AARF!!

On Sunday, October 2 Debra Jarvis, Catherine Foote, Mary Ellen Smith, Nancy Hannah, Kris Garratt, Beth Amsbary, Sean and Teresa and Lenore Owens brought St. Francis’ blessing to the streets in offering blessings to dogs and cats and other critters and the humans that care for them for the gift they are to our life and world.

Debra Jarvis also invited great groups working with pets in our community to join the festivity – Project Canine, Saving Our Seniors, and Old Dog Haven.

Accompanying the humans for blessings on Sunday were Birdie, Dash, Maggie, Marcia Jean, Mac, Tater Tot, Seraphina, Milo, Tinkerbell, Rufus, Pearlie and assorted others!

“Tater Tot, I bless you in the name of the Creator. And may you and Judi enjoy life together sharing love and kindness to all you meet!  Amen!”

It was church on the streets.  The church that has gifts to offer and share and give away.  Tomorrow’s church won’t be a place which you have to come into in order to receive the gifts that have been entrusted to us.

Today’s church needs to be the place like it was on Sunday that takes says, “Hey!  We have gifts to share!” and brings the gifts of blessing and presence, care and love out to the streets.

“People stood around and visited eating treats and feeding canine treats to their dogs. Just a great mood and the two hours flew by. We gave out the prayers of St. Francis in little rolls of paper – suitable quite suitable for fetch!”   Rev. Debra Jarvis  

Listen!  The dogs are still yapping about it!

Thank you Debra!  Thanks for inspiring us to get out and share a gift of blessing today!

AARF!

The Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much
Seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.