BROOKINGS – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will hold a Blessing of the Animals ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, in the courtyard Sixth Street and Eighth Avenue. The Rev. Larry Ort will conduct the informal, short service.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
BROOKINGS – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will hold a Blessing of the Animals ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, in the courtyard Sixth Street and Eighth Avenue. The Rev. Larry Ort will conduct the informal, short service.
The service includes a collect, biblical readings, the prayer of St. Francis, and a blessing of each pet and owner as follows:
“(Pet name) may you be blessed in the name of God who created you and may you and (owner’s name) enjoy life together with our God.”
The focus of the service is on pets and companion animals. The message is to take care of them as you would take care of yourself. Show gratitude; they are gifts from God.
Ort says “I always enjoy the Blessing of the Animals! Our pets are such faithful companions; they bring us so much joy” said Ort. This year, Ort will also remember those companion animals that have recently died.
Churches of all denominations hold an animal blessing service to celebrate what St. Francis of Assisi started almost 800 years ago. St. Francis introduced the idea that human beings are only one of a myriad of creations of God and all are blessed in God’s eyes. Today, St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment.
Theologians say that this broader idea is what St Francis had in mind. St Francis emphasized that creation includes more than humankind and preached that humans and creatures are in the same relationship with God. He found some reflection of the Divine in all created things.
At St. Paul’s, the Blessing of the Animals Service includes thoughts about the standing of animals in the natural world. Chuck Berry, chair of St Paul’s Natural Cathedral Committee, said “There is frequent news that the Earth is losing animal and plant species, and recent news that the populations of many song birds have declined greatly. It is good that religions begin to focus not only on pets but on all animals, and on our stewardship of all creatures on Earth.”
St, Paul’s Natural Cathedral Committee has endorsed the idea that we are accountable for the survival of all parts of the Earth community, especially “the least of them” who are most endangered. When we discuss saving a rare species that seems to have no value, it gives us an opportunity to dig deeper into our own values and motivations.
St. Paul’s was established in Brookings in 1893 and became a parish in 1952. Sunday services are held at 10 a.m.; weekly suppers and youth education are regularly held on Wednesday. The church is located at 726 Sixth Street. For more information, call 692-2617.
