Have you ever hoped and prayed for something that seemed impossible?
Long ago, a woman named Sarah did. She wanted a child but was too old to have one.
One day she received a promise that she would have a child. It was so impossible that she laughed at the promise.
And God joined her in the joke. God said name your child "laughter." And when the child was born, she did.
Sarah said "God has brought me joy and laughter. Whoever hears of this will laugh with me." (Genesis 21:6).
Her child was named "Isaac" which means "He laughs." Isaac is one of the great heroes of the Bible. A reminder that God delivered something that seemed impossible.
You may be called to be a clown or to move more deeply into clowning. Perhaps you long to be more lighthearted or find new joy in living. Does that seem impossible to you?
Toot the Clown has learned and is continually re-learning that nothing is impossible with God. God can birth new joy and laughter in you.
Toot was born in the early 1980s in Anita Thies. Toot came to celebrate joy and wellness after Anita received healing from a major depression.
Through the years Toot has experienced all kinds of clown fun-doing birthday parties, school programs, business events, parades, arts festivals and community programs. She became a clown for hospice and was privileged to have special friendships with several children and their families. She began visiting hospitals and nursing homes and doing a variety of clown programs in churches.
As others wanted to join in the fun, Toot and Anita began to teach clowning. A group she taught for the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in the 1980s began community service as "Clowns on Call." As the circle of fun widened, Toot joined the World Clown Association and Clowns of America International. She helped to found the Happy Valley Alley of the World Clown Association, and served as its President in 2001. She currently serves as President of the Creative Ministries Organization Cheer Leaders for Christ and edits its quarterly newsletter.
In the year 2003, Toot and her friend Anita have been invited to three national conferences. She is thrilled to pack her clown shoes for:
Toot's hospital visitation experiences led Anita to co-author the booklet The Joyful Journey of Hospital Clowning, which is being used in the training program of the Bumper T Caring Clowns in the Philadelphia, PA area. She developed a second clown character "Dr. Duck" for hospital visits. For a picture of Dr. Duck, click here.
In recent years, the Lord increased Toot's
call to lead clown worship services and
Christian clown programs in a variety of
denominations. In April, 2002, Toot co-led the
Sunday worship service at the World Clown
Association National Convention in Mesa,
Arizona with Judy "JuJuBee" Johnson (center)
and Debbie "Odessey" Henry (right). For a
picture of a children's Christmas program that
Toot did with friends on December 24, 2000,
click here.
Because Toot has seen how humor can transform situations, Anita began speaking on a variety of humor topics at state conferences including:
For more details on Toot's schedule, feel free to contact:
Anita Thies
761 Cornwall Rd.
State College, PA 16803
(814) 237-9466
e-mail:
Toot's Clown Ministry and Gospel Clown Presentations 2001-2002
| "God Has Brought Me Joy and Laughter" Potluck Dinner Program, Spring Creek Presbyterian Church | Lemont, PA | Feb. 25, 2001 |
| "Jesus is the Joy in My Heart" Children's Program for Aid, Association for Lutherans, Trinity Lutheran Church | State College, PA | March 10, 2001 |
| Pre-School Program for 3 and 4 year old classes, Park Forest Day Nursery | State College, PA | March 16, 2001 |
| Happy Valley Alley Meeting, World Clown Association | State College, PA | March 17, 2001 |
| "Jesus is the Joy in My Heart" St. John Lutheran Church Adult and Children Sunday School Hour | State College, PA | March 18, 2001 |
| Schlow Library Community Children's Reading Program, Lead Clown for Happy Valley Alley, World Clown Association | State College, PA | March 24, 2001 |
