Critters of all sizes and species have a special invitation to visit St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown on Sunday. The parish will hold a Blessing of the Animals at the 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services. Pets are welcome to attend with their human companions, who also can bring a photo of a pet or a toy stuffed animal for a blessing.
Churches often hold an animal blessing service on or near Oct. 4, which commemorates the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, known for his work with the poor and his love of animals and all of nature. Legends tell of him preaching to the birds and negotiating a peaceful end to a conflict between a wolf and the villagers of a town named Gubbio. A statue of the saint sits in the St. Peter’s memorial garden.
At St. Peter’s, the animal blessings also are part of this fall’s church school curriculum, which commemorates the Creation Season. On Sept. 23, students from preschool through eighth grade planted flowers and kale in the church Children’s Garden beside the cloister, or covered stone walkway between the church and parish hall. Some of the children also planted small pots with flowers to bring home.
On Sept. 30, 17 of the oldest students walked several blocks to the home of parishioners Anne and Jim Yardley. There, they used an outdoor hose to fill buckets and watering cans with water, which they carried back to water the garden. The youngsters have been learning about life at a home for AIDS orphans in Cameroon, Africa, and participated in the water trek to increase their understanding of what it’s like to have to travel each day to collect water.
On Oct. 14, Sister Mary Lynne Pfitzinger of the Episcopal Community of St. John Baptist in Mendham will deliver a slide-show presentation to the fourth- through eighth-graders about the Good Shepherd Home in Cameroon and Sister Jane Mankaa, who started the home and an Anglican religious order to run it. The Mendham convent and various New Jersey churches – including the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer and St. Peter’s in Morristown – have supported Mankaa’s efforts. Groups from Redeemer twice have traveled to Cameroon, and Pfitzinger visits regularly.
The Creation Season program will culminate in a Fall Harvest Festival from 10 am. to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 28. The event will feature visiting 4-H animals, pony rides, crafts, games and snacks.
Community members are welcome to attend – and bring pets to – Sunday’s animal blessing services and to join the Oct. 28 festival. Families interested in enrolling their children in the church school program or having their children attend the Oct. 14 presentation should contact the Rev. Melissa Hall, St. Peter’s assistant rector, at 973-538-0555 or mhall@stpetersmorristown.org.
WHAT A GREAT DAY IT WILL BE , I will be there with some healthy delish snacks,,,,Chef Melody