"Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective."
    (James 5:13-16)

The Healing Rail has grown into an integral part of our Sunday morning worship. The Healing Prayer Team has undergone a year-long training, discernment and apprenticeship, under the direction of the clergy, before being commissioned to this Lay Ministry. Below is an excerpt-summary of the Customary − the principles and practices that guide how the Healing Team serves the parish community:

Personal Prayer Life − first and foremost, the Healing Team is commissioned to a ministry of prayer. As part of corporate worship, prayers for healing are offered, but these must be supported by a personal prayer life.

Confidentiality − confidentiality is of utmost importance in this ministry. Whatever is heard at the rail is between the intercessor and God. Although some traditions use "soaking prayer," where members of the congregation join in, our tradition at St. Augustine's is to honor confidentiality and keep the prayer between the petitioner and the member of the healing team. To enable this confidentiality, the healing team member will not bring it up to you later, i.e.: How is your leg healing?" Advice, counseling or other form of pastoral care is handled by the clergy.

Prayerful Listening − When someone kneels, we ask, "May I pray with you? Do you have a particular prayer request?" This is NOT a time for conversation. We simply LISTEN, and guide the person towards prayer.

Anointing and Laying on Hands − We ask permission to anoint. Anointing is done with the thumb dipped in oil blessed by the Bishop, making the sign of the cross on the individual's forehead, followed by the laying on of hands, on the person's head or shoulders. The focus must clearly by on God's action and not our own.

Sacramental Anointing and Laying on of Hands − Anointing provides a vivid, sacramental expression of God's love in time of sickness or pain of any sort. It is helpful at the onset of an illness, as well as in times of crisis. The New Testament makes it clear that the anointing of the sick accompanied by prayer was used for healing. The purpose is to convey healing in all sickness.

The ritual gesture of the laying-on of hands has a long and venerable history. In Numbers 8:10, we see the people of Israel, at Moses' direction, laying hands upon the Levites as a gesture of purification and blessing. Jesus often laid his hands upon the sick. This is a symbol conveying God's power. Among the gifts received from God by this means is that of healing.

Post-Communion Prayer − Prayer is concluded by the end of the post-communion prayer.

Intercession − Lastly, the healing team members are all mindful that they are simply the intercessor and Jesus is the healer.

A final reflection about the healing rail: "it is easy to tell people that you are feeling tense. It is not as easy to tell … about the great ache in your heart because a relationship with your husband or wife or partner, son, daughter or friend has fallen apart at the seams. Nor is it easy to talk of your fears − losing your job, the operation you face, losing your mother who is dying. But when you do so and turn with hope to God and the [intercessory] prayers of others, a slow inner transformation begins that never fails to surprise people …"*