Blessing of animals

The effort is bringing added attention to local history, with students including junior Sonja Trigsland taking part in hands-on study sessions such as weaving, and local historian Tom Phillips contributing extensive information for the project.

A community favorite returned earlier this month in Oakhurst, where Oakhurst Lutheran Church hosted its fifth annual Blessing of the Animals on October third in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals.

Pastor David Sebastian blessed 28 animals and more than 60 people attended for the event, which also included doggy games, fellowship, hot dogs, cookies, and raffles.

Sponsors providing prizes for contests like best wag, best kiss, egg and spoon race, toss, musical towels, and doggy dress-up race included Sister Auto Registration Service, Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital, Tractor Supply, Beauty and the Beast Pet Grooming, Big Red Barn, Ditton Century 21 Realty, and M-Y-S-H-A-M Dog Training.

Well, I had fun.

Sunday was Blessing of the Animals at St. John the Divine.

And I shot a little video of the event.

Here it is.

The search continues for the aircraft.

Many churches this weekend are holding their annual Blessing of the Animals.

NPR's Jason DeRose reports it's an opportunity for people of faith to bring along their pets to worship.

In recent decades, congregations have welcomed pets not just into the parking lot for the annual blessing, but into the pews themselves, like at this Episcopal church in Ventura, California.

The blessing usually takes place on or near the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment.

[cat meows] Among the stories told about Francis is one in which he preached to birds, telling them they too were loved by God.

[bird chirps] The Blessing of the Animals comes at the end of the new ecumenical season of creation that many churches are marking for the first time this year.

Jason DeRose [dog barks] NPR News.

That concerns me because we have rural communities that are also impacted by crime and police especially one of the worst things we face in our communities, the continued prevalence of illicit drugs, fentanyl, and things coming across our borders that are hurting our communities and killing our children, making our communities less safe.

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Animal Blessings Set for St. James Church, Batavia.

Community Blessing of Companion Animals will be conducted Saturday.

The blessings will begin at 10.30 a.m. at the Lawn of St. James Episcopal Church on 405 East Main Street.