23.10.2019
‘Reach Out in Love’ – Report of Ministry of Healing to Diocesan Synod
“God’s longing for wholeness and healing permeates the whole of creation,” the Revd Bruce Hayes said in proposing the report of the Church’s Ministry of Healing at Synod.
He said that people’s journeys were not always straight forward but the gift of healing meant that their brokenness could be made whole, within themselves or in relationships.
It is not just bodies or minds, spirits or relationships that were broken, he added. “Healing goes beyond these. We live in wounded communities with broken social systems, we witness unfair, oppressive, and violent relations between peoples and nations. An invasion being casually announced on the infamous twitter account of US President, sees the whole Kurdish people again vulnerable to the whims of a major western power, whilst all the time the smallest and the weakest suffer, making a mockery of what this world is supposed to be about,” he said.
But, he stated, when we reach out in love and act for justice we participate in the ever flowing stream of God’s desire for healing and wholeness for everyone and for creation.
Speaking to the report, the Revd Stephen Farrell (Zion) said that the Church of Ireland Safeguarding Officer had organised an event called ‘Safe Talk’ encourage people to provide a listening ear to people who may be thinking of suicide. He highlighted clues and signs to look out for in those who may have suicidal thoughts. Mr Farrell hoped this event could be rolled out in parishes and schools.
David Whyte (Rathfarnham) encouraged people to become intercessors explaining that it is a great encouragement to people to know they are being prayed for and it also benefits the intercessor.
Barbara O’Callaghan (Clondalkin) encouraged parishes to hold healing services and the Revd Niall Stratford (Narraghmore) added that the Book of Common Prayer had an excellent Service of Wholeness and Healing.