But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you.
-Job 12:7
Animal blessing is a special ceremony conducted in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures. St. Francis considered animals to be his brothers and sisters, saying, “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.” For many people, a pet is a member of the family. Animals experience emotions such as happiness, love, fear, or loneliness just like people do. Therefore, they build close emotional bonds with human beings.
Animal blessing is an annual tradition at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, and 2020 will be no exception; it will just be a little different. Emmanuel’s Blessing of the Animals is going virtual through Zoom! You and your pets can join the members of Emmanuel and the surrounding community virtually on November 22 at 11:30 am. You will need to register in advance by going to https://forms.gle/h9cCen2Z8rrUAcky5. You can register to have your pet blessed, or if you have had a pet pass away this year, you can register to have them included in the prayer for animals that have passed this year. Rev. Dr. Jalene Chase, the pastor of Emmanuel, and the members of the congregation look forward to meeting with you. If you have any questions, please contact the office at 301.937.7114 or office@eumcbeltsville.com today.