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These pictures are
of a special service held to bless the beasts in
the Fall of 2006. This took place in the
back of the church building. The following
are words from The Rev. Susan Quinn Bryan
regarding the purpose of holding this service.
When I was first given a copy of Mt. Auburn’s
picture directory, I couldn’t help but notice
that a number of pets are in the family
pictures. The more I have come to know you, the
more impressed I have been with your love for
all God’s critters.
Long before the split that created the
Protestant church, lived a man who shared that
love for all creation, St. Francis of Assisi.
Francis was born in Assisi in Umbria in 1181 or
1182 and died there Oct 3, 1226.
Leonard Foley, O.F.M. says of him: “Francis
of Assisi was a poor little man who astounded
and inspired the Church by taking the gospel
literally—not in a narrow fundamentalist sense,
but by actually following all that Jesus said
and did, joyfully, without limit and without a
mite of self-importance.”
Francis founded the Franciscan Order, an order
committed to simplicity and care of all
creation. He became the patron saint of animals
and the environment. Francis’ legacy to the
whole church was care for the planet and taking
seriously what it means to be related to all
creation, and our call to be stewards of all
God’s world. In our day and time, the message
of Francis may be needed more than ever. So,
on Saturday, September 30, 2006, at 11 am, we
are going to have an outdoor service: a Blessing
of the Beasts.
While Presbyterians don’t usually do ‘blessings’
we can certainly thank God for the blessings our
beloved pets have been to us, and we can show
our concern for all of God’s creatures. Jesus
taught us that God knew and cared when even a
sparrow fell, so surely God wants us to be
concerned with the welfare of all the birds of
the air, and beasts of the land, and those who
swim in the oceans.
Webmaster's
Note: Special thanks to Gordon
DeVinney for providing these pictures.
These are posted with permission of the
participants.
If you desire to
view a specific picture in a larger size, click Hi-Res (high
resolution around 2MB - 4MB) link.
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