Clowns mime their faith during worship

Published 2:32 pm Thursday, May 26, 2005

By By RANDI K. PICKLEY / Edwardsburg Argus
EDWARDSBURG - It isn't often that a Sunday morning spent at church has much of the service delivered in silence. And it is even more unusual to see clowns in the aisle. Such was the case, however, at the Presbyterian Church of Edwardsburg on Sunday, May 22.
The clowns were members of the Shining Lite Youth Group, which numbers between 10 and 12 kids, six of whom did the actual clowning.
Pastor Jinny Miller and her husband, Ron, who is the Minister of Education at the church wanted to involve the youth in a ministry that not only served as worship during church, but could also transfer to the community to nursing homes and hospitals. The clowns will also participate in the Memorial Day Parade Monday at 11 a.m.
Since the Edwardsburg church is celebrating its 175th anniversary, the youth group helped design a float for the parade that features congregation members dressed in historical costumes which reflect the various styles of fashion during those years. But the youth will also be wearing their clown garb to interact with the crowd. Instead of passing out candy or stickers, however, the clowns will be passing out hugs and handshakes. Following the parade, you might see them at the old fashioned ice cream social that will take place on the lawn outside the church.
Each clown has their own "clown name." When in character, the clowns do not use their real names. Rev. Ron Miller explained, "When the clowns chose their names, it was to take on a new identity. They wanted to adopt a Christ-like character and be humbled in the process as Christ was." Miller refers to a passage in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians which said we should be "fools" for Christ.
Miller also said that the white make-up on the clown's faces represented the newness of life in Christ.
The youth had some help in becoming their clown identities. Each clown had a unique clown face which is associated with their character. The make-up crew consisted of Carol Moore, Patty Patzer, Elise Mackling, Lindsey Mette, and Linzy Richmond.
The costumes were created mostly by collecting items from Goodwill or borrowing from their families to create their own special look.
During Sunday's service, the clowns delivered their messages in mime.
They announced the different sections of the service by holding up large signs. They also mimed the verses to hymns.
When it was time for the Declaration of Confession, Rainbow and Dottie, helped carry a heavy bag to the altar which contained signs naming problems such as addiction, peer pressure, and laziness.
After a period of silence, the clowns discovered another bag hanging on the cross which, contained words such as "faith in God," "new life" and "forgiveness."