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Plan Now for a Pet Blessing this October

2014 August 12
by Diocesan Staff

Each October, many Episcopal Churches carry out a Blessing of the Animals service. These liturgies offer a unique opportunity for someone in your community to make contact with your congregation. A little work this summer will have your congregation ready this fall to maximize the potential for this event to make a difference for your church.

Good Practice
Prepare a short, simple, liturgy which is theologically appropriate and will create the biblical framework for the blessings. An example is online here: Pet Blessing Liturgy. Advertise the service in advance through the religion section of the newspaper’s announcements and fliers at the offices of local veterinarians and the Humane Society. Invite the newspaper to take pictures and, if they do not come to the service, submit photos of the pet blessing to them afterward. Have pet and human treats on hand to give out.

Better Practice
Do all of the above, but ask the Humane Society if the service can be held at their facility. This makes the liturgy more of a community event, lowering the bar for those who would want to attend, but don’t yet feel coming to your church for the pet blessing. Bless St. Francis medals purchased through a church supply house and give them to every pet owner as a free take-away from the blessing.

Best Practice
So with the rapid pace that research is advancing today, cheap sildenafil it is actually better to wait it out for 3 hours or so. Some men may have self-esteem and ego issues and ignore levitra online no prescription more their wives. Sometimes getting married or moving viagra effects women together in as a couple make stress related to transitions cause problems in the body’s defences against disease and cancer. Do not buy anything through unsolicited email – 99% of the levitra vs viagra unsolicited email will deal with scams. Do all of the above, but host the pet blessing together with the Humane Society and hold it at a fall festival in your community. Most of our towns have festivals in the fall. By getting the pet blessing on the official schedule, your church will be extend the festival activities with a meaningful moment for pet owners and the Humane Society will benefit from the exposure. Put your church’s worship times, location and website on the bulletins handed out for the pet blessing.

Start Planning Now
A key volunteer making a few phone calls can be all it takes to set up a service that will bless not only the pets but also their owners and can offer a side door for someone looking for a church home to discover the joy found in your congregation.

The Rev. Frank Logue, Canon to the Ordinary

Pictured above are pet blessings held last October at Holy Comforter, Martinez, St. George’s Savannah, and St. Paul’s, Albany.

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