An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

The healing services also include focused prayer for healing. In COGIC, prayer forhealing is ad-hoc and unorganized, this is the result of the Pentecostal belief inspontaneous prompting of the Holy Spirit to pray for specific situations.Lucas does not explicitly contrast ritualistic approaches with the Pentecostal style ofservices for prayer and healing. He believes that it is wise to choose a method to conducthealing services which acknowledges that people respond to familiar rituals. People may,however, also respond favourably to change in rituals if the purpose is explained andthere is a good reason for the change. For example if there is a well known healer orminister with a different approach people often welcome the change especially if theresults are positive and identified in reports of testimonies of healing.Both COGIC and URC, however, accompany prayer for healing with the „laying on ofhands‟ and both churches may hold hands and pray as a team during the service. TheURC ministers pray alone, with the leadership team members and the congregation insilent agreement, whilst COGIC will pray in Pentecostal style where the leadership teamor the whole congregation prays together at the same time to illustrate theirunderstanding of the downpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.In the URC, music and songs are chosen before the service and these are sung atappropriate places in the order of the service. A musician may choose a prayer song orrefrain that is appropriate at the time. During the „laying on of hands‟ (therapeutic touch)there may be an appropriate refrain that has been chosen before the service or may bechosen at the beginning of the laying of hands by the musician who is in tune with thespirit of the service. In COGIC the songs, except those scheduled for the choir or the254