Unexpected Anointing

Twice before I have been anointed for healing since my cancer diagnosis in September of 2004. The first was an amazing pre-surgery service in the prayer chapel at the hospital in Illinois early in the morning on the October 2004 day of my initial surgery, with my family from University Place Christian Church. It was an extremely personal and significant time of fellowship and dedication where the pastor, John Faircloth, anointed my head with oil, as well the palms of my hands.

The second time was last summer at Concordia College where, motivated by the very real concern of a recurrence, I requested the chaplain to hold a service of healing for me. Fellow students and faculty came together for a more formal time of prayer and petition, offering support with music and presence while the Lutheran chaplain anointed me for healing. The presence of God was there, breathing life and light.

Today, at the United Methodist Church of North Chili, where I am ministering as choir director, the pastor preached on the healing of the ten lepers. She invited us to the prayer rail to bring our requests for healing for ourselves and our loved ones, not something common for Methodists. A number of us responded and knelt together at the altar.

I did not realize she was going to anoint us, but she gently asked each one if we wanted to be anointed for healing. I said yes - of course! She gently made the sign of the cross with the anointing oil on my forehead and spoke God's healing over me - not even knowing what my request was about.

I was surprised and touched. By her compassion, by her obedience to God to step out and offer something new to the congregation, by the response of other women at the altar, by the tears in others eyes as God's love reached them, by the lack of my own tears for myself as I looked about the congregation and saw the desire in so many to be there with us, but they were afraid to come.

Afraid to make a spectacle of themselves, afraid to admit that they needed a touch from God, that they couldn't make health happen on their own, that their faith in medicine felt contradictory to the message of God's willingness and ability to heal. We should be offering to lift people to God for healing much much more often.

We should hear the word of God, we should know His heart towards us. We should offer anointing for healing regularly. Regularly. So many are sick. So many have serious illnesses. So many are dying.

I am glad the pastor invited us to dine at Christ's table, to receive of God's gifts. I have now experienced the anointing from the Disciples of Christ for just myself in a very private and personal way; from the Lutherans in a more formal but no less caring anointing; from the Methodists in an open and non personal service.

In all three I have felt the presence of God, understood His love better, been wrapped by the family of God in support and care. I treasure these experiences. I hold on to them. I encourage you to seek them if you need a touch from God. I would be honored to participate in an anointing for you or anyone else. If you want that, let me know. I will be glad to find a way for that to happen for you. Don't be afraid. All you have to do is ask.