For the first time since 1956, we're given a double-dose of holiday fun, as both April Fool's Day and Easter (aka "Resurrection Sunday" aka "Christianity's Super Bowl") will occupy April 1, 2018.  swiss replica watches

Since it's going to be until 2029 until we get to experience this excellent convergence again, you can bet there will be churches that will take full advantage of it. While Easter should (and will) remain centered on Jesus beating sin, death and the grave, to think April Fool's will go unnoticed is, well, foolish!

While there's little information as to what happened 62 years ago, we thought we'd share some cautionary advice as to what to watch out for at your church this April Fool's Day Easter. 

BEFORE SERVICE

Rapture Ruckus: Congregation arrives to find clothes strewn about the sanctuary, with the youth pastor running around screaming about the Rapture. Sorry, youth pastor.

Watch the Greeters: They'll be there at the doors, waiting. But what will they be doing? Will they be handing out clip-on ties to anyone who appears "underdressed"? Will they be speaking Mandarin? Will they be asking people to pay a cover charge? Or will they be just straight-up tripping people as they come through the door? 
 
Merry Christmas?: Surprise! The foyer is filled with jolly carols, hot chocolate and a confusing dose of greenery. 

Foyer Fracas: In dramatic fashion, the pastor makes a huge mess in the foyer after he gets out a whip and overturns the tables of the Men's Retreat signups, shouting, "Who can afford $200 for two nights camping?" 

That's Not Coffee: Take a sniff before snagging that "complementary" coffee; warm cola might await your unsuspecting mouth! 
Ticket of Grace: Keep an eye out for where you park; church operatives might just sneak over after you've parked to place a fake parking ticket on your windshield, so when you return, you gasp in horror before reading Romans 6:23 on the "ticket": "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Or, maybe it's a real ticket to raise money for the new youth wing (coming in 2019)!

WORSHIP

G'Day: You never noticed it before, but the worship leader suddenly has an Australian accent, constantly beckoning: "C'mon chuuch!" 

Tempo Twist: Wow, who knew "Revelation Song" could be so fun and bouncy at double speed? And similarly, who knew how anticlimactic "This Is Amazing Grace" can be at half speed? Be prepared for some very different arrangements. 
 
Deja Vu:No, it's not an extended time of worship; the worship leader really did the exact same song, with the exact same arrangement, three times in a row, complete with big, crashing endings. One. More. TIME! 

Polka Praise: Don't be fooled; the all-accordion worship band is not the newest trend in the American church. Neither is the kazoo choir. Neither is that operatic soloist... wait, no, that's legit. 
  CHILDREN

They'll Crack: Most egg hunts take place the day before Easter, and those should be fine. But beware the Easter morning egg hunts on April Fool's, because there's ample room for mayhem. Possible pranks include eggs with nothing in them, eggs with a snarky message ("the candy is not here; it is risen... into the mouths of your children's ministry team"), or no eggs at all. Heck, everyone could show up to an egg hunt that won't even happen at all. 
 
Choco-thanks-a-lot:Just like grandma and grandpa are known to send the kids home all sugared up, Sunday School will give each kid all the chocolate they can carry, as long as they carry them... in their hands. Shouts of "Don't touch anything!" will be heard ringing throughout the parking lot after pickup. 

Cooking Class: During Sunday School check-in, parents are informed that kids will be making an Easter craft with macaroni. What they don't know is that it'll be cooked macaroni, complete with pesto sauce, stapled to a piece of paper to represent the Garden Tomb. Beware the kids' crafts. 

THE PASTOR

The Obvious Sermon: Pastor comes out onstage and announces, "Jesus is dead," waits 90 excruciatingly awkward seconds, then gives the obligatory, "April Fool's!" This could also be replicated on the outdoor church signs, if necessary.

Deeper Voice: You'll think the pastor's voice sounds different, and his message makes absolutely no sense, until you realize his lips aren't matching up with what you're hearing. Then it hits you: The sound guy killed the pastor's microphone and his doing his own live "bad lip reading." Beware the disgruntled sound guy on April Fool's. 

New Pastor: Yeah, you'll want to look out for any big announcements of staff changes, particularly with the pastor. No, it's not really his last weekend as he embarks on his new figure skating career. No, he hasn't hired that one Christian guy who was on The Bachelor to head up Singles Ministry. And don't believe the surprise "new pastor" who gets up on stage and announces that all the marriages, baptisms and funerals will need to be re-done under his "legit" leadership.

Bogus Projects: In the midst of the Easter celebration, don't be caught up in the excitement of some exciting new initiatives the church is taking on! Whether it's the new Bitcoin-friendly tithing system, the women's ministry opening up to men in the spirit of inclusiveness, or the burgeoning "waterpark ministry" expansion project, be on your guard. 
 
Deja Vu 2:Look out; the pastor might reuse an earlier sermon to see if you'll notice, as the ultimate prank. Look for clues in the various anecdotal references, such as Christmas, the Y2K Phenomenon or fidget spinners.

Choose-Your-Own-Sermon: Pastor apologizes for telling the congregation what to do every week. In a show of a new, personalized experience, everyone is encouraged to be quiet for 30 to 45 minutes to receive their own "silent sermon." Strangely, the guy who always falls asleep stays awake. 

THE SERVICE

There's Always Room: Beware the communion cup. Hopefully it's off limits, but some less reverent folks might decide to replace the wine/grape juice with JELL-O, making a simple sip a complicated scraping. Also look out for grape Fanta, Gatorade or a purple Jolly Rancher. Tsk tsk!

Pucker Up: No, that Kiss Cam isn't going to be a regular fixture on Sunday mornings. And no, you're not compelled to smooch the person caught on camera with you; it's Aunt Eleanor, for goodness sake! 
 
Switcheroo: Make sure you bring your own Bible; an April Fool's Easter could result in a situation where the Bibles under the seat are temporarily switched out for algebra textbooks, Country Living Magazine and Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Now. 

A Buzz in the Room: Look out; various people in the congregation could receive those classic hand buzzers, so when it's time to shake hands during the "turn and greet your neighbor" portion of the morning, keep a sharp eye before you get an unwanted zap. 

Watch the Ushers: Instead of the traditional offering bucket, look out for those hand-grabbing trick-or-treat monster bowls! And watch your seat; whoopie cushions could easily be slipped in as the bucket is being passed. 
  OK, OK... hopefully none of this happens at your various churches, because Easter is all about celebrating the greatest triumph in history. But make sure you don't let the big day go by without having just a little fun. Where two or three are gathered on April Fool's Day, something's liable to go down. See you in 2029!