Sunday, October 4, 2020, is the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saints of animals and the environment. Because Francis expressed his devotion to God through his love for all of God’s creation, the custom of offering blessings of animals around or on his Feast Day grew up.
As always, clergy in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth are offering blessings of animals in a variety of settings, but with locations and manner of blessings adapted to keep everyone safe in the Covid-19 pandemic.
So if the furry co-worker sharing your home has been faithfully keeping you company during hundreds of Zoom meetings, online classes, or sheltering in place, you can still get him or her blessed — in person safely distanced, through a car window, via Zoom, or on Facebook.
Saturday, October 3, 2020
9 am – All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 5001 Crestline, Fort Worth, 76107, on the church lawn. Please wear a mask and maintain physical distancing.
10 am – noon – The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, 905 S. Church Street, Decatur, TX, 76234. Touch-free drive-by pet blessings. No formal service. People are asked to keep pets in their cars; priest will do the blessings through the window.
5 pm, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 223 S. Pearson Lane, Keller, Texas, 76248. Children are invited to hold their furry, scaly, or feathered friends; a picture of a remembered pet; or their favorite stuffed animal, and join in on Zoom. There will be a short worship service and a blessing for the animals.
Read more
www.stmartininthefields.org
Sunday, October 4, 2020
9:30 am – The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 4530 Acton Highway, Granbury, TX, 76049. Drive through pet blessings after the worship service. People are invited to bring an offering for animals in need: dog/cat food; cat litter, etc. Offerings will got to the Friends for Animals shelter in Acton.
10 am – St. Alban’s Episcopal Church worshiping at Theatre Arlington, 305 W. Main, Arlington, TX 76010. Service on Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/StAlbansArlington. Holy Eucharist includes Blessing of the Animals.
11 am – St. Christopher Episcopal Church, 3550 Southwest Loop 820, Fort Worth, TX 76133, Blessings in the church parking lot. Cars park every other space. Liturgy for the Animals followed by distanced blessing and sprinkling of animals and companions.
Noon to 1 pm – St. Luke’s in the Meadow Episcopal Church, 4301 Meadowbrook Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76103. Drive-by pet blessings in the parking lot. Please remain in your vehicles.
6 pm – St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 463 W. Harwood Road, Hurst, TX. Blessings at the Gazebo in the parking lot. All humans must be masked. A pet food offering will be taken to benefit 4Saints Episcopal Food Pantry.