“A Healing Service with Communion”

I would like to invite you and your family to “A Healing Service with Communion” on Sunday, October 8, 10:30 A.M. 

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.  For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Let us pray:  God of compassion, you have given us Jesus Christ, the great physician, who made the broken whole and healed the sick.  Touch our wounds, relieve our hurts, and restore us to wholeness of life, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. (Book of Common Worship)

I would like to share the introduction of Healing Services and Prayers in Book of Worship of United Methodist Church.

Scripture strongly affirms ministries of spiritual healing.  The root of the word healing in the New Testament Greek, sozo, is the same as that of salvation and wholeness.  Spiritual healing is God’s work of offering persons balance, harmony, and wholeness of body, mind, spirit, and relationships through confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation.    Through such healing, God works to bring about reconciliation between God and humanity, among individuals and communities, within each person, and between humanity and the rest of creation.   The New Testament records that Jesus himself healed the estranged and sick and sent out his disciples on ministries of healing.    (James 5:14-16a) calls us also to pray for and anoint the sick, that they may be healed.

All healing is of God.  The Church’s healing ministry in no way detracts from the gifts God gives through medicine and psychotherapy.  It is no substitute for either medicine or the proper care of one’s health.  Rather, it adds to our total resources for wholeness.

Healing is not magic, but underlying it is the great mystery of God’s love.  Those who minister spiritual healing are only channels of God’s love.  Although no one can predict what will happen in a given instance, many marvelous healings have taken place.  

A Service of Healing is not necessarily a service of curing but it provides an atmosphere in which healing can happen.  The greatest healing of all is the union or reconciliation of a human being with God.  When this happens physical healing sometimes occurs, mental and emotional balance is often restored, spiritual health is enhanced, and relationships are healed.  For Christian the basic purpose of spiritual healing is to renew and strengthen one’s relationship with the living Christ. 

As an individual and the pastor of WUMC, I need God’s healing.   I need to reconcile with God, others, God’s beloved people at WUMC.   Friends! Do you need God’s healing?   Do you want to be reconciled with God, others, and God’s beloved people at WUMC?  

Let’s pray with Psalmist, “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you O God.” (42:1)

In Christ,  

Pastor Oh