Recently, while in the long line at PAGES ICE CREAM (rated as one of the 100 Best Ice Cream places in the country!) a young woman stepped out of line, knelt down, removed a business card from her pocket and enticed a bug to crawl upon it and then, took the card with the bug, walked over to a flower pot and delivered the bug safely into the security of the flower pot.
I was gob-smacked. I wanted to ask if she was a Buddhist. I wanted to know more about what drove her actions.
This month many congregations will have a "Blessing of the Animals" service as a shout-out to and celebration of St. Francis. Pictured in the above photo, he is nearly always drawn, painted, or sculpted surrounded by animals.
At the center of this celebration is inlcusion and welcome so I'm all for it! It may be part of the proving ground for clergy, yet, I've had several children ask me if all dogs go to heaven? I've always answered in the affirmative. Funny, I've never had the inquiry be about cats. Must be that nine lives thing.....
Kids love their pets; like to talk about them, show them off. A "Blessing of the Animals" service is a perfect vehicle for kids and their pets to garner attention.
With the unseasonably warm temperatures this October many congregations have held the service outside. Honestly, I never thought so to do. We held ours inside, in the sanctuary.
Also, I was idiotic enough to have it be a part of the regular worship service. Live and learn. I admit it was quite a challenge with all the chirping and barking and collective shushing of the congregants gathered.
It made me think that for Christmas Eve worship it might be fun to hold it in an actual stable, make it more experiential and offer another version of "smells and bells."