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Anointing the sick

Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
in Ecclesiantics
I am somewhat poorly at the moment, so I called in the priest and received the Sacrament of the Sick (prayers and anointing according to James) and communion. I was a bit surprised when my wife told me that the local URC minister also anoints the sick.
So
Should I have been surprised that a nonconformist minister does something that I always assumed was a bit high up the candle? And is it common outside sacramental/liturgical churches?
I realise I am exposing the narrowness of my knowledge/experience here and I throw myself on shipmates' mercy.

Comments

  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    I’ve encountered, and been anointed myself, in Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) settings many times. There are liturgies for it, both in individual and communal contexts, in our Book of Common Worship.


  • SpikeSpike Ecclesiantics & MW Host, Admin Emeritus
    Well, it is scriptural
  • Lamb ChoppedLamb Chopped Shipmate
    And even those of us who don’t have set liturgies for it (I’m not sure if we do, we might) will simply pick up and run with the Bible passages if someone asks for it. I figure this is part of the common heritage of all Christians.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    edited June 13
    Lamb Chopped wrote: »
    And even those of us who don’t have set liturgies for it (I’m not sure if we do, we might) . . . .
    I think you’ll find it in the Lutheran Service Book: Pastoral Care Companion. :wink:

    Anointing of the sick is also provided for in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada) and in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.


  • Lamb ChoppedLamb Chopped Shipmate
    See? I knew I could count on you! :smile:
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    It's a common practice in the Church of England, too, whether done privately at home or publicly in church - Our Place has a short healing service, with anointing, on the first Sunday each month immediately after the Parish Mass.
  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    Thank you everyone. I love it when practices align in quiet ways between churches. A sure sign that things are moving in the right direction.
    I am going to be out of musical action for a couple of months, and this might mark the beginning of the end of 60 years of liturgical/musical service. Hold me in your prayers, please.
  • SojournerSojourner Shipmate
    Will be thinking of you
  • MrsBeakyMrsBeaky Shipmate
    Alan29 wrote: »
    Thank you everyone. I love it when practices align in quiet ways between churches. A sure sign that things are moving in the right direction.
    I am going to be out of musical action for a couple of months, and this might mark the beginning of the end of 60 years of liturgical/musical service. Hold me in your prayers, please.

    Yes, indeed I will
  • HeavenlyannieHeavenlyannie Shipmate
    🕯
  • NenyaNenya All Saints Host, Ecclesiantics & MW Host
    I am sorry to read this. Holding you in prayer @Alan29 .
  • ForthviewForthview Shipmate
    Holding you in prayer and will be thinking of you each time that I listen to Mozart's religious/secular music.
  • MaryLouiseMaryLouise Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    This: 'I love it when practices align in quiet ways between churches'.

    Holding you in prayer, @Alan29
  • ArethosemyfeetArethosemyfeet Shipmate, Heaven Host
    edited 10:51AM
    Sadly this is one part of the heritage of the Universal Church that the Kirk has not (per the Book of Common Order) revived. I suppose we can trust that the Spirit anoints even where the church does not.
  • ForthviewForthview Shipmate
    In the 1980s and 90s there was an annual 'Ecumenical' Pilgrimage to an old church in Haddington near Edinburgh ( St Mary's,the Lamp of the Lothians, a church which John Knox was once involved with).
    A Catholic Mass was celebrated at 12 noon followed by an ecumenical eucharist at 3pm.For the Catholic Mass the Liturgy of the Word was shared between RCs and Presbyterians with the two groups separated for the Liturgy of the Eucharist with the Catholics at one end of the church and the Presbyterians at the other.
    Between the two celebrations of the eucharist there was anointing of the sick carried out by clergy of all the denominations present, including those from the Kirk.
    Of course there were also protesters outside. led by Pastor Jack Glass. Although Pastor Glass and his people were sort of anti Catholic everything including the protests was done in good spirits.
    The pilgrimage lasted for about 20 years and brought a lot of people to Haddington but it gradually became less popular and eventually faded away.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    Alan29 wrote: »
    I am going to be out of musical action for a couple of months, and this might mark the beginning of the end of 60 years of liturgical/musical service. Hold me in your prayers, please.
    Oh, that is hard. You will indeed be in my prayers, as will those who will miss your ministry.


  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    Nick Tamen wrote: »
    Alan29 wrote: »
    I am going to be out of musical action for a couple of months, and this might mark the beginning of the end of 60 years of liturgical/musical service. Hold me in your prayers, please.
    Oh, that is hard. You will indeed be in my prayers, as will those who will miss your ministry.


    Amen to that. Hopefully, @Alan29, you will be able to resume playing in due course, on special occasions?
  • Gramps49Gramps49 Shipmate
    Yes, prayers for you, @Alan29.

    Once, I was laid up in the hospital, actually in the ICU. A priest came in to anoint a fellow patient next to me. I automatically said the prayers with the priest. The Roman Catholic and Lutheran rites are almost word for word the same.
  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    Thank you all for your kind messages. Time will tell what the future holds as it always does.
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