A healing service is one of many ‘special services’ tucked into our hymnals. Here at GLC we do them occasionally as part of our regular services when our Scripture readings refer to healing. It is different from some of the dramatic healings you may have seen in movies… where someone drops their crutches and walks, or another bodily disease is inexplicably cured. I’m not saying it can’t happen, but healing is so much more than our physical bodies. To have another person mark your hands with a cross of oil and say, ‘Receive this oil as a sign of forgiveness and healing in Jesus Christ.’ The oil connects us to our baptism and to the work of the disciples in anointing people for healing. If I’m being honest, it probably isn’t enough. We underutilize Jesus’ power to heal, reserving it for only the most challenging physical ailments. Really it can be a daily practice of remembering God makes all things new. – Pastor Trudy Stoffel
