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Blessing 'the Animals Who Grace Our Lives'

Monday October 6 2014

Jackie Macadam explores a growing trend for 'Blessing of the Animals' services

It is one of the services during the year guaranteed to raise smiles among the congregation and a sense of trepidation in the minister, but the ‘Blessing of The Animals’ is becoming a favourite in the church year.

Its origins lie in remembrance of St Francis of Assisi and his love for all creatures. St Francis’ Day is October 4, and though it started as a Roman Catholic tradition, it’s a service that is finding its way into more and more Church of Scotland parishes and gaining popularity, especially among youngsters.

They bring dogs, cats, hamsters, birds and occasionally even a horse or pony to the services. Churches often hold the ceremony outdoors, usually for practical reasons.

The Rev Kenneth Petrie has been holding a Blessing of the Animals at his church in Aberdeen for many years now.

He says it’s a much-loved event.

“The animal blessing service at Craigiebuckler Church, Aberdeen has been held for over twenty years and each year attracts a congregation of about 40 people, not to mention their beloved pets. The service was the idea of a member of the Craigiebuckler congregation, Myrna Forrester, who continues to arrange and organise the afternoon. It would be fair to say that without her the event would never have happened and continued for as long as it has.

“Over the years a number of different ministers have been involved in conducting the service and the present minister at Craigiebuckler has been leading the worship for the past fifteen years.

“In June each year the church hall is well filled with an enthusiastic and appreciative congregation many of whom come back year after year. It is for many an annual fixture in their diary and definitely not to be missed.

“Over the years a variety of different animals have attended including a hen and her chicks; a giant tortoise, snake and lizard among the more exotic to the more regular attendees of dogs and cats, hamsters and guinea pigs. The minister is often asked, by those who have never come along, if it isn’t a bit noisy but in fact despite so many dogs, in particular, being together in one place there is very little barking, it’s almost as if they sense that this is a special occasion.

“With a congregation of pets and their owners the theme of the service centres on God’s creation and our role as stewards of creation. It is an opportunity not only to give thanks for the animals that are so important to those who come along but to remember that we are part of the larger creation with our part to play in it.

“For this year’s service, in June 2014, with the anniversary of the beginning of the First World War approaching, the theme was the role of animals in war, the cost borne by them, and the cost war inflicts on God’s creation. The congregation appreciated the opportunity to reflect on the fact that this war, and all wars, inflict untold damage on the natural environment.

“As part of the service the minister goes around the congregation blessing each animal by name; asking that the God of all creation might bless them and giving thanks for the companionship, friendship and pleasure they bring their owners. For some of those who come this is their only contact with the church, and the Christian faith, it is, therefore, important that they, and their pets, receive a warm welcome and are given an opportunity, within the context of the service, to experience for themselves something of the welcome and love of God who created all things. The God who ‘saw all that he had made, and it was very good.’”

A longer version of this feature appears in October's Life and Work. Subscribe here