A Prayer for the Animals

BLESSING OF THE PETS SUNDAY OCTOBER 9, 2011

Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo, Watchung Avenue Presbyterian Church

Today O God of Time and Space, we gather together to worship you, and to remember your Created Order.
Especially giving thanks for the animals in our midst today.
Our beloved pets—members of our families,

Dogs and Cats,
Fish and Rabbits,
Snakes, Lizards, and Birds,
Ferrets, Guinea Pigs, and Hamsters,
We name them today….

We pray in remembrance of the animals who have blessed our days,
Beloved companions on the journey of life who are no longer with us.
Who filled our lives with more love and joy than we ever imagined possible.
Remembering that they are gifts from you.
We name them today…..

O Lord in your Scriptures we are reminded of the gift of Creation, and the imperative to care for it.

We are reminded that we are given the mandate to tend, and till.To not dominate,  but to provide safety and space for harmony and peace in your Creation.

Yet we confess that we have forgotten this.

That many animals today suffer
Abandoned
On the verge of extinction
Endangered
Losing their habitats and without a place to call home
Attacked or abused

Be with these animals today O Lord of all the Living.
Animals who suffer, who are in pain.
We pray for a world that does not harm your Creation.
And we pray that you would fill us, embolden us with your Spirit of Truth, Justice and Peace.
So that we might speak up, speak out, and have the strengthen to end
The pain that fills your Creation today.

We give you thanks today O God for Beauty.

For animals that we do not know, but only see whose majestic nature fills us with   a sense and awe of You God of all Life.
For blue whales and tiny insects.
For lions and gentle lambs.
For birds that soar high in the sky, and fish that swim in the depths of the sea.
For the animals of the ages—the great dinosaurs.
And for the animals yet to come, that we will never know.

We give you thanks O Lord, for you have created every single one of them in your infinite Love.
Precious in your sight,
beautiful
reflections of your glory that we can scarcely imagine.

We thank you for working animals
Who till the fields,
Who guide the blind,
Who sniff out bombs,
Who race,
And remind us of intelligence we do not know and that is not of us.

And we offer thanks to you for the animals that some of us choose to eat,
Thankful for their lives.
Thankful for the sustenance they provide.
We honor them.

Be with us today—O God of Life.
Be with your people, be with the animals of your Creation.
Help us to live in harmony.
In the way of Peace.
Remembering Jesus your Son
Who came to Redeem all of Creation
And who taught us to pray,
Our Father….

At the Watchung Avenue Presbyterian Church we have always held an outdoor Blessing of the Pets ceremony after worship on the second Sunday of October. All animals in our community were invited to join us for this blessing that happens on the front lawn of the church.
In 2010 we began also inviting animals to join us in the Sanctuary at our regular 10AM worship service. Owners were asked to bring them in their appropriate cage or leash. Last year over 30 dogs and cats joined us for this special service. Our organist’s dog slept next to the organ during worship and watched the choir sing. All were very well-behaved, even one golden retriever in the front pew bowed his head during the prayer of confession (he must have needed to say something about something he did….). The animals came up front for the children’s sermon and they enjoyed bones, treats, and carrots on the front lawn of the church later in the day.
We have started a new tradition and are looking forward to a growing crowd of furry, feathered, and scaly friends joining us this year for worship