By Shelley Grieshop
sgrieshop@dailystandard.com A cocker spaniel took a good sniff of a nearby collie, as a small, gray cat arched her back at the sight of a large, panting German shepherd.
A few yards away, three horses munched on grass near Main Street traffic in Celina, waiting patiently for Pastor Bob Metheny to give them their blessing.
"I guess we can credit the singing with quieting the animals," Metheny said with a laugh as the annual Blessing of the Animals service began Wednesday evening.
It was just the second time St. Paul's United Methodist Church offered the unusual blessing. Metheny debuted the event last year for the first time and it was warmly received by the animal-loving congregation.
"It was really a moving service," Dian Peters said of last year's blessing, as her mother's mixed breed dog, Topper, stretched the length of his leash to investigate a small Peek-a-poo puppy. Metheny admitted, as a turtle swam in a small bowl and several dozen animals licked, purred and howled at their owners' feet, "the whole idea is a little out of the ordinary."
"I don't know any other church around here that does this," he said, as he prepared to begin the short service prior to the individual blessings.
The blessing of animals is new to the Methodist church's book of worship, which comes out about every four years, he said. The idea originates with Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals who boasted his love for all creation.
Books written about Assisi's life state he could communicate with all species of animals.
Taylor Schenking, 9, of Celina, doesn't think that's too weird. As her grey striped cat, Aeriel, lay comfortably in the grass, Schenking calmed her with a soft voice.
"She's a little nervous," the little girl said as she stroked the cat's soft fur.
Aeriel, missing a leg due to an accident a few years ago, seemed to enjoy the event.
"She needs to be blessed since she's without that leg," Schenking said, but added the cat runs plenty fast without it.
Metheny explained the importance of animals by talking about the love he shares with his own four-legged friend of 20 years, Copper, a sand-colored, part thoroughbred horse.
"Copper has been a good companion. We've been together in good times and in bad times," he explained.
Metheny asked those gathered why people love their animals so much.
"They're warm," one child answered.
"They listen," said a man in the crowd.
One woman added that pets are good protectors, letting humans know when someone new comes around.
"They give unconditional love," shouted one woman.
"And they don't talk back," another woman added.
Metheny cited several scripture readings.
"Animals were saved from the flood. ... A giant fish saved Noah. Ravens brought food to Elijah," he read.
On the sixth day, God created humans, Metheny said.
"But do you know what he did on the fifth day?" he asked. "On the fifth day he created animals.
And after both creations, God said, 'It is good,' " Metheny continued. "Therefore, we invoke God's blessing on these animals." |
