In honor of the St. Francis of Assisi, several West Hartford churches will hold special services on Oct. 3 or Oct. 4, 2015.
Blessing of The Animals at Flagg Road United Church of Christ, 2014. Submitted photo
By Ronni Newton
Pets of all sizes and shapes will be welcomed at several area churches next weekend as congregations commemorate St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. The Feast of St. Francis is on Oct. 4, which happens to be a Sunday this year.
Below is a list of “Blessing of the Animals” services that we have have found, along with specifics from the churches regarding types of animals permitted. If there are other services that we have missed, please add them in the comments section.
The Flagg Road United Church of Christ
134 Flagg Rd., West Hartford, CT, http://flaggroaducc.com/
Date: Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, 10 – 11 a.m.
Pets – or stuffed animals – are invited to what the church calls “one of our favorite special worships of the year. According to the church’s website, “In the past our Ministers have blessed cats, dogs, fish, hamsters, turtles, sheep, goats, roosters, rabbits, and even a few llamas.”
Blessing of the Animals at First Church, West Hartford Center, 2014. Photo by Joy Taylor
First Church, West Hartford
12 South Main St., West Hartford, CT, www.whfirstchurch.org
Date: Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, 3 – 4 p.m.
The Blessing of the Animals service on the front lawn of First Church in West Hartford Center. The church has posted the following message on its website: “What a gift our pets are to us! All Creatures Great and Small will be blessed during this special time. This is not small thing! Many of us find with our pets a sense of companionship, delight and unconditional love. We will celebrate all of this. And we will remember those who mourn the loss of their beloved furry one in prayer as we bless those who come with wagging tails! The service is open to the public who are asked to have dogs on leashes and cats and smaller animals in pet carriers. ”
Church of Saint Helena
30 Echo Ln., West Hartford, CT, http://www.
Date: Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, 2 p.m.
The Church of Saint Helena’s Blessing of the Animals will be held at 2 p.m., weather-permitting.
First Baptist Church
90 North Main St., West Hartford, CT, http://www.fbcwesthartford.org/
Date: Saturday, Oct, 3, 2015, 3 – 4 p.m.
The Congregational Care committee has organized a special Blessing of the Animals service which will be held in the Memorial Garden. According to the First Baptist website, “It is a chance to remember our promise to God to care for all of his creation.”
St. James’s Episcopal Church
1018 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, CT, www.stjameswh.org
St. James’s will celebrate St. Francis Day on Sunday, Oct. 4 with the Blessing of the Animals at the 9:30 a.m. service. The service will be held outdoors in the front of the church. The website states: “Bring your beloved animals to be blessed by the clergy!”
Bethany Lutheran Church
1655 Boulevard, West Hartford, CT, http://www.blcwh.org/
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 – 11 a.m.
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