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would like to bring to your attention in
this month’s Two Penn’orth some more
information about our new healing service which begins on Sunday, September 21,
as part of our 10am Holy Communion service and will continue periodically.
There is a lot
of misunderstanding on healing in general throughout the Church of England, so
I thought it would be good to take this opportunity to put away any concerns
people may have. Christian Healing Ministries affirms the historic Christian
beliefs as contained in the creeds (the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed)
which have served as the basis of Christian belief since the first century.
Because of the nature of our prayer ministry, we stress in particular the need
for the power of the Holy Spirit, in order that we might serve as vessels of
God’s healing power.
It is
important to remember when Jesus announced His ministry in Luke 4:18, He said
that He came to proclaim the year of the Lord, a time of restoration.
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eople today still seek
restoration and in my experience they still hunger and thirst to know God in a
direct, practical way. The sick very much still need healing, just as much as
they did in Christ’s day, in body, mind, and spirit. Our new service offers an
opportunity after receiving communion to kneel or stand at the altar of the
Lady chapel. There you will receive the laying on of hands and the prayer of
healing. You are not required to say anything, rather simply to receive God’s
healing touch. Healing is about wholeness and takes on many forms, combining with
the expertise of the medical professions. Medical practitioners, too, are called
to provide care and healing for the sick. The Church works together with the
NHS as they heal the mind and body the Church heals the spirit.
Healing and
wholeness is a fundamental part of the ministry of the Church as we are
reminded in scripture. James 5:14 says,
“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the Church to pray over
him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
The laying on
of hands is always administered by two people so there is no misunderstanding
that one person has the power to heal it is through the power of the Holy
Spirit that any healing takes place, and that healing can take many forms,
sometimes it is in the healing of relationships or forgiveness, or acceptance
to bear illness. Church people act simply as channels of that healing grace.
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will also take this opportunity to tell
you about our new initiative, which will begin in October on a date not yet
fixed. The idea is a drop-in at the Church Centre where we will provide a bacon
sandwich (butty) and tea or coffee on a weekday once a week from 10.30am until
12noon. This is great chance to use our new kitchen which will be tiled by then
and in all its glory. I will be looking for mainly male volunteers to help me
in the kitchen to give the ladies a well-earned rest.
This new
outreach will be open to all of Hoylake and this is our opportunity to welcome
the stranger and reach out as part of our vision. So please make a note in your
diaries for the beginning of October. Let us be reminded, as scripture tells us
in Matthew 25:35, ”For I was hungry and
you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink;
I was a stranger and you invited me in.”
Your friend,
Rev’d Paul
7 September 2014
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