Monday, June 15, 2009

All dogs go to heaven

Area church blesses pets

EAST LANSING - Community members and their pets gathered outside East Lansing's University United Methodist Church Sunday afternoon for a Blessing of the Animals ceremony.

This is the first time the church has held such a ceremony, which included prayer, song and a moment of remembrance for pets that have died, said Pastor John Ross Thompson.

About 40 people attended, bringing with them around 25 animals - mostly dogs, some cats and a few more exotic animals from the Potter Park Zoo.

"They're part of our family," Thompson said of the animals. "They are God's creation, and we pray for all of God's creatures."

As part of the ceremony, animals received individual blessings, and their owners received small St. Francis of Assisi medallions.


Reminds me of the church in Northern Michigan that does a "Blessing of the Sleds" where they prayed over snowmobiles. I am not sure which is sillier.

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