Fill Me with Laughter

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer, “According to the US Census Bureau, real median household income was $80,610 in 2023. If someone gave you that amount of money as a gift, what would you do with it?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read Psalm 126 and John 12:1-8.

• In Psalm 126, the writer remembers the laughter and rejoicing that accompanied God’s deliverance and restoration. How can recalling the great things the Lord has done for us sustain us in difficult times? Can you think of a time when you said, “I made it through that; I can make it through this”?
• Though we don’t like to say it, it could be easy to become like Judas in John 12:1-8 — an utter outsider to the scene between Jesus and Mary. Mary has surrendered to the love of God that seeks us in Jesus, and she shows it through her extravagant gesture. Meanwhile, Judas can see only the monetary gain he loses out on. What ways can a Judas-like spirit infect our spirits? [1. Our leadership role in the body of Christ is no longer connected to our primary and profound love of God. 2. We start to calculate the cost of discipleship - weighing the costs versus the benefits.]
• John 12:3 tells us, “the house was filled with the fragrance of faith.” What does the “fragrance of faith” look like in our lives? [We naturally think of Paul’s description of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.]
• What are some ways we can misread Jesus’ words in verse 8, “You will always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me”? [Is Jesus prioritizing worship over meeting the needs of the poor? No. Is Jesus saying that poverty is an accepted fact of life? No. Jesus is saying that his followers will always live in close proximity to the poor. It is integral to our identity in Christ.]
• Judas uses the poor as a means to an end. He co-opts the language of solidarity with the least and the last for his purposes. Politicians and the powers-that-be are proficient at Judas’s pious language, too. Do Christians have a responsibility to speak out on behalf of the poor in public spaces? In what ways?
• The worship planning notes for this Sunday describe the task of the psalmist in Psalm 126 this way:
• Suffering limits our vision; redemption raises our vision. Let’s celebrate the new hope that we have or the constant hope that we remember…So, cast the vision. What is there to laugh about? What joy is within reach? What testimony can we give to redemption, rescue, and hope?
• In what situation or setting are you called to cast a vision of redemption, rescue, and hope?

Optional Activity – listen to this week's playlist song, “Cover Me in Sunshine” by P!NK and Willow Sage Hart

“Fill me with laughter.” This is not what we expect so deep into the season of Lent. We are supposed to be getting more serious the closer we get to Good Friday, right? Or, perhaps Psalm 126 is right on time. Laughter, stories, and memories of God’s provision are necessary at all stages of our journey with God as individuals and family in Christ. They shore up our faith and feed our hope. They remind us that God’s goodness still infuses all creation and God’s love remains steadfast. So, as you listen to P!NK’s “Cover Me in Sunshine,” take in the words and consider how they might serve as a prayer, a call to God to bring sunshine and laughter as reminders of God’s sustaining and life-giving love.

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

Help us, Lord. Help us this week to follow in the footsteps of Mary who gave her all to you and practiced radical generosity. Alert us to those parts of ourselves we hold back from you. Let our lives give out a Christ-like fragrance that is unmistakable and always honors you.

Rev. Joe Hamby is the Director of Community Education at Roof Above, a comprehensive homeless service provider in Charlotte, NC. In his first career, Joe was a youth pastor at several United Methodist churches in the Western North Carolina Annual Conference. Joe’s other ministry interest takes him to Cabarrus Regional Juvenile Detention Center twice a month.