Today during communion, two members of our Healing Prayer Ministry will approach the altar before other members of the congregation. One will take the blessed oil that has been sitting on a corner, and both, after receiving the elements, will retire to the alcove near the Apostles. Often Father Tom will have announced that a Healing Team is available to pray with you.
Who are these members of All Saints? What is this all about? Should you expect something? What?
The Gospels tell of two sendings forth. According to Matthew: Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness... Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. And Luke tells, The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them on ahead in pairs to all the towns and villages he planned to visit...to heal the sick... ”As you heal them, say, 'The Kingdom of God is near you now.’” When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, ”Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”
In studying the healings of Christ, you find a coming or a bringing, a statement of need, a touching or laying on of hands, a prayer (silent or spoken), an instruction, and healing. Later St. James in his letter to churches wrote, Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well;; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
Healing Ministry pairs similarly offer themselves to you.
We invite you to come, to ask, to speak to God your need, the need of a friend or a family member, the need of anyone you know who hurts. We will pray with you for that need and for healing in Jesus name, as He commanded. And then we anoint you in the name of our Creator, His Son our Lord, and Holy Spirit.
Come to pray for any trouble - illness, sorrow, loss, fear, depression or anxiety; or come to thank Him for blessings you or another has received. Nothing is too small or too large to bring before God. You need not speak if you can’t. But the blessing promised by Christ through His disciples so long ago is waiting, now. Come. Ask. Receive. He awaits; do not fear.
Perry White
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