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Blessing of the Animals
Written By: Marlene Osteen | Issue: October - 2022
The unbreakable bonds between people and their pets will be sanctified at the Village Green Blessing of the Animals, 11:00 A.M. Sunday, October 2. For more information, visit goodshepherdofcashiers.com.
On Sunday, October 2, I plan to be at The Village Green Commons Lawn in Cashiers amidst a cacophony of sounds, and a most unusual assembly of all things living. The occasion is the Blessing of the Animals, a collaboration with The Village Green and area churches: the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Cashiers United Methodist, Christ Anglican Church, Grace Community Church, Glenville Wesleyan Church, and Christ Church of the Valley. I will be listening to a symphony played by the voices of hundreds of animals. Every way I turn I will hear their peculiar songs – meows and moos, honks and hisses, clucks and croaks, yips and yaps, cheeps and chirps. Everywhere I gaze I will behold their faces – dogs large and tiny, cats’ fat and lean, some goats, a few slimy snakes, a hamster in a cage, a frog on a rock. Perhaps a Venus Fly Trap will make an appearance again as has happened before. After all, it’s a most egalitarian gathering of creatures. As in previous years, hundreds of folks will turn to bond over their love of animals. For it’s well known that those of us who reside on the Plateau love our pets. It’s an occasion to bear witness to our love of animals. If you look around, there is always a cat or a dog, or sometimes a bird, a fish, or even a snake living among the people you know. Conducted in remembrance of Saint Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures, the Blessing of the Animals is an outdoor worship service. The observance emphasizes the love and respect that animals have with their humans, and that humans have with all of creation. Faith leaders will bless the menagerie of participants with prayers and scriptures that relate to creation. Worshipers can choose to have their pets blessed, by the clergy, who will in turn, go around to each animal and lay hands on them. The event is always free to the public and their pets. Seniors, families, singles, and children are encouraged to bring their well-behaved pet. Participants are asked to bring their pets on leash or caged and must be under their owners’ control at all times. Attendees are urged to consider giving to the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society. Donations of cash, pet food or gently-used blankets and towels, unscented cat litter and Milk Bones are all needed and welcomed.
