Joining Hands and Hearts in Prayer

At our church, there is a longtime tradition of joining hands and singing the "Lord's Prayer - Our Father."  When I attend the early Rite I and more traditional service, the service does not embrace this tradition.  And I really miss it.  In a world where we are divided by so many factors, the opportunity to join hands, hearts and voices in prayer is rare and precious. 

For many of our elderly members who live alone, this is a rare and blessed opportunity to touch and be touched.  There are a countless physical, emotional and neurological benefits of human touch.  As we age and live increasingly solitary lives, our human need for contact is often suppressed and ignored. 

The release of oxytocin is released as the cuddle hormone and the stress hormone cortisol is reduced as well as blood pressure and slowing the heart rate.