After a long hiatus during COVID and its aftermath, St. John’s has resumed Healing Prayer at the 10:30 am service. Those desiring healing prayer should come to the Tower Lobby during communion.
Our Healing Prayer service is simple and straightforward and it takes only a few moments. We conduct it in the manner (as best we can tell) that has been used since the beginnings of the Christian community. We offer it for any parishioner seeking healing for themselves or loved ones dealing with an illness or with a concern that is troubling to their spirit.
When you come to the Healing Prayer Minster in the Tower Lobby, simply stand or kneel–however you are most comfortable. You need not say anything. Or, you can quietly share whether you are seeking prayers for yourself or for a loved one, named or anonymous. The Healing Prayer Minister will trust that God and the Holy Spirit will know what is troubling you, and that is all that matters. The Healing Prayer Minister will then say a short prayer while placing their hands on your shoulders and gently touching your head while anointing your forehead with the sign of the cross using a small dab of consecrated oil.
This moment is confidential. The Healing Prayer Minister will not speak with you or anyone afterwards about your request for prayer, except in the rare instance where a mention could be made to one of our clergy if we sense a pastoral contact may be needed.
We are still taking some COVID precautions and plan to do so for the next few months at least. All Healing Prayer Ministers will wear masks while offering healing prayer. Also, we encourage any parishioner not wishing to be touched by a Healing Prayer Minister as described above to signal this by simply crossing their arms in front of them with their hands touching their shoulders.
None of us understand exactly how Healing Prayer works or helps. Simply acknowledging to yourself in the presence of another person a need for help for yourself or a loved one can be powerfully beneficial. But clearly something wonderful is happening during Communion and our Worship Service in general, and we often experience that something similarly special occurs when a need for help is expressed and, in that spirit and in the midst of worship, help is offered.
For more information, please contact Tom Hebert, Marny Helfrich, or Peter Plocki, leaders of the Healing Prayer Ministry.
