Breckenridge Texan

Rev. Otho Noggle rubs olive oil on the hand of an SMH employee  on Monday.

Employees of Stephens Memorial Hospital gathered for a prayer circle on Monday morning at the hospital’s helicopter landing pad.

During the service, Rev. Otho Noggle stood inside the circle and talked about the role the olive tree in the Bible and the history of the healing properties of olive oil.

Noggle then performed an “Anointing of the Hands with Virgin Olive Oil” ceremony. He took a small bottle of olive oil and walked around to each person in the circle and poured a small amount of the oil on their hands and rubbed it in. He then closed the ceremony with a prayer.

The ceremony has been held at the hospital’s helipad for the past several years, Noggle said.

Story and photos by Tony Pilkington /Breckenridge Texan

Rev. Otho Noggle pours virgin olive oil on Dr. Kelli Windsor’s hands during an Anointing of the Hands ceremony during a prayer circle at Stephens Memorial Hospital on Monday.

Cutline, top photo: Rev. Otho Noggle leads a prayer circle with Stephens Memorial Hospital staff following the Anointing of the Hands ceremony held at the hospital’s helipad on Monday.