Healing Services
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Healing Services
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Congregational Church United Methodist Church |
Preparation Set-up: The service takes place in the sanctuary or chapel (depending upon the seating capacity of your chapel) at 4 or 5pm on a Sunday afternoon as the sun is beginning to set. (other days & times are appropriate according to your church calendar and preferences) Candles are burning on the altar and the Paschal Candle is lighted. As participants arrive they are greeted with a bulletin and a Healing Service Prayer Request Card which has space to fill in this request: Please Pray For: This card will be used during the service or can be turned in to the Pastor or Parish Nurse at the end of the service. Prelude music is playing as people enter the sanctuary. This may be piano and/or organ with flute and/or violin. A small chorus can also be quietly singing Taize hymns. Use whatever your music department can offer to set a peaceful, prayerful atmosphere. Depending on the number of prayer stations, have some chairs set up behind the altar rail for the pastor, parish nurse & others who might be praying & anointing. Staff & Volunteers: The service is officiated by a Pastor/s and the Parish Nurse with the assistance of Health Cabinet members and musicians. Health Cabinet members can serve as greeters, ushers, acolytes, readers etc. There can also be members of the Pastoral staff, church staff and/or church council when appropriate, to serve as prayer station partners. A pastor or the parish nurse and lay person will be at each prayer station for laying on of hands and anointing with oil. It is important that the parish nurse meet with the pastor and music director for planning of this service. This planning team collaborates on choosing the liturgy, lessons and hymns for the service. Parish nurse communicates with Health Cabinet participants and music director arranges for the musicians and choral participants. The Pastor will choose the Gospel and prepare a homily. Parish nurse is responsible to invite the church staff and to communicate publicity about the service at least one month in advance in all church publications.
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