The Blessing of the Pets at AUMC

Prayer To Saint Francis
For Our Pets

Good St. Francis, you loved all of God's creatures.
To you they were your brothers and sisters.
Help us to follow your example
of treating every living thing with kindness.
St. Francis, Patron Saint of animals,
watch over my pet
and keep my companion safe and healthy.
Amen.

Hear our humble prayer, O God,
for our friends the animals,
especially for animals who are suffering;
for animals that are overworked,
underfed and cruelly treated;
for all wistful creatures in captivity
that beat their wings against bars;
for any that are hunted or lost or deserted
or frightened or hungry;
for all that must be put death.
We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity,
and for those who deal with them
we ask a heart of compassion
and gentle hands and kindly words.
Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals,
and so to share the blessings of the merciful.

Author - Albert Schweitzer

Auburn United Methodist Church
Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006
Greeting: "The animals of God's creation inhabit the skies, the earth and the seas. They share in the fortunes of human existence and have a vital part in human life. Today we are gathered to celebrate the gift of all living creatures and acknowledge God's love, care and concern for all His creation."

Prayer: "God our Heavenly Father, You created the world to serve humanity's needs and to lead them to You. By our own fault we have lost the beautiful relationship which we once had with all your creation. Help us to see that by restoring our relationship with You we will also restore it with all Your creation. We pray for all animals who are suffering as a result of neglect. May the order You originally established be once again restored to the whole world through the intercession of the Glorious Virgin Mary, the prayers of Saint Francis and the merits of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You now and forever. Amen."

Remarks: Dr. George Mathison
The Blessing of the Animals: Rev. George Mathison, Rev. Charles Cummings, Rev. John Fox, Rev. Nick Holler

Dismissal: "May God who created all the animals of the earth, continue to protect and sustain us all. May He fill our hearts with love for all creatures great and small, and help us to be good stewards of all His creation. Amen."

Mark your calendars!
On Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006, at 4 pm., Auburn United Methodist Church
will have its annual Blessing of the Pets in front of the Sanctuary.
This year will be even larger as the church will celebrate the event
in conjunction with the Auburn University Vet School's "Christian Veterinary Fellowship."
Auburn's mascot eagle, Tiger, will also be present to be blessed.
Bring your pooch, kitty, horse or reptilian friend
for some inter-species fellowship!

By Amy Gordon
Intrigue Editor
The Auburn Plainsman

    While a joyful noise is often heard at Auburn United Methodist Church, on Oct. 8 the sounds might be a little different.
    On that day, the church will have its annual outdoor pet blessings event, where members of the community are invited to bring their animals for a special worship ceremony at 4 p.m.
    Sue Rodger, the church’s assistant worship and music director, said this is the third year for the event.
    “We’re doing this in conjunction with the vet school this year,” she said. “The Christian Veterinary Fellowship is going to help us.”
    The ceremony is in the official Methodist book of worship, Rodger said.
    “Most people think of it as the Episcopal church doing it,” she said.
    During the service, ministers will lay hands on the animals and bless them by name.
    The event is intended to bring the community together in a sense of thanksgiving for God’s gifts, Rodger said.
    “It’s a celebration of all God’s creatures,” she said. “It’s to give thanks for the animals’ love.”
    Rodger said while the event usually has a celebratory feel, there have been sad occurrences too.
    “Some people whose animals have died recently come without their animals,” she said. “They realize that their animals are part of God’s creation and God’s love, so that comforts them.”
    This year, the ceremony will have some unusual guests, such as Tiger, Auburn University’s gameday eagle.
    Roy Crowe, Auburn’s eagle consultant, said the 27-year-old eagle will be blessed because of the work it has done in the community.
    “Our position on it is that these birds are a creation of God for our use and our enjoyment,” Crowe said.
    “These birds were placed on this earth for God’s people. So if we took care of this bird and asked God to take care of this bird, the ultimate goal is to take care of people,” she said.
    Crowe, who does education programs for the University, said when he goes to schools to talk to children, his goal is to inspire them to do their best.
    “I don’t take care of the bird for the bird’s sake. I do it for the kids,” Crowe said.
    “I go around the United States and I take that bird into classrooms so that I can help kids become something good.”
    Crowe said in his opinion, the birds at the Raptor Center help people by educating them about the earth that God has given to humans.
    “Ultimately, in God’s scheme, people are more important than birds. I personally think God sees it that way,” he said. “My mission is not to take care of birds, my mission is to take care of people.”
    Crowe said while the eagle will be blessed by a minister, no one except its handlers will be able to touch it.
    “Our agreement mandates that the public not come in direct contact with the eagle,” he said.
    Despite that, Tiger will not be alarmed by the commotion, Crowe said.
    “We have trained this eagle to allow any kind of human reaction to occur,” he said.
    Crowe said he didn’t think anything like the eagle’s blessing had ever happened before.
    “The blessing is not for the eagle, it is for the people the eagle serves,” he said.
    “We are blessed by having this eagle in our community, in the University and in classrooms. It makes a difference in people’s lives.”
    While the eagle may be blessed as the symbol of the University, most pets will be blessed as a symbol of their devotion to their owners.
    Nick Holler, director of congregational care for the church, said he brought his pet dog, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, last year.
    “We enjoy seeing the other animals,” he said. “It’s very nice to see how much people care.”
    Holler said he and his wife brought their pet Corgi because their dog is essential to their lives.
    “He’s a special part of our family,” Holler said.
    “Our children are grown. The pet blessings are our time to bring him in.
    “The dog’s kind of stubborn. We thought the blessing would help.”
    For more information on the pet blessings ceremony, click on to the Auburn United Methodist Church’s Web site at www.aumc.net or call the church at 826-8800.