By Neva Rae Fox
The announcement of a Healing Service is not an uncommon note in bulletins
or schedules in Episcopal churches. Healing services can be found throughout
the diocese, some regularly conducted on a weekly or monthly basis, others
by request or special schedule.
For example on Staten Island, Christ Church has regularly scheduled healing
services on the second Sunday of each month following the 10:30 am Eucharist. “Then,” adds
the Rev. Charles Howell, “on the second Thursday, we have an 11
am Eucharist for the Women of Christ Church and this also includes the
laying on of hands and anointing.”
St. Albans’ healing service, a Mass with the anointing of oil,
is every Wednesday at 9:30 am, notes the Rev. Fred Schraplau.
There’s a Healing Service at Ascension on the first Friday of every
month at 9 am, which the Rev. Buddy Stallings reports “is generally
a well attended service.”
At St. Stephen’s, the Rev. Loyda Morales celebrates a healing service
the last Wednesday of each month. She explains, “We follow the
format found in Enriching our Worship 2 and include laying on of hands
and anointing, visible symbols of our healing faith in God.”
What are Healing Services?
“Healing services open the channel of the human soul to embrace
the creative power of God in our lives,” explained Bishop E. Don
Taylor. “That is what a healing service is.”
He continued, “Healing services enable us to look into God’s
will for us, rather than what we want. Healing services don’t make
us feel better. Healing services make us better understand God’s
spirit for us.”
Bishop Taylor believes that healing services can be an important part
of one’s spiritual journey and life. “It is another avenue
for us to receive God’s spirit in our lives.”
The Prayers
In the Book of Occasional Services (2003), a Public Service of Healing
is found on page 166 which includes a collect, suggestions for lessons,
a Litany of Healing, blessings and prayers for the laying on of hands.
Some follow the Ministration to the Sick found on page 453 of the Book
of Common Prayer. Separated into three parts – Ministry of the
Word, Laying on of hands and Anointing, and Holy Communion – there
are a series of prayers for the sick (page 458-461) including prayers
said by the sick person, before an operation, for doctors and nurses,
and thanksgiving for the beginning of recovery.
There is a Public Service of Healing in Enriching
Our Worship 2 beginning
on page 27. It includes suggestions for readings and Psalms, a Litany
for Healing, a Confession of Sin and a Confession of Need, Laying on
of Hands and Anointing, and suggested hymns from The
Hymnal, Wonder Love and Praise, and Lift Every Voice and Sing II.
Books are available from Church
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