June 26, 2009
Written by W. Evan Golder

One of the joys of being in a large group of Christians, such as at a General Synod, is the group singing.

Thursday evening's Service of Healing, Prayer and Praise more than met that expectation. With voices robust, joyful and powerful, more than 250 persons gathered in the Pantlind Ballroom of the Amway Grand Hotel for this pre-Synod worship event to praise God and "make a joyful noise unto the Lord."

The service was sponsored by a variety of UCC groups: Justice and Witness Ministries; the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns; the Urban Ministries Network; the Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Team of Local Church Ministries; the Council for American Indian Ministry; Pacific Islander and Asian-American Ministries; United Black Christians; and Ministers for Racial, Social and Economic Justice.

In a service of healing that asked, "Is it well with your soul?" one of the featured hymns was When Peace, like a River (All is well). Others included In the Midst of New Dimensions, We have Come Into This House and We Are Not our Own.

Longtime Synod favorite the Rev. Yvonne Delk led the prayers of the people, with participants invited to name concerns and issues from their lives.

A highlight of the evening was a service of healing led by the Rev. Ruth Garwood and Charlene J. Smith. With the music of There is a Balm in Gilead as a backdrop, members of the congregation moved to a half-dozen stations in the ballroom. There they shared God's healing power through being anointed with oil, the laying on of hands, and spoken words of prayer, all with the harmonies and rhythms of music in the background.

Prayerfully, pensively and hopefully, the people came forward.

Some carried small children, some held hands with their partners, some folded their hands in prayer.

Some came in wheelchairs, some on crutches.

But most just came, seeking healing with no visible evidence of their invisible hurts and pains. Perhaps they sought healing from the heartbreak of betrayal, or the loneliness of loss, the despair of failure, or the discouragement of unrealized hopes.

In any case, in the words of one of the evening prayers, they came giving thanks to God "for the many ways in which you move in our midst, touching our brokenness, healing our pain, replenishing our spirit and opening our lives to new possibilities."

The service concluded with the sacrament of Holy Communion, celebrated by the Rev. John Thomas and the Rev. Linda Jaramillo.

United Church of Christ News Service