The Rectory, Uffington
Dear All
It’s really rather ironic that we haven’t had any services of wholeness and healing in the group recently, because I haven’t been fit enough to take them…
I was quite surprised, when I looked back in my records, to see that we’ve been having services of wholeness and healing in church since the beginning of 2005 – I hadn’t realised it was that long. I’ve taken communion to people at home ever since I got here, of course – I can always come to see anyone who can’t get to church, just let me know – and that has often involved prayers and anointing for wholeness and healing. Healing has a long tradition in the Church, right back to New Testament times, and it's both about the dramatic and the everyday. Bible stories tell us about miraculous healings, and miracles are documented throughout the history of the church, but usually healing is about giving us the strength to cope from day to day - with illness or incapacity, with grief, with fear, with the burden of caring for someone else.
The church services we started nearly seven years ago have generally been quite small and quiet, but very much valued by those who have attended them. Until I was incapacitated, we were holding them every two or three months, usually on the fourth Sunday, and we are starting again on the 27th of this month at 6pm at Uffington. During the service, people will be invited to come forward for prayer and anointing with blessed oil – and the prayer can be for themselves or on behalf of someone else. It doesn't have to be for something major, it doesn't have to be dramatic, and it's for anyone who could do with support or wholeness in their life, for whatever reason - you might particularly think of coming if you find this a difficult time of year, and you’d like some strength to help you get through the Christmas season. All are welcome.

Yours in Christ
Carolyn Kennedy.