Thoughts on Healing

Jesus Heals a Child

Circle _________, Gracious God,

keep protection near and danger afar.

Circle __________, Healing God,

keep hope within, keep despair without.

Circle ____________, Caring God,

keep light near, and darkness afar.

Circle __________, God,

keep peace within, and anxiety without.

May God, Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer

shield ___________on every side. Amen.
 Caim Prayer


Yesterday someone I appreciated very much during life in a congregation I served contacted me asking about a prayer I had once shared during worship. It was for healing, although as he described the prayer it was more about God's active presence in our lives in times of challenge than of the "God's magic wand" variety. The details were vague enough that I wasn't sure which direction to look but I shared a "caim" or protection prayer I've used with people on many occasions through the decades.


It turned out that this morning our pastor (son Isaac) began a summer series with the first subject being healing. The passages from older and newer testaments were both about healing (Elijah heals a child, Jesus heals a child) and he took a thoughtful and open approach to what can be a difficult subject. Today charlatans can find a wide audience of vulnerable people through television and the internet, holding out promises of healing they can't keep.

At the same time, our Judeo-Christian tradition has assumed that God is actively healing in the world and that Jesus was a healer, changing people in body, mind and spirit. It's only recently that we've concluded that those people of faith who address healing are suspect and that medical science is the only true source of healing and curing.

The United Church has never taken a razzle-dazzle approach to healing and we encourage our members to avail themselves of medical avenues to restored health. Yet we have always prayed for the healing of our members as well. I've been part of a cluster of congregations which had regular services for healing and the excellent UCC resource called Celebrate God's Presence has outlines and specific prayers for healing which are theologically and biblically sound.

In every congregation I served, and now as a member of Trenton United, folk have sought prayer and given testimony to God's activity in their lives. It seems to me that we need to do more of this if we have any hope of Christ's family of faith continuing as a living presence in our communities.

Comments?

Christ our Lord,

long ago in Galilee

many who were sick and suffering

needed friends to bring them to your side.

Confident of your goodness,

we now bring to you

those who need your healing touch.

 We name before you

those who are ill in body:

whose illness is long, or painful,

or difficult to cure;

who suffer restless days and sleepless nights.

(names of particular individuals may be said aloud)

Jesus Christ, lover of all...

 

We name before you

those who are troubled in mind,

distressed by the past,

or dreading the future;

those who are trapped

and cast down by fear.

(names of particular individuals may be said aloud)

Jesus Christ, lover of all...

from a prayer in Celebrate God's Presence