Prayer and Healing
Healing was central to the ministry of Jesus Christ. It was a sign of God's kingdom, bringing renewal and wholeness of life to those who turned to God in their need. Jesus sent out his disciples with the mission to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal (Luke 9 v 2).
In every act of worship, the Church celebrates the grace of God who desires wholeness of body, mind and spirit for all people. At a service of healing, we focus on that aspect of God's character. We bring to God our own frailty and brokenness - felt not just in physical illness, but in guilt, anxiety, and all the burdens which weigh us down. We also bring our concerns for others and for the world. Above all, we come to the God who knows our needs before we ask, and whose love revealed in Jesus Christ is stronger than suffering and death.
A Healing Service can include the celebration of Holy Communion, where the risen Christ is present in the Sacrament to heal and renew our lives. The laying on of hands and/or anointing with oil together with prayer for others, as practised by the early Church, may also form part of the service.