Sunday School Resource Produced by Jane Tibbs Children s Adviser 25 October 2015, the Last Sunday after Trinity

Transcription

1 SundayMAXleaders Sunday School Resource Produced by Jane Tibbs Children s Adviser 25 October 2015, the Last Sunday after Trinity Introduction God gives us the gift of our five senses: touch, taste, hearing, smell and sight. Often we take these for granted and give them little thought. In today s story we hear how a blind man called Bartimaeus, begs Jesus to take pity on him and cure his blindness. Please be sensitive to any members of your group who may have problems with their sight to ensure that they are not made to feel uncomfortable Come with me You will need a blindfold Readings Job 42:1-6; 10 to the end Psalm 34:1-8 Hebrews 7:23 to the end Mark 46 to the end Blindfold a volunteer and ask them to try doing a simple jigsaw, or attempt to eat a bowl of cereal they d need an apron! In pairs, one child leads another blindfolded, and helps them to find and put on their coat. Swap roles and talk about how it feels to be blind or leading a blind person. Discussion Why was Bartimaeus begging at the roadside? Because he could not see, Bartimaeus was unable to work to earn enough money to feed and clothe himself. He had to beg from passers by and rely on their kindness and generosity to save him from starvation. What would you miss most if you could not see? Encourage the children to share their thoughts. What did Bartimaeus do when he heard that Jesus was close by? He believed that Jesus could cure his blindness and save him from a life of misery. He shouted loudly to attract Jesus attention, and did not give up even when the crowd told him to be quiet. What did Jesus do when he heard Bartimaeus cry for help? Jesus did not let him down, and his cry for help was answered. What did Bartimaeus do when he was healed? He followed Jesus because his heart and mind, as well as his eyes, had been opened by God s love. Because of his faith, he could see with his heart that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.

2 Songs Alleluia, sing to Jesus Hymns Old and New 26 Amazing Grace Kidsource 9 God be in my head Hymns Old and New 166 Jesus hands were kind hands Kidsource 194 O for a thousand tongues to sing Hymns Old and New 362 There is a Redeemer Hymns Old and New 500 Craft Activity Cartoon Strip You will need A piece of A4 paper for each child, divided up into three sections The words of the poem printed onto pieces of paper, each verse separately, to stick under the pictures Glue, colouring pens and pencils A pair of googly eyes for each child Draw two lines across the paper to make three sections (see template). Stick one verse of the poem under each section, in order. Draw pictures in the first two boxes, ensuring Bartimaeus has closed eyes. In the third box draw Bartimaeus and give him googly eyes. crouching, kneeling in the dust, hoping for a coin, a crumb who can Bartimaeus trust? is that Jesus coming near? Quick, jump up, push through the crowd Jesus is very nearly here. Prayer Seeing what God wants us to see You will need a tray with a variety of optical devices on it, including a blindfold, spectacles, binoculars etc. Gather in a circle and ask everyone to concentrate on one of the objects as you say the following prayer Lord God, We thank you that you have given us eyes to see. Help us to use our eyes always to see those people who are sad or lonely or afraid. Help us to remember that you have made all of us And that you love us as your children Amen what can I do for you? Open my eyes Lord, make me see, and then I will follow you. The Education Department, The Old Deanery, Wells BA5 2UG Tel: jane.tibbs@bathwells.anglican.org

3 That they may have life, life in all its fullness John 10:10 SundayMAXkids Here is Bartimaeus after Jesus gave him back his sight. Make him look as happy as can be! Today is the Last Sunday after Trinity Like Bartimaeus, what do we need to have? Find the missing numbers to spell out the answer a = 12 h = 7 f = 4 i= 3 t = = 4 x 3 = 11 8 = = (3 x 3) - 2 = Each line of the puzzle has one word hidden in a list of random letters. The blank space is a missing letter that belongs to that word. Fill in the missing letter BLIND BEGGING CHEER FAITH HEALED MERCY QUIET SIGHT v d p b b e g i n g l x r l x q u i t n u s d a h o a u f a t h m v a n x j r w h e l e d n z r u w m e r c b u n a o v n y b w c h e r m r q p o j c j u s g h t k v g u n e u b l n d b j h k Lord Jesus, some people are blind and cannot see at all; others cannot see very well. May we be kind and patient and thoughtful with those who cannot see us, and find other ways of communicating with them. Amen

4 SundayMAXdrama Not so blind Bartimaeus A short retelling of the story of Bartimaeus from his perspective. I've always been blind. My brothers and sisters could see rainbows and flowers; they could jump in puddles and play in the sunlight. At night they crept onto the roof and watched the sky fill with stars. But my world was always dark. Inside my head it was just like midnight. I felt useless and lonely and afraid. When I went to bed I used to pray so hard to be able to see again, but in the morning when I opened my eyes it was just the same. I was still blind. Then one day they told me this man called Jesus was coming. He was the most amazing person they had ever met; he said and did the most wonderful things. They told me I had to meet him. I followed to try to hear him, but the crowd pushed me out of the way and ran ahead; they forgot all about me. I crouched by the side of a wall, I felt such sadness and anger that I cried. It was the same as always. Life was just so unfair. Then suddenly I felt someone in front of me, someone quite close. For a moment I was frightened. He didn't say anything, not a single word. Then he reached out and touched my eyes with his fingers, quite gently. All at once it was as if the darkness went out of them. I stood up and saw things in front of me, but they were no more than shadows. Then, very slowly, those shadows became the man's hands, and then I saw he was looking right at me. One by one I saw the people behind him. I was healed! I could see! Jesus' eyes were the first I ever saw. But I'm sure I will never see eyes that are kinder, never in all my life. I went home and that night I saw what I had always dreamed I might see I saw the stars. Now I'm going to go everywhere, telling people just what he did. I'm so happy because I can see, because Jesus healed me. He can make everyone see, not just those like me, but all the people who are blind with anger and greed and unhappiness too. He can make all of us see.

5 crouching, kneeling in the dust, hoping for a coin, a crumb who can Bartimaeus trust? Blind Bartimaeus is that Jesus coming near? Quick, jump up, push through the crowd Jesus is very nearly here. what can I do for you? Open my eyes Lord, make me see, and then I will follow you. SundayMAXactivity