Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2010 10:50:14 GMT -5
A friend named Linda Keeter asked me to post this.
Our church, Christ Episcopal Church, in Walnut Cove, NC will have a Blessing of the Animals Service & Pet Fair on October 9th, 10:00 am-12 noon. It is a wonderful Christian service completely centered around animals, in observance of St. Francis of Assisi Day (some more info posted below). One of our vestry members is a writer for the local news and will be coordinating pre-event articles and other PR activities. We are a small church, but this is one of our biggest annual events. I could only dream that you or one of your miniature horse friends might consider coming with some those gorgeous equines! It certainly could never hurt to have the horses blessed and it would be such a wonderful draw for our event. Last year some horses came. There is a large parking lot just a block down where they unloaded and they were able to parade up the street and into the Blessing area. I would so appreciate it if you would pass this along to some folks who share your passion who might be within a reasonable distance to come.
Here is a link to a neat slideshow from last year’s event. www.slideshare.net/secret/wH9MV638cydBpe This can also be accessed from our Links list on our church Facebook page: www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Walnut-Cove-NC/Christ-Episcopal-Church-Walnut-Cove-NC/321507573080
If anyone is interested in committing to attend, I would love to pass their name and contact info along to our writer to be interviewed for the pre-event news piece.
Blessings to you!
Linda Keeter
336 595 4477
keeter@triad.rr.com
THE BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
On the lawn of CHRIST CHURCH in Walnut Cove on October 9th at 10:00 AM.
412 Summit Street (up the hill behind First Citizens bank)
Proceeds of pet food donations and sales will benefit local rescues and feed pets of the locally unemployed. So come out with your pet for a few hours of bonding through prayers and blessings and bring a donation of good quality pet food in honor of the day!
Browse the Pet Fair following the service. Talk with pet care professionals, learn about careers in pet care, meet with local rescue and Humane Society personnel, and pick up a treat or two!
It is an annual service that celebrates God's creatures that you won't want to miss!
Guest Priest, Reverend Jim Prevatt will officiate.
Information and Guidelines for the Service:
Although the Blessing of the Animals began as an Anglican event, it is observed by many denominations of people and pets nowadays. Episcopalians are particularly known for their pet-friendly values and preservation of creation. All pets and their parents in the community are welcome and encouraged to participate. For the safety and comfort of everyone, all animals must be humanely restrained, dogs on leashes and cats in carriers. In addition, we ask that pets who are aggressive toward other pets or people not attend. If a pet is not comfortable in public or if a pet is sick, the owner may bring a photograph for prayers. Pooper scooper materials will be made available, and of course, we ask that everyone respect the National Historic Registered church grounds of Christ Church by keeping pets off landscaped areas.
Pets and their parents will gather on the front lawn for the blessing (we have a rain plan) and all participants will receive a service guide so they can follow along. We expect quite a variety of pets! Guest priest, Father Jim Prevatt, will officiate. He is a wonderful speaker and has led many Blessings of the Animals over his years of service. The service itself is short, only about 15-20 minutes and then he will touch and bless (pray over) each individual animal. Following the Blessing Service, we will have a small pet fair with interesting informational booths and some food collection points.
About Blessing of the Animals!
As autumn arrives, people in various places may notice something odd. A procession of animals, everything from dogs and cats to hamsters and even horses, is led to churches for a special ceremony called the Blessing of The Animals.
This custom is conducted in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures. Francis, the Patron Saint of Animals and Ecology, whose feast day is October 4th, loved the larks flying about his hilltop town. He and his early brothers, staying in a small hovel, allowed themselves to be displaced by a donkey. Though never ordained, Francis' impact on religious life since his times has been enormous. Probably no saint has affected so many in so many different ways as the gentle Saint of Assisi who, born to wealth, devoted his life to poverty, concern for the poor and the sick, and so delighted in God's works as revealed in nature. Francis wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God’s living things. “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.”
The bond between person and pet is like no other relationship, because the communication between fellow creatures is at its most basic. Eye-to-eye, a man and his dog, or a woman and her cat, are two creatures of love.
No wonder people enjoy the opportunity to take their animal companions to church for a special blessing. Church is the place where the bond of creation is celebrated. --Kevin Mackin, O.F.M.
"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who deal likewise with their fellow men." –St. Francis of Assisi
What could be better for bonding with your pet than attending a worship service together!
We look forward to seeing all our furred and feathered friends, along with their humans, at Christ Church on Saturday, October9th.
