Creatures Great and Small Were Blessed

It wasn’t a dark and stormy night, but it was a very gray and rainy afternoon. However, unpleasant weather didn’t keep animal lovers from attending the Blessing of the Animals on October 4. Cats in carriers, dogs small and huge on leashes, fish in their safe bowl and treasured stuffed animal friends were brought by their owners to be blessed in celebration of St. Francis of Assisi. The service celebrated the companionship and love God shows us through creation and our animal companions.

Approximately 100 animals received individual blessings from the clergy and certificates, St. Francis medals and blessing cards as mementoes of the service. Animal lovers are generous people and $552 was donated to assist the work of several animal rescue groups.

The Blessing of the Animals was a success because of the cooperation of several church and school groups. Many thanks to the volunteers from the EYC and Claire and Jake Epperson who assisted during the service, to the children’s Sunday School class and Kathy Stubblefield for making the blessing cards, to Paula Aymett who assisted with publicity, planning, procuring food treat bags from Three Dog Bakery, and Dr. Jen Clay for animal gift bags. Grace-St. Luke’s School students in Carol Buchman’s 1st thru 4th grade art classes made pet posters which decorated the church hallways prior to the event.