This is the first of Woof!
I am Helen Neafsey, staff photographer at the Greenwich Time, and Tango is my dog that I brought back from Puerto Rico. We live with Sunshine, a shepherd mix, from Adopt-A-Dog, Shadow, a standard poodle, a cat Mischief, and a rabbit, Coco, who I met at the Greenwich Animal Control facility.
I’m am hoping to find amazing stories of animals here in Greenwich, and from further away. If you know of any I would love to hear from you. I would also like to start a pet gallery. Please send me a picture of your pet and I will post him/her on my blog. My email address is helen.neafsey@scni.com
Because this is my first post, I thought I would start with a Blessing.
Rain refused to stop last Saturday. Not surprising, considering the weather we’ve had. The drizzle however, made the Rev. Ken Kieffer, of the First United Methodist Church of Greenwich CT slightly nervous about moving his Blessing of the Animals into the sanctuary. The last year’s service was held on a beautiful day in front of the church, and many diverse animals had arrived. This year, only a few soggy people and their dogs were sitting in the pews at 2:00 o’clock the designated time. Other concerns were that the church had a rug to contend with (fearing an accident), and the dogs in the church who were barking loudly.
Sarah Scroggins with Wasabi and Schnitzl, who were very good, wait for the Blessing of the Animals to begin.
But as the service began, more and more people and dogs and one guinea pig arrived. Everyone quieted down, even the dogs. Rev. Kieffer asked the congregation if they could think of how their dogs reminded them of God. Forgiveness, love unbounded? He spoke about his own dog Oscar who had separation anxiety and would follow him everywhere. The dog, he said, reminded him of the everlasting presence of God.
Rev. Ken Kieffer blesses Koira, while owner Gloria Rella watches.
The blessing seemed to delight both owner and dog.
Augusta Steen, 8, holds Boots for a blessing.
Brigitte Lee, below, holds Beethoven, who is quite old.
Blessings come from both sides.
Most blessing of the Animals take place on or near October 4th, which is St. Francis Day, the patron saint of animals. The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City holds a spectacular feast of Saint Francis and blessing of animals complete with a procession of all animals big and small, from camels, sometimes elephants, to the smallest bug. Music fills the cathedral by the musician Paul Winter, and liturgical dances are performed. People bring their own pets, and they are blessed by Episcopal Franciscan monks in a garden near the church.
Members of the animal procession at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine at the Feast of St. Francis
A camel approaches the alter to be blessed.
If you can’t wait for St. Francis Day, St. Francis Episcopal Church, in Stamford, CT, has a monthly blessing, at 4:00pm on the 4th Sunday of the month. All dogs, cats and occasional rabbits, as well as birds are allowed into the church. The Episcopal church offers a Communion service for people and blessings for their pets.
Here is a look at one of their blessings:
Rev. Richard Mayberry conducts one of the St. Francis monthly blessing of the animals.
http://www.stfrancisstamford.org/
