Everything New and Who's Who in Clown Ministry : With 75 Skits for Special Days by Janet Litherland.
A sequel to the Clown Ministry Handbook -- with follow-up interviews with the clowns from that first book & where they are now, as well as many more clowns world-wide - who they are, why they clown, & how, with suggestions from each clown. Also, 75 skits included (provided by Janet & the clowns in the book) for use on events ranging from Christmas to fire prevention week. One of my favorite books on clown ministry --
Table of Contents
Part 1: WHO'S WHO -- Profiles of Veteran Clown Minister
Chapter 1: Clowns of God - talking in general about clown ministry, education and training, professional organizations, hospital ministry, etc -- a short chapter giving a broad overview
Chapter 2: CLOWNS ACROSS AMERICA - short biographies of various American clown ministers, with their histories, description of what they do, and tips from each clown - including Kids Celebration Circus (David Ebel & Family), Bubba D. Clown (J. T. Sikes), Spatz (Carolyn Costley), Gracie and E.T.C. (Kathleen Deegan & the Ebenezer Troupe of Clowns), Cop a Plea & Poppatui (David W. Lloyd), Simon De Clown & Micah the Clown (Randy Christensen), Jelly Bean (Janet Tucker), Sparky (Trudy Cravatta-DiNardo), Rusty and Strawberry (Jim & June Gorgans), Sweet Pea (Kay Turner), Marko (Mark Seckel)
Chapter 3: CLOWNS AROUND THE WORLD - more of the same, with international clowns - Rainbow (Philip Noble, Scotland), Roly (Roly Bain, England), Bobmin & Archie (Rafael Rondon & Carlos Sanchez, Puerto Rico), Valentine (Olive Drane, Scotland), Ludo & Family (Stephen Ashcroft, England), Dennis Clare (Australia), Clownbo (Tommy Thomson, Scotland), Kujo (Tim Morrison, Ghana & U.S.A.)
Part II: EVERYTHING NEW - 75 Original Skits for Special Days
Holy Communion
Parable of the Nose of Great Price - based on Matthew 13:45-46, the pearl of great price
Remember Me - based on John chapters 6 & 7
United Communion - good for across denominational
New Year's Day (January 1)
A Daisy of a New Year - giving of yourself
The Very Best New Year's Resolution- based on Ephesians 6:11, good for talking about the Armor of God
Epiphany (January 6) - The Legend of Befana
National Nothing Day (January 16) - also good for talking about laziness, initiative, caring for others, the ant & the grasshopper, etc.
Human Relations Day (2nd Sunday after Epiphany) - Mine! (also good for talking about greed & selfishness)
Groundhog Day (February 2) - In Due Time (based on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 -- also good for talking about God being in charge)
Valentine's Day (February 14)
A Party Walkaround (singing telegram)
Gift of Love (very punny, using a variety of candy bar names linked together)
Mining for Gold (based on I Corinthians 13)
Free Love
President's Day - A Good Leader
National Procrastination Week (1st full week in March) - also very good for talking about God's calling, or the calling of Moses
St. Patrick's Day - The Sunday School Lesson (also good for talking about the triune God, or about the ancient "snake")
Shrove Tuesday - A Flipping Good Time (could also be used in food/cooking outreaches)
Ash Wednesday - Life's Dust (based on Deuteronomy 28:1-14 -- also good for talking about perseverance, God being in control, looking unto Jesus, etc.)
World Day of Prayer
Sticky Chair - also good for talking about sin & deliverance
Be Persistent (based on Luke 11:1-13)
Newspapers for Prayer
It's In the Air (based on Mark 11:24)
Lent
The Hat Shop -- good for talking about choosing suffering with Christ instead of the world's riches
Playing with Temptation (based on Luke 4:1-13)
Palm Sunday
The Summons
A Clown Processional
Easter
Jedidiah Becomes a Clown (based on I Corinthians 4:1-18) - a personal favorite, tying in the make up of the whiteface clown to the death & resurrection of Jesus Christ
The Resurrection (based on John 20:1-18)
Seeing is Believing
April Fool's Day - April Foolishness
Bicycle Safety Week - Rules to Remember
Arbor Day/Earth Day - Three Walkarounds
Stewardship Sunday - Parable of the Clown Talents (based on Matthew 25) - good for talking about talents, stewardship, etc.
Mother's Day
Three Short Skits
Little Bird Told - also good for talking about God knowing all
Fed by the Word - also good for talking about 'eating' God's Word
Closer to God
A Tribute to Mothers
Pentecost
The Gift
Honest Ananias (based on Acts 9:10-19) - also good for talking about the history of Paul, people changing by God's power, etc.
Flag Day - Flag Etiquette
Father's Day - Honor Thy Father
St. John the Baptist's Day - Witness to the Truth (based on John 5:30-36) - good for talking about John the Baptist (not a shocker, I know), about 'magic' as opposed to miracles, etc.
Independence Day - Clowns Will Be Clowns
Kingdomtide - The Beatitudes (based on Matthew 5:3-10)
Friendship Day - Ice Cream
Rally Day - Zack, the Whiz Kid - the story of Zacchaeus
Labor Day - Business as (Un)Usual - also good for talking about dishonesty
Good Neighbor Day - How to be a Good Neighbor
Columbus Day - He Didn't Know What He Did
World Poetry Day - Deep, Deep as the Oceans - also good for Valentine's Day, or for talking about the deep things of God
National Popcorn Week - Popcorn Party
Halloween (October 31) = Clown Festival - Clown alternative to Halloween
All Saints Day - The Imperfect Saint - good for talking about the sainthood of all believers
Election Day - Election Day Coverage
Thanksgiving - What's It All About
Advent
Preparations
Mary's Baby Shower - also good for Christmas
Christmas
The 20th Century Mystery Play
God Is... - a very good use of the God is Nowhere -> God is Now Here routine
Paul in Prison (based loosely on Philippians 1) - good for the life of Paul, also encouragement
Testimony Food - using various products (such as Life cereal, Mr. Clean, etc.) to testify
The Banana Illusion - good for the value of listening, following instructions, listening to the sermon, etc.
Looking for God in All the Wrong Places (based on I Kings 19:9-14) - Elijah & the small, still voice
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Wise and Foolish Builders (based on Matthew 7:24-27) - using balloons to teach the parable of the foolish house built on the sand
No Prop Clowning
Things Aren't Always What They Seem - an excellent anti-drug message, using a spring snake
God's Gift Shop
Meat of the Word (based on Hebrews 5:12-14)
The Disappearing Varnish
Faith - A Gift of God (based on Ephesians 2:8-9)
Peer Pressure (based on Acts 4:19)
A Little Sin is Too Much
The Dancing Clown
Rocky the Rock - a look at the life of Peter
Part II: Everything New
I rate it 4 clowns out of 5.
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Everything New and Who's Who in Clown Ministry : With 75 Skits for Special Days by Janet Litherland.
via a link from this site, and Amazon gives Tom a cut of the profits at no charge to you -- no matter what you end up buying! We all win!