19.06.2017
God Sees Us Exactly As We Are – Church’s Ministry of Healing Service
The Church’s Ministry of Healing: Ireland held their annual service of Thanksgiving with Holy Communion and prayers for healing in Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday afternoon (June 17). The service was celebrated by the Revd Dr Christine O’Dowd–Smyth and the preacher was Canon Dr Daniel Nuzum.
2017 marks the 85th anniversary of the Church’s Ministry of Healing in Ireland. The organisations exists to practice and promote Christ’s example of wellbeing, compassion, forgiveness and reconciliation in order to nurture inward peace.
Drawing on the Gospel reading [Mark: 5:25–34] Canon Nuzum asked the congregation to imagine how the woman with the flow of blood felt, deemed unclean by society and by her faith.
He said it could be very hard to share our vulnerabilities with others and it took courage to reveal to others who we really are. “We wear masks which service us as props and structures as we make our way through life,” he commented. “But to this service of thanksgiving, wholeness and healing we come as we are because God sees exactly who we are. He sees us in our private space, when we’re feeling vulnerable.”
Canon Nuzum urged the congregation to open their real selves to God and offer their weaknesses and strengths to God. Sharing our vulnerabilities would open up possibilities, he added pointing out that the woman had shared her vulnerability and possibilities were opened for her as Jesus told her: “Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace, and be healed of your disease”
During the service there was an opportunity to receive prayer and laying on of hands.