Kit
Children's Liturgy and Story
Object:
Call to Worship:
The man born blind told the Pharisees, "One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." In our worship today let us ask Jesus to help us see.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I prefer not to see.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I pretend not to see.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I am not brave enough to see.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 9:1-41 (NRSV)
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" [3] Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. [4] We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. [5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." [6] When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, [7] saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. [8] The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" [9] Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man." [10] But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" [11] He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight." [12] They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know." [13] They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. [14] Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. [15] Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." [16] Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. [17] So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet." [18] The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight [19] and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" [20] His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; [21] but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." [22] His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. [23] Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." [24] So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." [25] He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." [26] They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" [27] He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" [28] Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. [29] We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." [30] The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. [31] We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. [32] Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. [33] If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." [34] They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out. [35] Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" [36] He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." [37] Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." [38] He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. [39] Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." [40] Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?" [41] Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.
Story:
In this interesting story about the man born blind, it's clear that the man's parents have no wish to see. Although they know that their son has been blind all his life and can now see, they refuse to acknowledge Jesus as the one who has healed him.
It's very easy to refuse to acknowledge the truth - to refuse to see - because of fear, as this little story illustrates.
Kit
The first thing Kit felt after he was born, was his mother's warm, raspy tongue grooming him. Like all new-born kittens, Kit could neither see nor hear, but he could feel and he could smell. He immediately knew the smell and the feel of his mother and he loved to feel her tongue lick, lick, licking at his coat.
Kit was always hungry and relied on his mother for food. When he'd finished eating, he would curl into a tiny ball and fall fast asleep. Usually when he awoke his mother was there, ready to feed him, but occasionally she was absent, and then Kit felt very anxious indeed.
As he grew older and bigger, Kit began to wander around the cave. He didn't wander far, but he had a great curiosity and wanted to find out about his surroundings. So he would wander and sniff and lick and touch.
One day Kit wandered a little farther than usual. He didn't know how far he was from the mouth of the cave because he was still too small for his eyes to be able to see, but he had an inbuilt homing instinct and knew he would be able to find his way back. But he still couldn't hear, so he missed his mother's alarmed screech of terror and her plaintive "miaow" as a large fox pounced upon her.
When Kit returned, he sniffed and cried and licked and felt, but he couldn't find his mother. He was tired, so he curled up into his little ball and fell asleep, sure that his mother would be there as usual when he awoke. But when he awoke cold and hungry some hours later, his mother was still missing.
Kit knew he would have to find food for himself and he also knew that his mother went outside to find food. But he was very frightened. He had no idea what it was like outside. Then, by some kind of miracle, Kit discovered that he was beginning to hear sounds. And at almost the same time, he began to see shapes.
Over the next day or two his sight and his hearing grew strong, but as he became hungrier and hungrier so he became more and more frightened.
Suddenly, although he could now see and hear perfectly, Kit discovered that he really didn't want to see or hear. It was much more comfortable to pretend to himself that he couldn't go outside because he couldn't see or hear. It was much more comfortable when his mother looked after him and he didn't have to worry about anything. Kit had a feeling that the world outside was very big and terrifying, waiting to gobble him up. He didn't want to see it. And he didn't want to hear it, either.
But in the end he became so hungry that he had no choice. He had to venture outside. For a moment he stood in fear with his little nose twitching and his little whiskers quivering. But then his newly opened eyes caught sight of a movement in the grass at his feet and without thinking, Kit sprang. He caught his first mouse and he found that it tasted delicious.
Kit was very pleased with himself, and after that, he was very glad indeed that he could see.
Activity:
You need:
Blindfolds
Obstacles (for obstacle race)
Plastic bags with a few common household articles in each
A large picture of a donkey with a separate tail
Play some "blindfold" games, such as:
Blind Man's Buff, where the blindfolded person tries to catch the others
Obstacle races, where the blindfolded person has to find his/her way round obstacles
Bags, where the blindfolded children feel objects in a bag and guess what they are
Farm Animals, where the children are in pairs, each pair being a farm animal.
Then half the children are blindfolded and have to find their partners by locating the noise which their animal makes.
Pinning the tail on the donkey.
For this you need a large picture of a donkey, with a separate tail which has blutack on the end. A blindfolded child has to attach the tail to the donkey in the right place.
Let the children enjoy blindfold games. Then ask them if they were tempted to cheat in any of the games and discuss why. Ask them how they think blind people manage (white sticks, dogs, other people helping, enhanced senses). Then find out whether they have ever been too scared to try something. Some children are too scared to try new food, for instance. Point out how much they miss if they won't try new experiences.
Talk about today's Bible story and ask why the parents of the blind man were too afraid to acknowledge Jesus. Ask the children who they think was really blind by the end of the story (hopefully they'll say the parents or the Pharisees). Tell them that following Jesus can be scary and tough, but that it's worth it. Those who don't follow Jesus may never know what they're missing.
Intercession:
God who sees, open the eyes of the world-wide church. When we're tempted to keep our eyes tightly closed so that we cannot see what is happening, give us the courage to look and see and respond.
God who sees, when the world blinds us with opulence and luxury, remind us of those who live below the poverty line with no hope of a better future. Prick our consciences until we respond by giving the basic necessities of life.
God who sees, enable us to look deep within ourselves with open eyes. May we see ourselves as you see us, recognising and accepting our faults but also rejoicing in our God-given abilities.
God who sees, support and strengthen those who are faint in body, mind or spirit. May they grow strong in your likeness. We pray especially for ...
Blessing:
May the Lord our God
open eyes that are blind
and ears that are deaf.
May the Lord our God
strengthen feeble knees
and faint hearts.
And may the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you now,
be in your homes and in your families
and with all those whom you love
and for whom you pray,
now and always.
