I am using this picture of the Primate and me taken earlier in 2008 because St. Stephen's Anglican Church, James Smith Reserve is in the background. The gentleman in the smaller right hand picture is Rev. Wilfred Sanderson, pastor St. Stephen's Anglican Church.Four members of our Order of St. Luke P.A. Chapter left for James Smith Reserve from St. George's at 4:30 pm, with the assumption that the Healing Service was scheduled to begin at 6:00 pm. We were travelling in Stella's minivan and we all decided that we would go on the pavement past Kinistino rather than travelling on the Coxby Road. We guessed at what road to turn north on to go to James Smith, but the ladies thought we needed to turn east a few kms up the road. That proved to be the wrong decision and we became hopelessly lost. After asking directions a couple of times and having to alter course according to their instructions we finally made it to the main community of James Smith. Kathleen and I went into the Service Station to ask how to proceed to the church. We followed the latest instructions and soon after arrived at St. Stephen's Church assuming we were late, only to meet with Rev. Wilfred & Theresa Sanderson only to learn that he has arranged for the Service to begin at 7:00 pm. So we had lots of time to set up the Service.
A good crowd showed up by the time the Service was to begin. The Communion Service was a normal BCP Service using the readings to commemorate St. Mark the Evangelist. Wilfred celebrated with Theresa assisting. I read an introduction to Kingdom Healing by Rev. Mike Endicott which appeared in the March 2008 issue of the Sharing Magazine. I was really impressed with the last hymn Bill had selected for us to sing. I had not heard it before. It was hymn in the evening section of the blue hymnal with a strong theme of salvation and healing. The words of the hymn confirmed the words I had read from Mike Endicott's article.
At the conclusion of the Communion Service, I decided that we would have 2 prayer stations with Andrea, Stella & Kathleen in the upper section at the front of the church and Wilfred and I would at the station in front of the pews. Everything went well with a good response of people coming forward for prayer for themselves a family member. There was even a young girl who came forward to ask pray for her Dad. The last person was a young man with a troubled past. The ladies had finished ministering at their station and Andrea asked if she could join us. The Holy Spirit was speaking clearly to Andrea and she asked if she could ask the young man a question. I, of course, said Yes. She asked him if he remember anything happening to him when he was 4 years old. He said to me - Yes, his brother had pushed him down a set of stairs. Andrea had clearly received a word of knowledge. Thank God for her boldness and obedience to present that word. It changed the direction of prayer for this young man and definitely left an impression with Rev. Wilfred Sanderson.
I made a special point to exhort Bill, another Lay Reader, who played the organ during the Service and the Prayer Session. I told him he had a special ministry as organist and it played an important part in the Service.
After the Healing Prayer Session, we were treated to a feast of food before going home. We were given clear directions on how to proceed home. Just stay on the road heading south until we came to the Highway. We eventually found the highway just as they promised and realized it was the same road that we had started off on when we had left the highway on our way to the Reserve. We should have kept going North instead of turning east. We will not make the same mistake twice. We arrived at St. George's at 11:30 pm and Stella still had to drive home to MacDowell area.
No comments:
Post a Comment