Submitted by
S. Daly

Age Group
8-14

Aim
To open our eyes to God's love and the beauty around us
To hear about Jesus curing a blind man

Faith Group
Christian

Time of Year
June

Script
1. Today's assembly is about seeing.
When we say that someone is blind, we usually mean that there is something wrong with their eyes. They cannot see objects such as: animals, trees - and people.

2. But sometimes when we say that someone is blind, we mean that they do not believe in something which is clearly true, such as God's love for us.
Although no one would want to be blind, it is far better to have bad eyesight than to not know that God loves you. This is the message of the following poem. It is called "I'm blind - and it's June."

3. "I'm blind - and it's June."
He was a beggar, he sat at the gate -
With these poignant words written out on a slate;
The glories of nature, the roses in bloom,
He could not see them; he was blind and in June.

And I thought of all the beautiful things:
A butterfly passing with silver wings,
The delicate blue of a summer's sky,
The feathery clouds as they floated by,
The dew on the grass, and the vivid green
Of the fields after rain, and the lustrous sheen
On every flower; it was summer's noon,
But he could not see; he was blind and in June.

Yet many have eyes which they do not use,
The beauties are there and yet they refuse
To see the loveliness God gives each day,
They prefer to be blind in a different way.

I pitied the man as he sat at the gate
With the sorrowful words written out on his slate;
But the man who has sight, yet refuses to see,
He is the one who needs charity.
Help to open his eyes to life's fragrant perfume.
Oh! the joy when he says, "I can see and it's June."

4. The poet, Myra Thompson, lists some beautiful things which the blind man cannot see: butterflies, blue sky, clouds, dew, green grass, rain, flowers.
However, the blind man knows that he is missing these beautiful sights.
This is why the poet goes on to say that he pities the blind man, but he feels even more sorry for people who can see and yet still do not notice all the beauties God has given us.

5. We do not have to look hard to see the gifts of God all around us: the sun, our families, our friends, our food and so on.
But God did not want us just to see his gifts. He wanted us to see what he himself is really like. God said,

GOD: I will send my son. My son will show them what I am like. He is just like me. He always does what I want to do. He is like a picture of me.

5. And he sent Jesus to show us what he is like .

6. When we think about the things that Jesus does, or what he is like, we can say to ourselves:

7. His father is like that too.

8. Jesus is kind - his father is kind.

9. Jesus is strong - his father is strong.

10. Jesus forgives - his father forgives.

11. If we want to find out about God, we just have to look at the life of Jesus.
We can read the Gospels, which are eye witness accounts of what Jesus did on earth. He is the one to show us.
Indeed, one of the stories in the Bible is about Jesus curing a blind man.
In this one miracle, he helped a man to see the world with his eyes and to see God with his heart. This is what happened...

12. As Jesus was leaving Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road begging. When he heard the crowd passing by, he asked what was happening. The people told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. On hearing this, he cried out,

BLIND MAN: Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.

12. The crowd told him to be quiet, but he cried out even louder,

BLIND MAN: Son of David, have pity on me.

12. Jesus stopped and asked for the man to be brought to him. When he came close, he asked,

JESUS: What do you want me to do for you?

12. The blind man answered,

BLIND MAN: Lord, give me back my sight.

12. Jesus replied,

JESUS: Receive your sight. Your faith has brought you your recovery.

12. And at once, the man could see. He followed Jesus, praising God.
And all the people too gave praise to God at seeing it.

13. Lord, the whole world is full of the things that you have given us.
Help us to remember that everything really belongs to you, so that we shall use everything carefully, as you would like it to be used.
Lord hear us...
ALL: Lord graciously hear us.

14. Lord, we thank you for sending your son Jesus, to show us what you are like. Help us to get to know him better, so that we can learn more about you.
Lord hear us...
ALL: Lord graciously hear us.

15. We pray for blind people everywhere. May they enjoy life through their other senses.
Lord hear us...
ALL: Lord graciously hear us.

16. We pray that everybody here will open their eyes and see God's love all around them.
Lord hear us...
ALL: Lord graciously hear us.

17. We will now sing "I saw the grass" by Estelle White (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 283).