Amen.
The man born blind told the Pharisees, "One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." In our worship today let us ask Jesus to help us see.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes I prefer not to see.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I pretend not to see.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes I am not brave enough to see.
Lord, have mercy.
Reading:
John 9:1-41 (NRSV)
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" [3] Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. [4] We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. [5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." [6] When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, [7] saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. [8] The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" [9] Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man." [10] But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" [11] He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight." [12] They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know." [13] They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. [14] Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. [15] Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." [16] Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. [17] So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet." [18] The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight [19] and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" [20] His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; [21] but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." [22] His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. [23] Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." [24] So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." [25] He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." [26] They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" [27] He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" [28] Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. [29] We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." [30] The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. [31] We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. [32] Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. [33] If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." [34] They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out. [35] Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" [36] He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." [37] Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." [38] He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. [39] Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." [40] Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?" [41] Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.
Story:
In this interesting story about the man born blind, it's clear that the man's parents have no wish to see. Although they know that their son has been blind all his life and can now see, they refuse to acknowledge Jesus as the one who has healed him.
It's very easy to refuse to acknowledge the truth - to refuse to see - because of fear, as this little story illustrates.
Kit
The first thing Kit felt after he was born, was his mother's warm, raspy tongue grooming him. Like all new-born kittens, Kit could neither see nor hear, but he could feel and he could smell. He immediately knew the smell and the feel of his mother and he loved to feel her tongue lick, lick, licking at his coat.
Kit was always hungry and relied on his mother for food. When he'd finished eating, he would curl into a tiny ball and fall fast asleep. Usually when he awoke his mother was there, ready to feed him, but occasionally she was absent, and then Kit felt very anxious indeed.
As he grew older and bigger, Kit began to wander around the cave. He didn't wander far, but he had a great curiosity and wanted to find out about his surroundings. So he would wander and sniff and lick and touch.
One day Kit wandered a little farther than usual. He didn't know how far he was from the mouth of the cave because he was still too small for his eyes to be able to see, but he had an inbuilt homing instinct and knew he would be able to find his way back. But he still couldn't hear, so he missed his mother's alarmed screech of terror and her plaintive "miaow" as a large fox pounced upon her.
When Kit returned, he sniffed and cried and licked and felt, but he couldn't find his mother. He was tired, so he curled up into his little ball and fell asleep, sure that his mother would be there as usual when he awoke. But when he awoke cold and hungry some hours later, his mother was still missing.
Kit knew he would have to find food for himself and he also knew that his mother went outside to find food. But he was very frightened. He had no idea what it was like outside. Then, by some kind of miracle, Kit discovered that he was beginning to hear sounds. And at almost the same time, he began to see shapes.
Over the next day or two his sight and his hearing grew strong, but as he became hungrier and hungrier so he became more and more frightened.
Suddenly, although he could now see and hear perfectly, Kit discovered that he really didn't want to see or hear. It was much more comfortable to pretend to himself that he couldn't go outside because he couldn't see or hear. It was much more comfortable when his mother looked after him and he didn't have to worry about anything. Kit had a feeling that the world outside was very big and terrifying, waiting to gobble him up. He didn't want to see it. And he didn't want to hear it, either.
But in the end he became so hungry that he had no choice. He had to venture outside. For a moment he stood in fear with his little nose twitching and his little whiskers quivering. But then his newly opened eyes caught sight of a movement in the grass at his feet and without thinking, Kit sprang. He caught his first mouse and he found that it tasted delicious.
Kit was very pleased with himself, and after that, he was very glad indeed that he could see.
Activity:
You need:
Blindfolds
Obstacles (for obstacle race)
Plastic bags with a few common household articles in each
A large picture of a donkey with a separate tail
Play some "blindfold" games, such as:
Blind Man's Buff, where the blindfolded person tries to catch the others
Obstacle races, where the blindfolded person has to find his/her way round obstacles
Bags, where the blindfolded children feel objects in a bag and guess what they are
Farm Animals, where the children are in pairs, each pair being a farm animal.
Then half the children are blindfolded and have to find their partners by locating the noise which their animal makes.
Pinning the tail on the donkey.
For this you need a large picture of a donkey, with a separate tail which has blutack on the end. A blindfolded child has to attach the tail to the donkey in the right place.
Let the children enjoy blindfold games. Then ask them if they were tempted to cheat in any of the games and discuss why. Ask them how they think blind people manage (white sticks, dogs, other people helping, enhanced senses). Then find out whether they have ever been too scared to try something. Some children are too scared to try new food, for instance. Point out how much they miss if they won't try new experiences.
Talk about today's Bible story and ask why the parents of the blind man were too afraid to acknowledge Jesus. Ask the children who they think was really blind by the end of the story (hopefully they'll say the parents or the Pharisees). Tell them that following Jesus can be scary and tough, but that it's worth it. Those who don't follow Jesus may never know what they're missing.
Intercession:
God who sees, open the eyes of the world-wide church. When we're tempted to keep our eyes tightly closed so that we cannot see what is happening, give us the courage to look and see and respond.
God who sees, when the world blinds us with opulence and luxury, remind us of those who live below the poverty line with no hope of a better future. Prick our consciences until we respond by giving the basic necessities of life.
God who sees, enable us to look deep within ourselves with open eyes. May we see ourselves as you see us, recognising and accepting our faults but also rejoicing in our God-given abilities.
God who sees, support and strengthen those who are faint in body, mind or spirit. May they grow strong in your likeness. We pray especially for ...
Blessing:
May the Lord our God
open eyes that are blind
and ears that are deaf.
May the Lord our God
strengthen feeble knees
and faint hearts.
And may the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you now,
be in your homes and in your families
and with all those whom you love
and for whom you pray,
now and always.
Amen.
