A Service of Holy Communion and Prayer for Christian Healing
Our policy
We regularly hold a service of Christian healing in our churches, incorporated into a service of Christian healing. However at ever service of Holy Communion anybody who wishes to have a prayer for Christian healing may do so. They simply come forward to receive the communion with their arms folded across their chest and before giving the bread the Minister will say place his hand upon them and say a prayer.
Why a service for Christian Healing?
And we know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans
Chapter 8 verse 28
This verse of scripture acknowledges that Christians will face many difficult situations, yet it reminds us that even in the midst of our troubles God promises to be with us bringing good. This service seeks to enable us to acknowledge God's presence and to draw strength and encouragement as we share his healing power with one another. We all require healing in different areas of our lives. Bodily healing is always uppermost in our minds, for that is healing which enables us to be fully functioning in our daily lives. Other types of healing are just as important. Our relationships with one another are often marked with division and conflict and require God's healing. Mental and emotional sickness may not be as obvious but life can become a dark tunnel of oppression and depression with forces of evil weighing heavily upon us. God uses many different means for our healing, from the skill of the surgeon to the touch of a hand in prayer. In many ways we know God is with us in our need, and his power is greater than the forces which are arrayed against us. The greatest and most important area of healing for us is that of our relationship with God. If we are right with God we know that he will never leave us without the strength of his presence in our lives. In this service we are assured of God's love for us and we share in remembering his death in Jesus which brings to us that peace which the world cannot give.
'No in all of these things we are more than conquerors, through him who, loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angles nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Romans Chapter 8:37-39
Order of Service
The Preparation
Introduction from Scripture
Jesus went to Nazareth where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went to the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has annointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.' Luke Chapter 4:17-19
Minister: The Lord is here.
All: His Spirit is with us.
All: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
A HYMN may be sung
CONFESSION
All: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and against each other, in thought and word and deed, in the evil we have done, and the good we have not done, through ignorance, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.
Minister: God who is both power and love, forgive you and free you from your sins, heal and strengthen you by his Spirit, and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
KYRIE ELEISON
Friend of sinners, you bring hope in our despair.
Minister: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Healer of the sick, you give strength in our weakness.
Minister: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Saviour of the world, you bring life in our dying
Minister: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
THE GLORIA may be sung
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God's people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
THE OFFERING
After the offering is collected it may be brought forward with the bread and wine. The people stand as it is presented and say
All: Give to us or take from us, conform our will to yours. May we not desire health or life except to spend them in service of you. Use all that we have to proclaim the good news of your kingdom, to cure the sick and relieve your suffering children, to the praise and glory of your holy name. Amen.
A HYMN may be sung
THE MINISTRY OF GOD'S WORD
THE COLLECT
Minister: Lord God you know our needs before we ask, and
you are always more ready to give than we are to receive, as you make all
things new, so we pray work in our lives to remake us as you would have us
be.
ALL: (Sung)
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me
Break me, melt me, mould me, fill me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
The reader introduces the readings using the suggested words and announces the page number in the pew bibles
FIRST READING
Reader: The Epistle/Old Testament reading is taken from ............................(name of book) Chapter ..............beginning at Verse............
At the end of the reading
Reader: This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL READING all stand
Reader: The Holy Gospel is taken from the Gospel according
to ..... Chapter .............. beginning at Verse............
All: Glory to Christ our Saviour.
At the end of the reading
Reader: This is the Gospel of Christ.
All: Praise to Christ our Lord.
A HYMN may be sung
Please remain standing after the hymn is sung until directed by the preacher
THE SERMON
HYMN may be sung
THE DECLARATION OF FAITH
Minister: Do you believe and trust in God the Father, who
made all things?
All: I believe and trust in him.
Minister: Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ, who redeemed the
world?
All: I believe and trust in him.
Minister: Do you believe and trust in his Holy Spirit, who gives life to the
people of God?
All: I believe and trust in the Holy Spirit.
Minister: This is the faith of the Church.
All: This is our faith. We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit.
THE PRAYERS
During the prayers the leader will mention names of specific people for whom we pray, either to ask for God's healing, or to thank him for his goodness. After petitions the following responses may be said
Leader: Lord hear our prayer
All: And let our cry come unto you
The prayers end with
Leader: Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit. Give them courage and hope in their troubles; and bring them the joy of your salvation. Merciful Father....
