Healing Service of the Word

Healing Service of the Word | April 5, 2023

As we follow Jesus on the way to the cross, receive healing from him who bears all our sins and afflictions. This service of healing is for anyone who is in need of God's healing in any aspect of their lives. While the church does not replace the gifts of God that come through the medical and scientific community, through the Word, prayer, and laying on of hands, the church offers the gifts we first received through Jesus: God's presence of strength and comfort in times of suffering, God's promise of wholeness and peace, and God's love embodied through the community of faith. May this evening's service bless you and those for whom you care.

GATHERING

The Holy Spirit gathers us into a community of prayer.

PRELUDE Standing GREETING AND WELCOME

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. | And also with you.

We gather to hear the word of God, pray for those in need, and ask God’s blessing on those who seek healing and wholeness through Christ our Lord.

WORD

God speaks to us in scripture reading, silence, reflection, and song.

HYMN 607 Come, Ye Disconsolate

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Almighty God, your Son our Savior suffered at human hands and endured the shame of the cross. Grant that we may walk in the way of his cross finding the way of abundant life, wholeness, and peace through Jesus Christ, our Savior who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. | Amen.

Seated THE READING

Isaiah 61:1-3a

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.

PSALM 23

(Read responsively)

The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul:

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:

For Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Standing

HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 26:6-13

Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, ‘Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.’ But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’

Seated

HOMILY Pastor Jenny McLellan

HYMN 612

Healer of Our Every Ill

Kneeling or seated

PRAYERS

God the Father, you desire the health and salvation of all people. We praise you and thank you, O Lord.

God the Son, you came that we might have life and might have it more abundantly. We praise you and thank you, O Lord.

God the Holy Spirit, you make our bodies the temples of your presence. We praise you and thank you, O Lord.

Holy Trinity, one God, in you we live and move and have our being. We praise you and thank you, O Lord.

Lord, grant your healing grace to all who are sick, injured, or disabled, that they may be made whole; hear us, O Lord of life.

Grant to all who are lonely, anxious, or despondent the awareness of your presence; hear us, O Lord of life.

Mend broken relationships, and restore those in emotional distress to soundness of mind and serenity of spirit; hear us, O Lord of life.

Bless physicians, nurses, and all others who minister to the suffering; grant them wisdom and skill, sympathy and patience; hear us, O Lord of life.

Grant to the dying a peaceful, holy death, and with your grace strengthen those who mourn; hear us, O Lord of life.

Restore to wholeness whatever is broken in our lives, in this nation, and in the world as we name our prayers to you (here other prayers may be spoken)……Hear us, O Lord of life: heal us, and make us whole.

Gracious God, in baptism you anointed us with the oil of salvation, and joined us to the death and resurrection of your Son. Bless all who seek your healing presence in their lives. In their suffering draw them more deeply into the mystery of your love, that following Christ in the way of the cross, they may know the power of his resurrection; who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen

Seated LAYING ON OF HANDS AND ANOINTING

If you are viewing online, please contact Pastor Jenny if you would like a home visit to receive Holy Anointing.

Those who wish to receive the laying on of hands (and anointing) come to the altar and, if possible, kneel. The minister lays both hands on each person’s head in

silence, after which he or she may dip a thumb in the oil and make the sign of the cross on the person’s forehead, saying:

May God’s healing love and mercy sustain you by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen

HYMN Nothing Can Trouble

Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten. Those who seek God shall never go wanting. Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten. God alone fills us.

Text and music © 1986, 1991 Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, admin. GIA Publications, Inc., giamusic.com. All rights reserved.onelicense.net #A725004

As you are anointed with this oil, May God bless you with the healing power of the Holy Spirit. May God forgive you your sins, release you from suffering, and restore you to wholeness and strength.

May God deliver you from all evil, preserve you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life, through + Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Standing LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

SENDING

God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.

BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

The Lord bless you and keep you.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

In-Person and Livestream

April 6 MAUNDY THURSDAY | 12:00 Noon and 7 PM

April 7 GOOD FRIDAY | 12:00 Noon Seven Last Words from the Cross & 7 PM Choral Tenebrae

Neighborhood Stations of the Cross | 1:30 PM

April 8 HOLY SATURDAY | Children & Family Vigil 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon Center your family in faith this Easter season. We will hold our Family Vigil Worship Service and an outdoor Easter Activity including an egg hunt, a petting zoo, and more.

Easter Vigil Worship | 7:00 PM

This is the night of salvation! The Great Three Days comes to a conclusion as we gather around fire, word, water, bread, and wine, proclaiming through story and song that ours is a God who continuously brings life out of death.

Easter CELEBRATION

April 9 |

Breakfast served all morning, Zittrouer Hall

Scrambled eggs, Biscuits with sausage gravy, Fresh cut fruit, Turkey bacon, Pork sausage, Cheddar cheese grits, Coffee, Orange juice, Cranberry juice