Faces
arl Newyear has a theory why there’s no comedy in the Bible: “It’s because Judas was the funniest disciple … so they cut all his lines out.”
In case there’s any doubt, Newyear is joking. Making
laughs out of his faith, congregational life and even the Bible are what helped the member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Waukegan, Ill., earn the unofficial title of “World’s Funniest Lutheran.” An active comedian in the Chicago area, Newyear takes
both secular and non-secular gigs. He got started at his congregation with its annual music
festival. He was asked one year to emcee the event. Soon, he realized, there was a niche for making humor out of being Lutheran. In 2003 he was a finalist for WGN-TV’s Funniest Person in Chicago contest. Early in his career, when he’d be in clubs, Newyear said
lots of other comics on the bill were Jewish, so he stood out. Gradually he started being introduced as the World’s Funni- est Lutheran—and the moniker stuck. His shows for a religious crowd begin the same as his
nightclub shows, talking mostly about himself and everyday observations. Halfway through he moves toward issues that he thinks Christians of any denomination would find relat- able. “I don’t do specific Lutheran stuff,” he said. “That’s easy, and Garrison Keillor covers a lot of that stuff.” That doesn’t mean his congregation gets off the hook. “I talk about St. Paul’s trying to retire some debt,” he said.
“So they decided to sell the naming rights of the church to a corporation. Now it’s called St. Pauli’s Girl Church.” Even if the congregation is the lighthearted punch line to
some jokes, Newyear said most of the members support his work, with only a few voicing concern that he performs in the sanctuary as opposed to the fellowship hall. His humor, though, is derived from his faith, and it doesn’t include disrespecting the church. Still, he is happy to point
Karl Newyear believes his humor derives from his faith.
out things that others might be thinking. For example, one rou- tine includes suggesting a buzzer on the pulpit so the pastor can point out people not paying attention during a sermon. “Lady in the back with a crying baby!”
he shouts, hitting the buzzer. “We’ve got a cry room!”
For more information about Newyear, visit
www.worldsfunniestlutheran.com.
Author bio: Favre, a frequent contributor to The Lutheran, is an assis- tant professor at Pierce College in Los Angeles and a free- lance theater critic.
100 + birthdays
104: Marguerite Holt, Bethany, Central Bridge, N.Y. 103: Viola Luckenbaugh, Christ, Spring Grove, Pa.; Sadie Wedeking, St. John, Ohiowa, Neb. 102: Agnes Ehrhardt, Atone- ment, Barrington, Ill.; Isabel Lienau, St. Luke, Middleton,
Wis.; Evelyn Matz, Zion, Republic, Ohio. 101: Gil Koehler, Trinity, Sanford, N.C.; Annette Kost, American, Huron,
S.D.; Ruth Larson, First, St. Peter, Minn. 100: Mabel Gun- ning, Zion, Davenport, Wash.; Ruth Peterson, Gethsemane,
Wallace, Mich.; Louise Sand, Providence, Brookville, Ohio; Mabel Sullivan, Bay View, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
Send stories Share your stories of ELCA Lutherans and your 100+ members in “Faces.” Send to
lutheran@thelutheran.org or “Faces,” The Lutheran, 8765 W. Hig gins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631.
March 2014 43
By Jeff Favre
Ever hear the one about a funny Lutheran? K
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