SONG
The opening song is, “This is the One”, courtesy of Emu Music. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6Ym9_Mv26U
Call to worship
We come to hear the Good News, to embody the love of God in Christ as we share our lives with others. .
You may like to light a candle at this time.
God’s truth is revealed in Jesus Christ the light of the world. May the light shine for the hope of the world.
Prayer
Let’s pray.
Gracious God, anoint us with your mercy and compassion and the beauty of your love. Speak into our lives your hope and justice. Touch our hearts with your eternal grace. Fill our senses with the abundance of your presence. May your love for us be returned in the way we show our love towards others and to all you have created.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
From the Bible
The Bible reading for today is chapter 9 of the Gospel of John. The words of the reading are below. There is also a video of a dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading underneath. It is a long reading, so choose for yourself how you would prefer to read or hear it.
John 9:1-41
Jesus heals a blind man
As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
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, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.
The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 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.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
The Pharisees question the healed man
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 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.” 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.
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.” 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 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 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.” 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. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
The Pharisees interrogate the healed man
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.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 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?”
Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.
Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.
Jesus responds
Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. 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.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.
Dramatic readings from Lumo
Here is the dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading by the Lumo group. If you have trouble connecting you can go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TicyC-r1GuE&t=22s
Message
The message is brought to you by Tim Jensen from the Saltbush Community. Jesus heals a blind man but those around him could not see beyond their own fears, fixation with being right and obsession to control.
What ways have you found fear, disbelief or control block you from knowing the presence of God? In what ways can you be more open to the presence of God?
Before a time of prayer you may like to spend some time in silence sitting still. Close your eyes lightly. Sit relaxed but alert. Simply be still and open to God. You may prefer to do this while listening to the ‘Optional reflective music’ below.
Optional reflective music
The reflective song is ‘Amazing grace (my chains are gone)’, sung by Holly Halliwell. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr_A0HcvSOI
Prayers for Others
Let us pray.
Gracious God, may we look at each other with your eyes of love and understanding, gently affirming the gifts of each person and open to receive new ideas.
Hear our prayers, loving God, in Christ Jesus. (pause)
We pray that we will see people as your beloved children and listen to your guidance on how best to be in relationship for the enhancing of all lives.
Hear our prayers, loving God, in Christ Jesus. (pause)
May we discern your ways in the communities in which we find ourselves. Seeking to walk alongside those who do your will for the sake of justice and compassion.
Hear our prayers, loving God, in Christ Jesus. (pause)
Invite us into the sacred spaces of your creation that we may know how to restore, nurture and protect all you have called ‘good’
Hear our prayers, loving God, in Christ Jesus. (pause)
In this time of silence, we bring you the prayers of hearts.
Hear our prayers, loving God, in Christ Jesus. (pause)
In Christ, Amen
Blessing
Go out into the world, to love and serve the Lord. Bless us and the people we meet along the way. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Song
‘Won my heart’, courtesy of Emu Youth. If you have problems connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSsQYyi3w_c&list=RDQSsQYyi3w_c&start_radio=1
Extra song
‘The blind man sat by the road and he cried’ (recorded at a youth retreat in Venur, India). The original YouTube link can be found at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHPcM9MPQrA
Fun activity
The labyrinth is an ancient way of prayer. Walking a labyrinth is like taking a tiny Pilgrimage that we walk alone with God. It can be an intensely relaxing and releasing experience. It can also be challenging. If you have a small space, such as a patio, the following video shows you how to make a labyrinth. It is surprisingly simple, all you need is some chalk! If you have trouble connecting, the video can also be found at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVLA0nLsAek
Resources
For some other activities based on this reading, such as games and children’s activities, go to:
https://www.bibleexplore.nz/lent4a.html
The prayers & blessing are based on content in the Saltbush service for this week, which can be found at:
https://saltbushcommunity.uca.org.au/video/the-word/lent-4-no-longer-blind-john-91-41/