Session 6: SACRAMENTAL MINISTRY OF HEALING This is a much shorter session than others. Ideally the teaching can be used as the basis for an address in a Service of Healing with the laying on of hands and anointing. Notes page 39.

Sacramental Healing Reading: James 5.13-16 James 5.13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 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. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

Sacraments, Signs and Symbols "an outward and physical sign of an inner and spiritual grace" Sacraments of Baptism (Acts 2.38) and Holy Communion (1 Cor 11.23ff) are both healing Many aspects of creation can be sacramental – a sunset, scenery, art, music, poetry

Sacraments, Signs and Symbols In church worship candles, music, stained glass windows, liturgy, touch, smell, time Importance of what we do and how we do it. All channels of God’s healing grace Of particular significance are the laying on of hands and anointing with oil

Laying on of Hands Luke 4.40 Simon’s mother-in-law James 5.14 Elders to pray over them Mark 16.18 Signs of the end: lay hands on the sick who will recover Acts 28.8 Paul in Malta praying for Publius’ father, putting his hands on him Luke 4.40 As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them. James 5.14 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. Mark 16.18 they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." Acts 28.8 It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him.

Laying on of Hands Touch assists healing Lay hands lightly, normally on the head, shoulder or affected part Take care to avoid embarrassment or offence Ask permission Single-gender or mixed pairs Ensure that those who pray for others, regularly receive prayer for themselves Ask permission to touch – can be a problem for abuse victims Normally pray in pairs. If one-to-one then ensure same gender. Pray with eyes open.

Some prayers In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who laid his hands on the sick that they might be healed, we lay our hands upon you. May Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, make you whole in body, mind, and spirit, give you light and peace, and keep you in life eternal. Amen.

Some prayers In the name of God and trusting in his might alone, receive Christ’s healing touch to make you whole. May Christ bring you wholeness of body, mind and spirit, deliver you from every evil, and give you his peace. Amen. Common Worship

Some prayers Spirit of the living God, present with us now, enter you, body, mind and spirit, and heal you of all that harms you in Jesus’ name. Amen. Iona Community

Anointing with Oil James 5.14 Anointing them with oil Mark 6.13 Sending the 12 who anointed with oil Luke 10.34 Good Samaritan used oil and wine (medicine) James 5.14 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. Mark 6.13 They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. Luke 10.34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

Christ the Anointed One The Greek Christos means the Anointed one of God (same as Hebrew Messiah) Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power (Acts 10.38) Jesus’ Manifesto (Isaiah 61 & Luke 4) Acts 10. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Anointing with Oil Olive Oil is blessed by the Bishop For use in Baptism For ministry to the sick Perfumed oil for use at Confirmation and Ordination (Chrism)

Anointing with Oil In Anglican public worship, a bishop or priest should preside and bless the oil Lay ministers may anoint but some traditions regard it as priestly. Signing with the cross on head/hands

Some prayers N, I anoint you in the name of God who gives you life. Receive Christ’s forgiveness, his healing and his love. May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ grant you the riches of his grace, his wholeness and his peace. Amen. Common Worship

Some prayers As outwardly and with sacramental oil your body is anointed so may Almighty God, our Father, inwardly anoint your soul, to strengthen you with all the comfort and the joy of his most Holy Spirit, and loose you from all that troubles you in body, mind, or spirit. May he send you forth, renewed and restored to do his will, to your benefit, in the service of others, but above all to the glory of his Holy Name. Amen. St Marylebone Parish Church