Church-goers with snouts, paws and fur?
Yes, animals and their human friends looked to the rector at St. John's Episcopal Church in Decatur, Alabama, on Sunday afternoon. In a crowd of more than 100, nearly half were four-legged.
"This is way out of my comfort zone," said the Rev. Richard Lawson, looking around a crowded parish hall.
Rain forced the church's Blessing of the Animals to move inside from the church lawn. The people were smiling, even the rector, who decided to drop his sermon because of the crowded venue and the barking and meowing that punctuated his amens.
Animals are getting increased attention in church life. Blessing services are more common locally, with three Episcopal churches having them this month.
At St. John's, after a song and prayers, including a prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, Lawson went from pet to pet. He placed his hand on each animal's head and offered thanks to God.
Reminder of God's Love
"May you be in your family a reminder of the love and joy of God," he repeated over and over.
Kelley Hayes said she brought her standard poodle, Wilson, because he is 2 and had not yet been blessed.
"You form such a bond with your animals. They are really almost like your children," she said. That bond means Wilson is included in family prayers, Hayes said.
Oliver, a red Persian shy around so many dogs, hid in Bynum Rogers' arms. She and her husband, Scott Rogers, also brought their border collie, Ellie, and a guinea pig, Rascal. Scott Rogers said the dog senses if someone is sad and will lay her head in the person's lap. Muse Reed said her little dog Sparkle knows what she says, like, "You can go with Mommy today." Reed said her husband gave Sparkle to her several years before his death. "She means so much to me. She's something I have left of him," Reed said. Ann Stewart, interim director of Christian education at St. John's, said she grew up attending annual animal blessings at her Georgia church. St. John's had not held one since she became a member so she led in planning one. Pets can help people understand Jesus' unconditional love, she said. The connection between pet and person has a definite spiritual element, Lawson said. "Obviously, God made all the animals, including the animals that are pets. They are our close companions given us by God. We see how much that connects on a spiritual level," he said, referring to the crowd that attended. He said the blessing is also a great way the church remembers St. Francis, the patron saint of living creatures. Biographers of the 13th century saint told of his uncanny ability to communicate with animals.
Academics and clergy are scrutinizing animals' roles in religion. The American Academy of Religion has a group to promote scholarly study of animals and religion. In a call for papers to be presented in November in Montreal, the AAR suggested as one topic the incorporation of religion by the Humane Society of the United States. The Humane Society's Web site now lists positions by religious bodies. For instance, the statement "Man and Animals" from the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, says in part that animals "may serve as very fitting images for higher spiritual truths." The site quotes Martin Luther saying that animals may be part of a new heaven and new earth one day. Influencing Faith Also, a society newsletter now features "The Francis Files" for people to tell how animals influence their faith. The Rev. Susan Bubbers, a Florida Anglican priest, told how her cat's death prompted her to write "Pet Prayers." She said she wants her book to "encourage, comfort and even amuse people" and motivate them to be good stewards of God's creatures. Other recent books include "Why We Love Them So: Surviving the Loss of an Animal Friend" by Catholic priest and col-umnist the Rev. Paul Keenan, who wrote lovingly about his cats. In "On God and Dogs: A Christian Theology of Compassion for Animals," Ste-phen Webb defends what pet lovers often feel, that their animal friends are worthy in themselves to God, the publisher said. Joking that his pug Peaches is a hellion in need of blessing, Sonny Craig said the service that brought him, his dog and so many other people and pets to St. John's on a rainy Sunday was fantastic and fun. It is a good outreach and "St. Francis started it," he said.