| "Jesus is the Joy of My Heart," Clown Worship Co-Leader at Stated Gathering of Huntingdon Presbytery | Belleville, PA | March 27, 2001 |
| "The Joy of Laughter" Greenhill Retirement Center Family Night Dinner | State College, PA | March 31, 2001 |
| "Jesus is the Joy in My Heart" University Mennonite Church Sunday School Hour | State College, PA | April 1, 2001 |
| Nittany Mall Kid's Fest with Happy Valley Alley, World Clown Association | State College, PA | April 7, 2001 |
| Clown Ministry Talk at State College Presbyterian Church | State College, PA | April 8, 2001 |
| Travel to and attendance at the national convention of the World Clown Association | Orlando, FL | April 20-May 2 |
| Sunday School Program at Church of the Savior | Williamsport, PA | May 6, 2001 |
| "God Has Brought Me Joy and Laughter," Mother-Daughter Dinner, Zion Lutheran Church | Hollidaysburg, PA | May 8, 2001 |
| "God Has Brought Me Joy and Laughter," Mother-Child Event, Faith United Methodist Church | Bellefonte, PA | May 10, 2001 |
| "God Has Brought Me Joy and Laughter," Mother-Daughter Banquet Allensville Presbyterian Church | Allensville, PA | May 12, 2001 |
| "God Has Brought Me Joy and Laughter," Ladies Night Out, First Church, in Newton Hamilton Fire Hall | Mt. Union, PA | May 14, 2001 |
| "Joy and Laughter" Nursing Home Week Presentation at Westminster Woods Nursing Home | Huntingdon, PA | May 15, 2001 |
| "God Has Brought Me Joy and Laughter," Mother-Daughter Banquet Reebersburg Church | Reebersburg, PA | May 16, 2001 |
| Happy Valley Alley meeting, World Clown Association State College, PA | May 19, 2001 | |
| Evening Worship Leader, McVeytown Presbyterian | McVeytown, PA | May 20, 2001 |
| Trinity Lutheran School End of Year Picnic | State College, PA | May 31, 2001 |
| Sunday Worship Leader, St. James United Methodist Church Family Day | Coburn, PA | June 3, 2001 |
| Teaching Nursing Home Clowning, Synod of the Trinity Gathering Presbyterian Women at Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown, PA | June 15-17, 2001 |
| Teaching Clowning to Girl Scouts at the Hemlock Council "Wide-Out" at Pennsylvania State University | State College, PA | June 20, 2001 |
| Clown Jubilee sponsored by Cheerleaders for Christ. Leading Clown Worship and teaching workshops on clowning in churches and clowning in nursing homes. | Reading, PA | June 22-23, 2001 |
| Sunday School Hour Locust Grove Mennonite Church | Belleville, PA | June 24, 2001 |
| Woodland Retirement Center Birthday Party Celebration | State College, PA | July 13, 2001 |
| Teaching Christian Clowning at Youth Quest, Camp Kanesatake | Spruce Creek, PA | July 15-20, 2001 |
| Clowning at Camp Green Hill | Baree, PA | Aug. 2, 2001 |
| Nursing Home "Birthday Party" with Happy Valley Alley, World Clown Association at Salem Hill Haven | Spring Mills, PA | August 12, 2001 |
| Teaching Christian Clowning for 8-12 year old program, Camp Kanesatake | Spruce Creek, PA | August 13-16, 2001 |
| Special Family and Vacation Time | August 25-Sept. 22 | |
| Teaching Clowning to youth, Mt. Nittany United Methodist Church | State College, PA | Sunday Evenings September-December, 2001 |
| Sunday Worship Service, DuBois Presbyterian Church | DuBois, PA | September 23, 2001 |
| Sunday Worship Service, McAlevy's Fort Presbyterian Church | McAlevy's Fort, PA | September 30, 2001 |
| Teaching Hospital Clowning, Nursing Home Clowning and Christian Clowning at the Mid West Regional Clown Convention and leading Sunday Clown Worship | Quad Cities, Iowa | October 2-8, 2001 |
| Mid-week worship, Beavertown Bible Church, With Serena "Kizem" Miller | Todd, PA | October 17, 2001 |
| Rally Day, Bunkertown Church of the Brethren | McAlisterville, PA | October 28, 2001 |
| St. Andrews Episcopal Church programs | State College, PA | November 1, 8, 15, 2001 |
| Workshop presenter and worship co-leader, Pittsburgh Performing Arts Conference | Pittsburgh, PA | March 1-3, 2002 |
| World Clown Association National Conference | Mesa, AZ | April 2-7, 2002 |
| Conference Director, Clown Jubilee 2002, Cheer Leaders for Christ | State College, PA | June 21-22, 2002 |
