BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

This Blessing of the Animals service is not only a time to celebrate the beloved animals in your life, but also to see how it might be done in your church for church members, their pets and your community as a creative way of reaching out.

World Animal Day is celebrated each year on October 4th. On this day, animal life in all its forms is celebrated, and special events are planned in locations all over the globe. October 4th was originally chosen for World Animal Day because it is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, a nature lover and patron saint of animals and the environment. Numerous churches throughout the world observe October 4th (or the Sunday closest to it) with a Blessing of the Animals service.

Our new Presbyterian Book of Common Worship includes resources for this service.

The national Humane Society in the United States commissioned Presbyterian Carolyn Winfrey Gillette to write special hymn for this service that you have permission to use for free. They also have a resource of Presbyterian teachings related to animals that will be available to participants.