The Blessing of the Animals

On Sunday, October 5, 2008, we commemorated Saint Francis of Assisi with our first annual service of the Blessing of the Animals. Almost eighty humans, both regular members of the congregation and neighbours of the church, came with their wonderful creatures great and small. Although we were mostly dogs—ranging from small toys to two Great Danes—we were blessed with the presence of a couple of cats, a pair of turtles, some compost worms, and a hedgehog. Everyone, including the animals, behaved wonderfully! We hope you will join us at next year’s Blessing on Sunday, October 4, at 4 p.m., if not before.

Here are some wonderful photos of the service and of our friends:

Here are close-ups of some of our animal friends:

Photos by Colin Everett, Alison Howard-Levy, and Jacalyn Blume

Andy, the Rector’s dog, hopes you will ...

In the Church on Sunday, October 5, 2008, at 4 p.m. we will celebrate our first annual service of the Blessing of the Animals in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. This liturgy is an expression of God’s love for all Creation and of his call to us to care for it.

We hope that you will bring any and all creatures who share their lives with you. Dogs and cats, birds and reptiles, fish and hamsters, and all the ones too numerous to name are all welcome.

Carl Weidemeyer-Worpswede, Saint Francis instructs the Wolf, woodcut, 1911.