Spring Church Lutheran Church Pastor Philip Ramstad blesses “Sun Dance” the horse during a special Blessing for the Animals last Saturday.
Pastor Ramstad gives a treat to Haddie, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever following the Blessing of the Animals.
The Spring Church Lutheran Church near Apollo celebrated the Feast of Saint Francis by conducting a special service that was designed to give a blessing to animals.
Pastor Philip Ramstad said the church schedules the service as close to the worldwide celebration of the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on October 4 each year. The feast commemorates the life of St Francis, who was born in the 12th century and is the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment.
“People bring their pets to the church to be blessed on St Francis’ feast day because of his love for animals as expressed in his Canticle of Creatures,” Pastor Ramstad said.
This year, the animal participants included a cat, dogs, and a horse. Pastor Ramstad began the service with a reading from Psalm 148 which encourages even wild animals, cattle, creeping things, and flying birds to praise the Lord. He also read from Genesis 1:20-28 that details the act of creation.
Following the service, Pastor Ramstad passed out treats to all the pets individually and homemade raisin cookies and water was made available to humans in a small reception held in the church pavilion.
This feast and the Blessing of the Animals coincide with World Animal Day.