourth graders laughed and laughed – and all I could think of was how E.T. reminded me of a mushroom. Haha!
When you or I share a joke with others, it breaks down barriers and fosters camaraderie.
Humor also can lighten tensions, turning disagreements into open conversations.
I remember a time in my doctoral work where our professor Len Sweet was teaching us about the ways different cultures viewed Jesus. It was a very serious conversation. At one point we were looking at statuary and people were getting a little frustrated because not everyone had the same image of Jesus. One of the statues looked nothing like what some of my classmates expected.
Under my breath, I whispered (a bit too loud) to my fellow classmate, “What are they expecting “Big Butter Jesus”?” Immediately, Len asked me who “Big Butter Jesus” was? So, I had him pull up the video of Hayward Banks song and played it in the class. Our class literally was in tears, the tensions broke and Big Butter Jesus became a memory we will never forget. If you are unfamiliar with Big Butter Jesus (AKA the King of Kings statue) which actually was struck by lightening and burned down just north of Cincinnati a few years ago, you need to google it. It was a 60-foot statue of Jesus outside the Solid Rock Church just off the expressway. Heyward Banks thought it looked as if it was made out of butter - like at the State Fair.
When we continued our conversation, people seemed much more open to seeing Jesus from a variety of perspectives.
Also, engaging in funny activities can turn ordinary moments into cherished memories.
As you embrace humor, you’ll find it helps everyone face challenges together and creates a supportive atmosphere.
As well, you might think of humor as just a spontaneous reaction in the moment, but I believe it plays an essential role in building community.
Humor and laughter releases endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, which can enhance mood and promote social interaction. When you share a laugh, you’re not only enjoying a moment; you’re also strengthening bonds that can lead to lasting friendships.
I think this is what Jesus did. He used the humor of his day to strengthen the disciples and draw them in to deeper understandings. Whether it was sending “a camel through the eye of a needle” or calling two of his disciples the “sons of thunder” there are many instances when Jesus utilizes humor. And we can’t but read some of his parables without seeing him laugh as he is telling the story.
Research shows that communities with a strong sense of humor enjoy higher levels of cooperation and support. When the word seems a bit too serious, it becomes obvious. By embracing laughter, you and I contribute to a nurturing environment where everyone feels valued, creating a vibrant community that uplifts and inspires one another every day.
When we share a laugh, a joke, something funny, we open the door to deeper connections and camaraderie.
Laughter fosters an environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing their experiences and stories. You’ll notice how a simple joke or funny memory can ignite conversations and strengthen relationships, making each day a little brighter.
By encouraging shared humor, we help cultivate a supportive community that thrives on connection and joy.
Remember, humor isn’t just entertainment; it’s a powerful tool for enhancing well-being and building trust.
While we were in Oregon, Sue and I hosted a couple “Story Feasting” events at our home. We invited about 10 or so people over at the holidays for some cookies and punch and to tell our stories. All the night consisted of was basically starter questions – and where we went from there was all up to the participants.
We heard stories about someone’s Orange Terry Cloth Pant Suit, being stuck at O’hare like in the movie Planes Trains and Automobiles, and a story of someone being locked out of their house in their garage naked and having to go to the neighbor’s house wearing just a garbage bag. I am not kidding, my side hurt for a week after these events. We found ourselves laughing with each other and at each other. But more than anything, we found ourselves becoming more vulnerable while also being supported because we were building a beloved community together.
A couple weeks ago, when we had the connections bingo, I heard many people sharing stories and then having to explain them, but the thing that hit me right away as I entered the Fellowship Hall after greeting was all the laughter, and the smiles on everyone’s face.
This is also what I enjoy about Threshing Together for the Men and Soul Sisters for the women, there is laughter and humor, and it is building community in our midst. I love when someone says, did you hear so-and-so’s story and then just begins to crack up. It is contagious.
So, as I have done in all of these message on Beloved Community, here are three simple and practical ways to use humor to bring people together:
1. Start with Playfulness
Humor isn’t just about telling jokes—it’s about creating an environment where playfulness is welcome. Try a funny icebreaker at a meeting , add a little personality to your emails, or embrace lighthearted moments in conversations. The more playful the atmosphere, the more people feel comfortable engaging.
2. Find the Inside Joke
Inside jokes are like secret handshakes but with laughter. Pay attention to shared experiences—whether it’s a ridiculous work process, a running gag from past meetings, or something everyone struggles with—and use humor to turn it into a bonding moment. Once a group laughs together about something, it becomes part of their shared identity and helps crystalize how this group is different from all the others.
3. Share a Laugh
Sometimes, the simplest way to strengthen a community is to experience laughter together. Watch a funny video as a group, send each other memes, or share a lighthearted story during meetings. Laughter is contagious, and the more you laugh together, the closer you feel.
Now, as we enter waiting worship, let’s take a moment to center down. I have prepared a few queries for you to consider this morning.
1. How am I “walking cheerfully” in my world while seeking that of God in all people?
2. Where in my Beloved Community does there need to be more humor?
3. How might I get in touch with my “inner hilarity and exuberance” this week?