The Christian Church from its inception has encouraged healing prayer with laying on hands and anointing with oil as a way of ministering to people who have sickness. Over the centuries this ministry has ebbed and flowed for various reasons. The Anglican Church worldwide encourages the practice with safeguards designed to protect those being prayed for and to ensure that the ministry is offered safely and professionally. Normally this means that ordained clergy and licensed lay people oversee the ministry.
​
The Church takes as its mandate to offer healing prayer ministry from the Bible, especially the New Testament. 
​

• A key text about healing ministry is in the letter of St. James chapter 5 verses 13-16 which talks about the prayer of faith,

​

• When Jesus Sent Out Seventy-Two of his disciples to minister - the Gospel of Luke chapter 10 verses 8,9 - he said,

It is with sadness that we farewelled Bill recently and we especially extend our condolences to Dawn his wife who also worshipped with him at St Anne's. Rest in peace our dear brother in Christ.

Priest in Charge Terry with his wife Margaret have recently returned from holiday in Europe and the UK. Sadly, they were absent when Bill died and return with a deep sense of loss at his passing. Their time away included Retreat time at the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and with the Sisters of the Order of the Holy Paraclete at St Hilda's Priory, Whitby. At both these places they connected with our Celtic Heritage, the amazing devotion of saints from 7th & 8th centuries of the Christian era, and the beauty and ruggedness of the North east England coastline.

In Terry's absence, Deacon the Reverend Rochelle Grace oversaw St Anne's Parish ministries and life. We are deeply indebted to her loving leadership and rejoice with her now as she proceeds to ordination as a Priest in the Church early next year.

On Sunday 29th September we worshipped joyfully at St Christopher's, Tawa in a combined service with people from the Parishes of the Porirua Anglican Cluster - Pauatahanui, Whitby, Titahi Bay, Porirua and Tawa.

Last Sunday (16 Oct) saw a full church at St Anne's and we had an intimation that we are moving into a season of Prayer. Last Friday we celebrated St Luke's Day with healing services in St Anne's that gave rise to testimonies to healing in Church on Sunday.

From  Wednesday 30th October we are scheduling an additional prayer service weekly 2-3pm Wednesdays in St Anne's. While we will always pray for particular personal needs as they come to our notice; we will be praying for the development of the Porirua Anglican Churches. As we move towards the end of 2019 and anticipate the new year we live with a deep sense that God has something new for us. We are keen to discern what that is and what is required of us. Whether or not you can come regularly to our weekly prayer meets, please do pray with us and feed back to us your discernment....

We congratulate those who have been elected to the Porirua City Council including new mayor Anita Baker and prayerfully commend them to God's blessing and wisdom.

And as we go to Press we have just received news that the Reverend Peter Watson vicar of Pauatahanui Parish has just been appointed to St Matthew's in Masterton beginning in the new year. Congratulations Peter; commiserations Pauatahanui.

Josephine Olsen speaking at the commencement of the Oasis Community Cafe Christmas Lunch last Thursday. Trust Board member Pusa Finau offered a welcome and Mayor Mike Tana and Terry Alve added words of welcome. This 'Oasis' offers a valuable service in the East with love building healing community. Please pray for Josephine and the team as they serve in Porirua.