Blessing of the Animals September 30

We share great joy with our animals. Photo by John

We share great joy with our animals. Photo by John

Connie and John invite you to bring your pet or pets to Heatherhope for a service of “Blessing of the Animals” on Saturday, September 30, starting at 10:30 a.m.

Our pets bring God’s grace to us as they tune into our emotions, give us unconditional love, and faithfully celebrate our return from our duties far and wide. They make our homes and our whole world alive with goodness and grace.

In this service we will praise God for this gift and rededicate ourselves to compassionate care for all living things. We will also remember Saint Francis, the patron saint of animals, whose feast day is the following Wednesday.

Bring your pet; or if that is difficult, simply bring a photo, memento, or  story.

The service will be brief, but you are welcome to stay and chat or watch a demonstration of our dogs herding sheep, if you like.

You are encouraged too to bring your two-legged companions to share the joy.

Feel free to phone us at 815-895-9736 for more information. And be sure to find directions to the farm by clicking the “directions” tab at the top of this or any page of our web site.

About John

John is a retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America who has served congregations for over 40 years, including in rural, suburban, campus ministry and urban settings. His love of Border Collie sheepdogs has been fortified by his many friendships with shepherds all around the world. Nothing he has ever or will ever accomplish is as significant as the patience God, his wife and his friends have shown in putting up with his deficiencies.
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