Our local newspaper, the "Independent Press" gave our October 7th "St. Francis Day Blessing of the Animals" quite a bit of coverage.We got smart about three years ago and started holding the service at 5 PM Sunday evening in the Garden instead of in the church at the 10 AM Service. Everybody is so much happier - pets, kids and parents.
The stole is part of The Season of Creation vestments and banners. It's a beautiful set which tells the story of creation in banners, and depicts the aspects of creation that are particular to new Jersey. The story of St. Francis and the Wolf also graces our pulpit and lectern. I'll try to take some pictures and post them here before Creation Season ends on the Feast of Christ the King (it begins, appropriately enough, on the Feast of St. Francis).
If you go to our web page you'll be able to see the picture and text in its standard size.
The man holding the picture in that top photo is Bob Hyde, who had lost his Cocker Spaniel, Brandy, just three days earlier. Brandy had been just a puppy when his wife, Millie, died, so this loss touched places of deep grief. The Blessing of that picture of Brandy has been an important part of Bob's grieving process.
Oh yes, and BTW, that is "our" Lenny and CoCo. Cute, right?
3 comments:
That's a beautiful stole. Yes... please post pics of the entire set. And who made them?
The pets are cute, you are a beautiful couple, the girl with the fluffy cat is also very cute...
However, my queer sense says:
Geez, that's a GORGEOUS stole...
Oh, David mentioned it too! I'm not alone.
Thanks for sharing .... Evangelize the four-footed and the ones they own will follow!!!
Big event this year ..... even had the Sheriff’s equestrian unit show up with 4 horses & 2 other horses showed up just through our publicity! Never had large animals before.
Even had a baby squirrel come down out of the oaks in the midst of 50 to 70 dogs to get his blessing. He stayed for two hours –received a special blessing from the Pastor and was not harassed by any of the canines.
http://standrewsspringhill.org/photo.htm
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