Our church, Christ Episcopal Church, in Walnut Cove, NC will have a Blessing of the Animals Service & Pet Fair on October 9th, 10:00 am-12 noon. It is a wonderful Christian service completely centered around animals, in observance of St. Francis of Assisi Day (some more info posted below). One of our vestry members is a writer for the local news and will be coordinating pre-event articles and other PR activities. We are a small church, but this is one of our biggest annual events. I could only dream that you or one of your miniature horse friends might consider coming with some those gorgeous equines! It certainly could never hurt to have the horses blessed and it would be such a wonderful draw for our event. Last year some horses came. There is a large parking lot just a block down where they unloaded and they were able to parade up the street and into the Blessing area. I would so appreciate it if you would pass this along to some folks who share your passion who might be within a reasonable distance to come.
Here is a link to a neat slideshow from last year’s event. www.slideshare.net/secret/wH9MV638cydBpe This can also be accessed from our Links list on our church Facebook page: www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Walnut-Cove-NC/Christ-Episcopal-Church-Walnut-Cove-NC/321507573080
If anyone is interested in committing to attend, I would love to pass their name and contact info along to our writer to be interviewed for the pre-event news piece.
Blessings to you!
Linda Keeter
336 595 4477
keeter@triad.rr.com
THE BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
On the lawn of CHRIST CHURCH in Walnut Cove on October 9th at 10:00 AM.
412 Summit Street (up the hill behind First Citizens bank)
Proceeds of pet food donations and sales will benefit local rescues and feed pets of the locally unemployed. So come out with your pet for a few hours of bonding through prayers and blessings and bring a donation of good quality pet food in honor of the day!
Browse the Pet Fair following the service. Talk with pet care professionals, learn about careers in pet care, meet with local rescue and Humane Society personnel, and pick up a treat or two!
It is an annual service that celebrates God's creatures that you won't want to miss!
Guest Priest, Reverend Jim Prevatt will officiate.
Information and Guidelines for the Service:
Although the Blessing of the Animals began as an Anglican event, it is observed by many denominations of people and pets nowadays. Episcopalians are particularly known for their pet-friendly values and preservation of creation. All pets and their parents in the community are welcome and encouraged to participate. For the safety and comfort of everyone, all animals must be humanely restrained, dogs on leashes and cats in carriers. In addition, we ask that pets who are aggressive toward other pets or people not attend. If a pet is not comfortable in public or if a pet is sick, the owner may bring a photograph for prayers. Pooper scooper materials will be made available, and of course, we ask that everyone respect the National Historic Registered church grounds of Christ Church by keeping pets off landscaped areas.
Pets and their parents will gather on the front lawn for the blessing (we have a rain plan) and all participants will receive a service guide so they can follow along. We expect quite a variety of pets! Guest priest, Father Jim Prevatt, will officiate. He is a wonderful speaker and has led many Blessings of the Animals over his years of service. The service itself is short, only about 15-20 minutes and then he will touch and bless (pray over) each individual animal. Following the Blessing Service, we will have a small pet fair with interesting informational booths and some food collection points.
About Blessing of the Animals!
As autumn arrives, people in various places may notice something odd. A procession of animals, everything from dogs and cats to hamsters and even horses, is led to churches for a special ceremony called the Blessing of The Animals.
This custom is conducted in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures. Francis, the Patron Saint of Animals and Ecology, whose feast day is October 4th, loved the larks flying about his hilltop town. He and his early brothers, staying in a small hovel, allowed themselves to be displaced by a donkey. Though never ordained, Francis' impact on religious life since his times has been enormous. Probably no saint has affected so many in so many different ways as the gentle Saint of Assisi who, born to wealth, devoted his life to poverty, concern for the poor and the sick, and so delighted in God's works as revealed in nature. Francis wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God’s living things. “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.”
The bond between person and pet is like no other relationship, because the communication between fellow creatures is at its most basic. Eye-to-eye, a man and his dog, or a woman and her cat, are two creatures of love.
No wonder people enjoy the opportunity to take their animal companions to church for a special blessing. Church is the place where the bond of creation is celebrated. --Kevin Mackin, O.F.M.
"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who deal likewise with their fellow men." –St. Francis of Assisi
What could be better for bonding with your pet than attending a worship service together!
We look forward to seeing all our furred and feathered friends, along with their humans, at Christ Church on Saturday, October9th.