This is a resource for people to use as they like (no copyright or credits necessary - I’ve pinched stuff from everywhere anyway) and if they like. I’m posting it mostly because it’s something we slotted into an ‘ordinary’ worship service instead of the sermon, and it worked for a group of mostly older, mostly conservative church folk, in a very traditional setting that had a few slight modifications (gasp!, we moved some pews). Not an expected setting for ‘alt-worship’.

…….

Blind Bartimaeus.

Readings: Psalm 34:1-8, Mark 10:46-52

Station 1.

“a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside”

Bartimaeus was handicapped;
damaged, struggling and hurt.
Bound to a life of begging
because of his blindness.

He is not alone.

Life can be hard.
We all have our handicaps,
physical or emotional,
relational or spiritual.

You are invited
to take one of the blind-man’s rags
and hold it, carry it, or tie it to yourself
as a sign of the handicap
you may be carrying.

Take the rag with you
and when you are ready,
move on to station 2.

…….

Station 2.

“throwing off his cloak,
he sprang up and came to Jesus”

Bartimaeus was a beggar.
That’s how he survived.
It’s likely that all he had to comfort him
was his cloak.

Yet he threw it off to seek out healing.

We hold on to many things for comfort.
Sometimes even,
things we would be better to let go of
if we really want to be healed.

You are invited to put on a cloak.
Wrap yourself up in it
and think of what you may be relying on
that you need to let go of.

When you are ready,
move on to station 3.

…….

Station 3.

“What do you want me to do for you?”

Just last week Jesus said to James and John,
“What do you want me to do for you?”
they wanted position and prestige,
they didn’t know they were blind.
Jesus turned them down, to help them to see.

Jesus asks Bartimaeus
“What do you want me to do for you?”
he asked to for a return of his sight,
he knew he was blind.
Jesus answered his request, to help him to see.

If Jesus asked you
“What do you want me to do for you?”
What would you ask for?

You are invited to take the rag you are carrying
and write down on your rag
what you really need from Jesus.
Then place it in the container
as a prayer offered to God.

When you are ready,
move on to station 4.

…….

Station 4.

“immediately he regained his sight”

What would it mean
to see the world with new eyes?

When Jesus told Bartimaeus to “Go!”
Bartimaeus chose to follow Jesus
along the way,
rather than return
to a life of begging.

How do you see things?

You are invited
to write your prayers for the world
over these images
of the world we see around us.

When you are ready,
move on to station 5.

…….

Station 5.

“…and followed on the way.”

What is your next step?

Is there something
you have heard or felt today
that you need to work on, or think about?

You might like to write it down.

Then take a chocolate.
Reward yourself
for braving the journey today.

“Taste and see
the goodness of the LORD.”

When you are ready,
move back to the seats
so that we may prepare for communion.

…….