HEALING SERVICE

    This Sunday, there will be a special emphasis on healing at both the 8 and 10:30 services.  This Sunday was selected because it is only a few days after October 18, the day we honor St. Luke the Physician in our calendar of saints.

    Healing was part of Jesus’ ministry and the ministry of the early church.  It was understood that the Christian community could and should heal in the name of God.  Over the centuries the Church has prayed for its members who were in need of healing, especially physical healing.  However, the early church’s emphasis upon the laying-on-of-hands was lost until fairly recently.  Now the Church is beginning to understand the importance of touch and the body, mind, spirit connection as part of the healing ministry of the church.

    Every Sunday at Christ Church healing with the laying-on-of-hands and anointing is offered at the back of the church.  People can receive this healing care before or after communion.  The Healing Ministries Team at Christ Church believes that healing should be a more central part of our worship experience at specified occasions throughout the year.

    Last summer there was a special healing service with the Bishops of the Dioceses of Iowa and Swaziland and their wives.  It was well attended and many people sought healing for themselves or another—physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational healing, were all sought.

    The service on October 23, will be similar in that healing teams will offer prayers at the altar after communion.  It will be dissimilar in that it will not be as long a prayer and there will be two teams praying.  The service should only be a few minutes longer than usual, if at all.

    We will use the basic prayer for healing from the prayer book, and people will be invited to speak their reasons for healing only if they wish.  God knows in our hearts why we have come to the altar to seek healing.  The prayer is offered with trust that God will do what is best for this person, and that the community prays with and supports them in their need.

    The healing teams are meeting the day before to prepare themselves to be open channels of God’s healing love.  Their prayer ahead of time is an important part of the offering.

    We hope that many people, if not all, will come forward.  Who among us does not stand in the need of some kind of healing, of body, mind or spirit?  Who of us does not know someone else in need of some kind of healing?

    We look forward to offering this deep and joyful healing experience to the people of our parish.

Faithfully,

Barbara Schlachter for the Healing Ministries Team