How does it feel to be seen and heard?
How does it feel to be asked, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’
On the second Saturday in Lent, the little ones and their grown-ups heard Judy (with some extra special help from Gilly the Giraffe), tell the story of Blind Bartimaeus.
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means ‘son of Timaeus’), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Action songs and kazoos helped the children to express how, ‘When we cry out, Jesus hears us’. A superb stash of crafting items such as: paper plates, crayons, glue, scissors, googly eyes and sticks were used to recreate the face of Bartimaeus and write captions on such as, ‘Cry out to Jesus!’ and ‘Blind Bartimaeus was healed!’ Decorated black-out glasses demonstrated very clearly what it was like to be physically blind and helped the children appreciate the kind of challenges Bartimaeus faced.
During prayer time, the youngsters gave thanks for the gift of sight.
The Lenten journey for little ones and their families continues next Saturday, 9:30 – 11:00 at St. John’s Church Hall, Pilling.
All are most welcome…whether you have been before or not!
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