Having another look at the healing ministry…..
Over one hundred people, from churches across the ecumenical spectrum, gathered at St John’s Church, Neville Cross on the 21st February and were inspired to take seriously Christ’s command to not only preach but also heal in the name of Jesus.
The speaker was Roy Lawrence from the Acorn Trust. He defined Christian healing as the difference that Christ makes. Our authority for engaging in the healing ministry is Christ’s command and our resources are those of God known in the Trinity. Roy made clear the church today as the body of Christ is the channel of Christ’s healing and quoted the Teresa of Avila prayer that ‘Christ has no hands now but yours.’
The gathering split into workshops where through movement, clay, paint, discussion or walking folk could mediate on Christ’s healing ministry. After lunch there was a healing service at which the ministry of laying on of hands and anointing were offered. The awareness of God’s presence with people and Christ’s desire for the wholeness of his brothers and sisters were very real.
The day was sponsored by the Durham Ecumenical Branch of the Guild of St Raphael and North East Christian Churches Together (NECCT). The aim was to encourage and continue to build a network to help the churches of the North East engage with the healing ministry.
To be added to the mailing list contact office@urc-northernsynod.org
The day showed that it is enough to rest in God and thereby lay aside our own strivings; for then God can work in us and through us. Also the healing ministry is not an add-on extra but something that is central to our calling to follow Jesus.
Revd Rowena Francis, URC Northern Synod Moderator