All: Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE SACRAMENT
THE PEACE Please stand
Minister: Christ is our peace. He has reconciled us to God
in one body by the cross. We meet in his name and share his peace. The peace
of the Lord be always with you.
All: And also with you.
You may wish to exchange a sign of peace and shake hands with those around you
HYMN may be sung
THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Minister: The Lord be with you
All: And also with you
Minister: Lift up your hearts
All: We lift them to the Lord
Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
All: It is right to give him thanks and praise
Father we give you thanks and praise through your beloved Son Jesus Christ, your living Word through whom you have created all living things: Who was sent by you, in great goodness, to be our Saviour: by the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh and, as your Son, born of the blessed Virgin was seen on earth and went about among us. He opened wide his arms for us on the cross; he put an end to death by dying for us and revealed the resurrection by rising to new life; so he fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people. And now we give you thanks because you provide medicine to heal our sickness, and the leaves of the tree of life for the healing of the nations, anointing us with your healing power so that we may be the first-fruits of your new creation. Therefore with angels and archangels. and with all the company of heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and singing:
All: (Sung)
Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
and we lift our hearts before you, as a token of our love: holy, holy, holy,
holy!
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, come and fill our hearts anew, Holy Spirit!
and we lift our voice before you, as a token of our love, Holy Spirit, Holy
Spirit.
Lord you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will, these gifts of bread and wine may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. who on the night that he was betrayed, took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper, he took the cup and gave you thanks, he gave it to them, saying, 'This is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.'
All: (sung)
He is Lord, he is Lord, he is risen from the dead and he
is Lord!
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Minister: The bread we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.
All: Though we are many, we are one body because we all share in one
bread.
Minister: Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world. In the name of God most high receive Christ's healing touch to make
you whole in body, mind and spirit.
All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word, and I
shall be healed.
Therefore, heavenly Father as he has commanded us, we do this in remembrance of your dear Son Jesus Christ. We give you thanks and praise that through faith in him we receive forgiveness of all our sins. Before the bread and wine is given we sit or kneel for the prayer of humble access
All:
Most merciful Lord, your love compels us to come in. Our hands were unclean our hearts were unprepared; we were not fit even to eat the crumbs from under your table. But you, Lord, are the God of our salvation, and share your bread with sinners. So cleanse us and feed us with the precious body and blood of your Son, that he may live in us and we in him; and that we, with the whole company of Christ, may sit and eat in your kingdom. Amen.
Instructions -Communion is now received and you will be invited forward. If you would like communion brought to you, please remain in your seat and inform the communion steward. You are welcome to receive the bread and wine, but if for any reason you do not wish to receive, then please bring your order of service with you and hold it in your hand. The minister will then know not to offer the sacrament to you and will say a prayer of blessing instead. If you wish to partake only of the bread, take the chalice or glass as it is presented and then give it back without drinking. At the distribution the minister will say words of administration to which the communicant may reply, AMEN.
After Communion
THE PRAYER
Strengthen for your service Lord, the hands that have stretched out to receive your holy things. Grant that the ears which have heard the sound of your songs may be closed to the voice of clamour and dispute; that the eyes which have seen your great love may behold the fulfilment they hope for; that the tongues which have sung your praises may ever speak the truth; that the feet which have trodden your courts may walk in the light; and the bodies which have tasted your risen body may be restored to newness of life; to the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A HYMN may be sung
THE DISMISSAL
Be with us, Holy Spirit; nothing can separate us from
your love.
Breathe on us, breath of God; fill us with your saving power.
Speak in us, Spirit of God; bring strength, healing and peace.
May God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit give you strength. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your body and save your soul, and bring you safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Minister: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All: In the name of Christ. Amen.
Instructions for those wishing to pray for individuals by name
Please note In our prayers in this service there is an opportunity to mention by name people for whom we seek God's special blessing. We will also remember by name and thank God for those who have been especially aware of God's healing touch on their lives. If you would like your name mentioned or if you would like us to pray for somebody else specifically in our intercessions please advise the minister or one of the Church Leadership Team prior to the service. Alternatively place a card on the prayer board in the foyer of St, Mark's Church, or in the prayer diary at Putnoe Heights Church. All of these names will automatically been mentioned in our prayers.