Blessing of the Animals tomorrow

Tomorrow, we celebrate St. Francis Day. As a part of that, we will bless animals at the church. It is always a lovely time for us and many neighbors in our community, and I’d like to encourage you to come with your family, both human and non-human.

We take time to remember what a gift animals are in our lives. We thank God for them, and we bless them in turn. However, St Francis and St. Francis day is about much more than simply thanking God for our pets.

The following prayer is taken from one of the noonday services of our tradition, and I think it captures it well:

“O God, the source of all life, you have filled the earth with beauty. Open our eyes to see your gracious hand in all your works, that rejoicing in your whole creation we may learn to serve you with gladness, for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

St. Francis dedicated his life to the imitation of Jesus in as simple and direct a way as possible. He saw God’s work in everything around him, including animals and nature. He saw the work of God in creation, thanking God for it, and seeking to bless it in turn. Let us do the same.

I will see you tomorrow!

Father Jonathan +

Saturday at 10:00 am

Please bring your pet (all God's creatures welcomed!) whether it be furry, feathery, scaly or slimy for a blessing this Saturday morning, October 4, at 10:00 am in the parking lot.

The event is held in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron Saint of animals. Francis considered all nature as the mirror of God and as so many steps to God.

He called all creatures his “brothers” and “sisters,” and, in the most endearing stories about him, preached to the birds and persuaded a wolf to stop attacking the people of the town of Gubbio and their livestock if the townspeople agreed to feed the wolf. 

This Sunday between services

October has arrived! Join us this Sunday between services for our monthly First Sunday Breakfast.

Enjoy the cooler weather along with our standard breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage and bacon. Of course we'll have plenty of hospitality and good fellowship as well. See you Sunday!

Stewardship Campaign beginning soon

Our annual Stewardship campaign will get underway soon with the theme Tell Out My Soul.

Our Stewardship campaign is a chance to reflect on the many ways that we are connected to each other. This year, with all that has been going on in the news, in our homes, schools and offices, and ever-shifting economic forecasts, the one constant has been the connections we have formed here in our church.

Saturday, October 18

Join us on Saturday, October 18, at 6:00 pm for the annual Biggs' Bonfire and Cookout at the home of John and Joyce Biggs; 30404 Pink Hill Rd in Grain Valley

We'll be serving hot dogs and s'mores. Hot drinks will also be available.

This is always a fun event for all ages, so don't miss it! Please bring your own lawn chairs for seating, blankets to keep warm, and especially flashlights to see when it gets dark!