| Workshop Presenter, Church of the Brethren Regional Conference | Ephrata, PA | November 9, 2002 |
Toot's Clown Ministry and Gospel Clown Presentations 1999-2000
| State College Presbyterian Church Children's Program | State College, PA | Dec. 24, 2000 |
| Westminster Parish Presbyterian Churches Worship Leader | Burnham, PA | Nov. 19, 2000 |
| Impact Intensive Conference Instructor | Green Bay, WI | Nov. 3-5, 2000 |
| Alexandria Presbyterian Church Sunday Worship Leader | Alexandria, PA | Oct. 29, 2000 |
| Our Lady of Victory Women's Program | State College, PA | Oct. 19, 2000 |
| Rally Day Worship Leader, Chilliquaqua Presbyterian Church | Pottsgrove, PA | Sept. 24, 2000 |
| Church Women United State Gathering Worship Co-Leader | State College, PA | August 11, 2000 |
| Juniata and Altoona Third Churches Sunday Worship Co-Leader | Altoona, PA | August 6, 2000 |
| Convoy of Hope, Tallyrand Park, Children's program | Bellefonte, PA | July 22, 2000 |
| Churchwide Gathering Presbyterian Women workshop teacher, clown & coordinator of 18 clowns for national meeting | Louisville, KY | July 15-19, 2000 |
| Logan Valley Presbyterian Church Sunday Worship Leader | Bellwood, PA | July 2, 2000 |
| Christian Clowning Teacher, Camp Krisland (PCUSA) | Madisonburg, PA | June 19-21, 2000 |
| Aaronsburg United Church of Christ Sunday Worship Leader | Aaronsburg, PA | June 18, 2000 |
| Christian Clown Teacher, Staff Member and Alley Leader, Clown Camp®,
University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse | LaCrosse, WI | May 20-26, 2000 |
| Balls Mills United Methodist Church Sunday Worship Leader | Balls Mills, PA | May 7, 2000 |
| Presbyterian Women Regional Gathering Presenter | Lackawanna, PA | May 1-2, 2000 |
| First Presbyterian Church Worship Service Co-Leader | Philipsburg, PA | April 30, 2000 |
| Huntingdon "Presbytery School" Teaching of Clown Ministry | Hollidaysburg, PA | Feb. 19, 2000 |
| Grace United Church of Christ Sunday Worship Leader | Spring Mills, PA | Feb. 13, 2000 |
| Clown Ministry Teacher, United Church of Christ Conference | Zion, PA | Feb. 6, 2000 |
| St. John's Union Church Worship Spot and Sunday School hour | Spring Mills, PA | Nov. 14, 1999 |
| Woodycrest & Houserville United Methodist Churches Worship Spots | State College, PA | Nov. 7, 1999 |
| Association of Hospital Chaplains Humor Presenter | Harrisburg, PA | Oct. 17, 1999 |
| Curwensville Presbyterian Church Sunday Worship Leader | Curwensville, PA | Oct. 10, 1999 |
| Logan Valley Presbyterian Church Worship Service Leader | Bellwood, PA | Sept. 12, 1999 |
| First Presbyterian "Summer in the City" community outreach | Altoona, PA | July 23, 1999 |
| Presbyterian Homes Auxiliary Summer Meeting | Petersburg, PA | July 21, 1999 |
| Lycoming Centre Presbyterian VBS Community Festival Presenter | Cogan Station, PA | June 19, 1999 |
| Presbyterian Women Synod of the Trinity Workshop Leader | Elizabethtown, PA | June 8-9, 1999 |
| Logan Valley Presbyterian Church Sunday School/Children's Sermon | Bellwood, PA | May 16, 1999 |
| Park Forest United Methodist Sale for Missions-Featured Attraction | State College, PA | May 15, 1999 |
| Sheraden Community Presbyterian Church Luncheon Presenter | Pittsburgh, PA | May 8, 1999 |
| State College Presbyterian Church Logos Youth Group | State College, PA | April 18, 1999 |
| New Hope Community Church Easter Fest Community Celebration | State College, PA | April 4, 1999 |
| Upper Spruce Creek Presbyterian Church Dinner | Penn. Furnace, PA | Mar. 21, 1999 |
| Epworth Manor Nursing Home Worship Service Leader | Tyrone, PA | Mar. 7, 1999 |
| Lycoming Centre Children's Choir Celebration Night | Cogan Station, PA | Feb. 24, 1999 |
| Diakonia Presbyterian Church Sunday Worship Service Leader | State College, PA | Jan. 24, 1999 |
| Montoursville Presbyterian Church, Sunday Worship & Program | Montoursville, PA | Jan. 17, 1999 |
| State College Presbyterian Church Logos Youth Group | State College, PA | Jan. 12, 1999 |
"God has brought me joy and laughter. Whoever hears of this will laugh with me."
Genesis 21:6
