10th April, 2006

Howard Langmead, 52, is the vicar of St John's Anglican Church in West Brunswick, Melbourne, Victoria, as well as a part-time stand-up comic, social commentator, laughter workshop facilitator and podcaster...

My first experience of God was...when he formed me in the womb, but my memory of this is vague. I do remember mum teaching me to pray when I was about five, and the great sense of responsibility I felt in telling God what to do.
 
Jesus is important to me now...because he teaches and models an earthy type of spirituality that works, and he breathes life into me that helps me do things I’d never do in my own strength, like facilitating laughter workshops.
 
I knew I was going to be a vicar...by the time it actually happened. Until then it was something I considered vaguely possible, or that I should consider seriously, or that I could apply for to test the water, or that I should push the door and see if it opened. There was no moment of revelation, vision or dramatic call. It was a path I was walking and God didn’t say no. Neither did the bishop.
 
My favorite book of the Bible...is the Acts of the Apostles because stuff happens and Jesus isn’t even there. Well not physically.
 
The greatest challenge in being a vicar and a comedian is...being polite when parishioners tell me bad jokes and then give me permission to use them in my routines. That, and combining late Saturday nights with early Sunday mornings.
 
Humour is an important part of my life because...it’s a choice to interpret life joyfully and with a smile.
 
I run Laughter Therapy workshops because...I’m convinced about the health and well-being benefits laughter. I believe that laughter, like vegetables and sex, is one of God’s good gifts to people, and Christians should be among those that teach the positive and healthy use of these gifts. 
 
I recently laughed when...I was being interviewed by an upbeat John Saffron and a grumpy Father Bob on JJJ. They’re an odd couple, and sitting between them in a radio studio was a lot of fun.
 
I recently cried when...a member of a small group at my church prayed that God would help me cope with my stressful, busy life. Their prayer was sort of an answer to their prayer. 
 
The idea of taking nativity photos instead of Santa photos at Christmas came about...when I saw children lined up to have their photo taken with Santa and, feeling stressed that day, I felt very annoyed at the crass commercialisation of Christmas. I said to myself , “They should be having their photos taken with Jesus, it’s his birthday.”
 
The most exciting thing God is doing at St John's Anglican at the moment is...suggesting to us some alternative sort of things like healing meditations, café church, and a weekly laughter group.
 
Someone who inspires me is...Arthur Stace. One day he felt a powerful call from God to write the word ‘Eternity’, so he did it obsessively in chalk on pavements for the next 37 years. His 'Eternity' graffiti become part of Sydney. At the turn of the century billions around the world saw it on the Harbour Bridge and then again four billion saw it at the opening of the 2000 Olympics. I love his focused commitment to a bizarre task. I love the fact that God blessed it.
 
I'm currently praying for...more people to hear the hearty loving laughter of God, and join in.
 
A question I'd wished you'd asked me...is about my web site, www.howardlangmead.com.au, where people can listen to and subscribe to a new pod cast radio show I’m part of - The Anglican and The Atheist. I’m the Anglican, Brett de Hoedt is the Atheist and we talk, laugh and share opinions. It’s worth a listen.