PRAYER
MINISTRY
The
Prayer Team hosts two Prayer & Healing Services every month. These
are typically held on the second Sunday of the month at 12:30 in
Heritage Hall (older sanctuary) and on the third Thursday of the
month at 7:00 (same location). Occasionally, these dates occur
during the same week. In that case, the Prayer
& Healing Services Schedule
is
adjusted to allow several weeks between services.
Our mission and purpose is driven by
scripture found in the Book of James, Chapter 5, verse's 13 - 16.
13Is
any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing
songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of
the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the
Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well;
the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so
that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and
effective.
In addition to these services, we often
meet individuals/families for private anointing services. These are
sometimes at the church and often in their homes. Please schedule these
through Roger Wright at the church office. We also conduct a monthly
service of prayer, communion and song at Sycamore Glen Retirement
Village.
Grant
Dunigan
Coordinator
of Prayer Ministry
PRAYER
SHAWL MINISTRY
"Shawls….made
for century's universal and embracing, symbolic of an inclusive,
unconditionally loving God.
They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter and
beautify.
Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as
if given wings to fly above their troubles."
In
1998, Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates of the 1997 Women's
Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Harford, Connecticut, gave
birth to a ministry as a result of their experience in this program of applied
Feminist Spirituality under the direction of Professor Miriam Therese Winter,
MMS.
Care and the love of knitting have been combined into a prayerful
ministry that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace.
Many blessing are knitted into every shawl.
Whether
they are called: "Prayer
Shawls," "Comfort Shawls," "Peace Shawls," or "Mantles," just to
name a few, the knitter begins each shawl with prayers and blessings for the
recipient. Intentions are continued
throughout the creating of the shawl. When
the shawl is completed it is offered a final ritual before being sent along its
way. Some recipients have continued
the kindness by making one themselves and passing it on to someone in need.
Thus, the blessing is rippled from person to person, with both the giver
and the receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering
God!
If
you would like to knit or crochet a shawl, contact Betty Burgess at
937-433-6481.
CARE
& VISITATION MINISTRY
The primary purpose of the Serenity Ministries Care and Visitation Ministry is to provide service to others in the church and the community. The objective is to identify and meet the specific needs of people for assistance and support to deal with their life situations following the examples of Jesus.
