Send In The Clowns
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle A
It certainly was a risky thing to do -- to invite clowns to participate in the worship service. This particular congregation did not engage in foolishness. The people sat there in the pews always looking serious, never smiling. After all, church was supposed to be serious, at least that was what they were taught. The previous pastor began sermons with humorous stories which the people unmercifully complained about. Many a conversation centered around the inappropriateness of telling such stories in church.
If the congregation had known that morning as they went to church that clowns would be leading worship that day, they might have stayed home and watched Charles Stanley on television.
As the worship service began two clowns entered the sanctuary, one on each side. They were dressed in clashing colors, baggy pants, orange and red hair and, of course, a bright red rubber nose. The clowns were handing out colorful balloons as they made their way up the aisle. To say that the congregation was surprised would be an understatement.
Once up front the clowns performed a couple of skits which were meant to loosen up the congregation. In a subtle way the clowns were poking fun at the seriousness of the congregation. One of the short skits was about loving one's neighbor. In it the two clowns engaged in a mock battle over a property line, pushing and shoving each other. The lengths these clowns took pointed to the folly of such disputes. By this point some of the congregation were smiling while it was obvious that others were quite annoyed.
Following several more short skits one of the clowns removed his red and orange wig and rubber nose. In earnestness the clown described his clowning ministry. He would visit area hospitals and nursing homes. "You would not believe some of the patients that are in the hospital," the clown said. "Some have given up on life, yet," he explained with obvious delight, "when they see us, something wonderful happens to them, smiles return to their faces."
Some were moved to tears as he told of an encounter in the children's ward. One of the mothers told him it was the first time her daughter had smiled and laughed since before her illness. The laughter had a positive healing effect on the patients. The week before the clown was in a nursing home and was asked to visit a resident who never had any visitors. When he entered her room it was dark, the drapes were drawn, the lights were off. She just lay in bed, not wanting to communicate with anyone. He admits that it took much effort to reach this woman, but he kept trying until she smiled and later spoke with him.
"You look at me and see a clown," he told the congregation, "but when people who are hurting or lonely look at me they see the face of Christ."
After church someone was heard commenting, "You know those clowns really had a good message to share after all."
If the congregation had known that morning as they went to church that clowns would be leading worship that day, they might have stayed home and watched Charles Stanley on television.
As the worship service began two clowns entered the sanctuary, one on each side. They were dressed in clashing colors, baggy pants, orange and red hair and, of course, a bright red rubber nose. The clowns were handing out colorful balloons as they made their way up the aisle. To say that the congregation was surprised would be an understatement.
Once up front the clowns performed a couple of skits which were meant to loosen up the congregation. In a subtle way the clowns were poking fun at the seriousness of the congregation. One of the short skits was about loving one's neighbor. In it the two clowns engaged in a mock battle over a property line, pushing and shoving each other. The lengths these clowns took pointed to the folly of such disputes. By this point some of the congregation were smiling while it was obvious that others were quite annoyed.
Following several more short skits one of the clowns removed his red and orange wig and rubber nose. In earnestness the clown described his clowning ministry. He would visit area hospitals and nursing homes. "You would not believe some of the patients that are in the hospital," the clown said. "Some have given up on life, yet," he explained with obvious delight, "when they see us, something wonderful happens to them, smiles return to their faces."
Some were moved to tears as he told of an encounter in the children's ward. One of the mothers told him it was the first time her daughter had smiled and laughed since before her illness. The laughter had a positive healing effect on the patients. The week before the clown was in a nursing home and was asked to visit a resident who never had any visitors. When he entered her room it was dark, the drapes were drawn, the lights were off. She just lay in bed, not wanting to communicate with anyone. He admits that it took much effort to reach this woman, but he kept trying until she smiled and later spoke with him.
"You look at me and see a clown," he told the congregation, "but when people who are hurting or lonely look at me they see the face of Christ."
After church someone was heard commenting, "You know those clowns really had a good message to share after all."
