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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 --

I rate it 4 clowns out of 5.

Part 1: WHO'S WHO -- Profiles of Veteran Clown Minister
1. 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
2. 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)
3. 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
1. Holy Communion
  1. Parable of the Nose of Great Price - based on Matthew 13:45-46, the pearl of great price
  2. Remember Me - based on John chapters 6 & 7
  3. United Communion - good for across denominational
2. New Year's Day (January 1)
  1. A Daisy of a New Year - giving of yourself
  2. The Very Best New Year's Resolution- based on Ephesians 6:11, good for talking about the Armor of God
3. Epiphany (January 6) - The Legend of Befana
4. National Nothing Day (January 16) - also good for talking about laziness, initiative, caring for others, the ant & the grasshopper, etc.
5. Human Relations Day (2nd Sunday after Epiphany) - Mine! (also good for talking about greed & selfishness)
6. Groundhog Day (February 2) - In Due Time (based on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 -- also good for talking about God being in charge)
7. Valentine's Day (February 14)
  1. A Party Walkaround (singing telegram)
  2. Gift of Love (very punny, using a variety of candy bar names linked together)
  3. Mining for Gold (based on I Corinthians 13)
  4. Free Love
8. President's Day - A Good Leader
9. National Procrastination Week (1st full week in March) - also very good for talking about God's calling, or the calling of Moses
10. St. Patrick's Day - The Sunday School Lesson (also good for talking about the triune God, or about the ancient "snake")
11. Shrove Tuesday - A Flipping Good Time (could also be used in food/cooking outreaches)
12. 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.)
13. World Day of Prayer
  1. Sticky Chair - also good for talking about sin & deliverance
  2. Be Persistent (based on Luke 11:1-13)
  3. Newspapers for Prayer
  4. It's In the Air (based on Mark 11:24)
14. Lent
  1. The Hat Shop -- good for talking about choosing suffering with Christ instead of the world's riches
  2. Playing with Temptation (based on Luke 4:1-13)
15. Palm Sunday
  1. The Summons
  2. A Clown Processional
16. Easter
  1. 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
  2. The Resurrection (based on John 20:1-18)
  3. Seeing is Believing
17. April Fool's Day - April Foolishness
18. Bicycle Safety Week - Rules to Remember
19. Arbor Day/Earth Day - Three Walkarounds
20. Stewardship Sunday - Parable of the Clown Talents (based on Matthew 25) - good for talking about talents, stewardship, etc.
21. Mother's Day
  1. Three Short Skits
    1. Little Bird Told - also good for talking about God knowing all
    2. Fed by the Word - also good for talking about 'eating' God's Word
    3. Closer to God
  2. A Tribute to Mothers
22. Pentecost
  1. The Gift
  2. Honest Ananias (based on Acts 9:10-19) - also good for talking about the history of Paul, people changing by God's power, etc.
23. Flag Day - Flag Etiquette
24. Father's Day - Honor Thy Father
25. 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.
26. Independence Day - Clowns Will Be Clowns
27. Kingdomtide - The Beatitudes (based on Matthew 5:3-10)
28. Friendship Day - Ice Cream
29. Rally Day - Zack, the Whiz Kid - the story of Zacchaeus
30. Labor Day - Business as (Un)Usual - also good for talking about dishonesty
31. Good Neighbor Day - How to be a Good Neighbor
32. Columbus Day - He Didn't Know What He Did
33. World Poetry Day - Deep, Deep as the Oceans - also good for Valentine's Day, or for talking about the deep things of God
34. National Popcorn Week - Popcorn Party
35. Halloween (October 31) = Clown Festival - Clown alternative to Halloween
36. All Saints Day - The Imperfect Saint - good for talking about the sainthood of all believers
37. Election Day - Election Day Coverage
38. Thanksgiving - What's It All About
39. Advent
  1. Preparations
  2. Mary's Baby Shower - also good for Christmas
40. Christmas
  1. The 20th Century Mystery Play
  2. God Is... - a very good use of the God is Nowhere -> God is Now Here routine
41. Paul in Prison (based loosely on Philippians 1) - good for the life of Paul, also encouragement
42. Testimony Food - using various products (such as Life cereal, Mr. Clean, etc.) to testify
43. The Banana Illusion - good for the value of listening, following instructions, listening to the sermon, etc.
44. Looking for God in All the Wrong Places (based on I Kings 19:9-14) - Elijah & the small, still voice
45. Follow the Yellow Brick Road
46. Wise and Foolish Builders (based on Matthew 7:24-27) - using balloons to teach the parable of the foolish house built on the sand
47. No Prop Clowning
48. Things Aren't Always What They Seem - an excellent anti-drug message, using a spring snake
49. God's Gift Shop
50. Meat of the Word (based on Hebrews 5:12-14)
51. The Disappearing Varnish
52. Faith - A Gift of God (based on Ephesians 2:8-9)
53. Peer Pressure (based on Acts 4:19)
54. A Little Sin is Too Much
55. The Dancing Clown
56. Rocky the Rock - a look at the life of Peter
Part II: Everything New

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Everything New and Who's Who in Clown Ministry : With 75 Skits for Special Days by Janet Litherland.

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