Healing prayer, anointing to return soon

Anointing at the Celtic service

Ancient practices for the twenty-first century

Healing prayer and anointing are precious offerings during the Celtic service

At St. Stephen’s Church, the Sunday evening service of Celtic Evensong and Communion has long featured two ancient practices, healing prayer and anointing. Before the pandemic, these rituals were a part of every Celtic service. There is something precious and deeply moving about being present before God with someone who needs and wants healing prayer. Receiving the laying on of hands is available to anyone—for themselves or for someone they love. It’s a time of very few spoken words, of joining with a healing prayer minister to silently open ourselves and present our concerns to God. As the description of this ministry in the Celtic service bulletin says, “This is not a ministry of magical incantations. Instead, this healing prayer ministry is simply about fellow pilgrims opening ourselves more completely to the healing love of God…. Much as a group of friends once brought a paralytic to Jesus so that Jesus might heal him, so we sometimes benefit from the loving care of others who bring us more fully into the presence of God.” Healing prayer and anointing are practices we’ve missed during this time of great caution to protect ourselves and others from transmitting illness. We hope they will return this fall. When you approach one of our healing prayer ministers at this service, the minister will ask your name and the concern for which you seek prayer, understanding that you may choose not to share this. Anything said to the minister is kept in confidence. There is usually a brief spoken prayer at the beginning, and the healing prayer minister will lay his/her hands on your shoulders and join you in silently praying together before God. The healing prayer

minister will say a brief prayer aloud to conclude the period of silent prayer. Anointing is another practice which has been a blessing for many, and is linked to healing prayer. During the Celtic service, you may choose to receive either anointing or healing prayer or both. It is a humbling and powerful experience to be anointed with blessed oil. Anointing is mentioned many times in Scripture. The beloved By Gayle Royals Psalm 23 says, “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” The Letter of James in the New Testament states, “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:14) Healing prayer ministers and anointers prepare for this ministry with care. They meet as a group to pray and read scripture— choosing passages that center on healing—and let the Word speak to them using the practice called lectio divina. They also gather together just before the Celtic service to pray and center themselves. These volunteers take part in periodic daytime retreats at the church. Each minister is placed on a team, and teams usually serve one Sunday a month. If you are interested in becoming a healing prayer minister, please be in touch with me or the Rev. Claudia Merritt, cmerritt@ ststephensRVA.org. You’ll take part in a period of discernment to consider whether this is an effective way for you to exercise your particular gifts. Being a healing prayer minister does not require the ability to voice eloquent or lengthy prayers, only a desire to join with another person their desire to move closer to God.