Animal lovers crowded into historic St. Peter’s Anglican Church Sunday, Oct. 4 for the annual Blessing of the Animals service.
Based on St. Francis of Assisi’s idea that all animals were as much God’s creation as he was himself, the members of St. Peter’s have for years extended a warm welcome at this special event to anyone who wants to bring a beloved animal.
Click the image below to access a photo gallery from the event.
Led by Rev. Deborah Rivet, who always brings her own dog, Felix, to the service, and Deacon Selinde Krayenhoff, church members organized four busy stations to offer all the blessings needed for these extra-special family members.
Dogs of all types and sizes predominated, of course, but this year owners of a couple of chickens, a cockatiel and even a farm horse joined a service that can really be described as all-inclusive and which features a song entitled All God’s Creatures Got a Place in the Choir.