BLESSING OF GOD’S ANIMALS
All Saints Episcopal Church October 4, 2020 4:30 pm Our service will be held on the lawn in front of the Parish Hall. Please plan to arrive early and bring your own lawn chair, so you can be comfortable during our social-distanced outdoor lit- urgy and as you await individual pet and pet-owner blessings. As fellow Christians and beloved members of Christ’s Body, your health and safety are very im- portant to us all. Please ensure you understand and adhere to our in-person worship protocols, which are outlined at the end of this bulletin.
The Priest and People gather with the animals to be blessed.
Priest: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. People: And blessed be His kingdom, now and forever. Amen Priest: Lord, you have made so many things! People: The earth is filled with Your creatures. Priest: All of them depend on You to give them food when they need it. People: You provide food, and they are satisfied. Priest: When You give them breath, they are created. People: You give new life to the earth. Priest: May the glory of the Lord last forever. People: May the Lord be happy with what has been made. Priest: As long as I live, I will sing praises to my God. People: For my gladness comes from God. Priest: Praise the Lord, my soul. People: Praise the Lord. The Priest continues Dear God, You are the creator of heaven and earth. Thank you for giving us the beautiful planet earth to be our home. Help us to be good stewards of our environment. Please bless, help, and protect the animals gathered here at All Saints, as well as those who live around us. Bless us as
well, your beloved creation, marvelously made in your own image. We ask all this in our Lord Jesus’ name. Amen. Old Testament Reading Genesis 1:24-31a Then God commanded, “Let the earth produce all kinds of animal life: domestic and wild, large and small” and it was done. So God made them all, and He was pleased with what He saw. Then God said, “and they will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild, large and small.” So God created human beings, making them to be like Himself. He created them male and female. He blessed them and said, “Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals. I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat; but for all the wild animals and for all the birds I have provided grass and leafy plants for food” and it was done. God looked at everything He had made and He was very pleased. Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God
Gospel Reading Luke 12:6-7 Jesus said, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. Priest: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. The Priest continues O merciful Creator, Your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for Your loving care; and help us to be faithful stewards of Your good gifts and the creatures You have given to us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with You and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Priest: Let us bless the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
Blessing of the individual pets Please follow the ushers’ directions for exiting after the blessing, to help us maintain social dis- tancing and safety protocols.
All Saints In-person Worship Safety Protocols As we begin to gather in-person, please note that we are adhering to our Diocesan Regathering requirements. Here’s the outline of what is required.
On the day of our in-person worship service, should you feel ill, or are running a fever, or have recently been exposed to the COVID-19 coronavirus, please do stay home. Our online worship activities are continuing and we would love for you to join us there. In-Person worship attendees do need to make reservations in advance on SignUp Ge- nius, or by contacting the church office by Thursday morning. This helps us ensure that we do not exceed the maximum amount of participants at any event. Masks must be worn while attending any event, inside or outside. We’ll be maintaining social distancing. The ushers will provide guidance on seating as- signments. Printed materials will not be available. Please pre-print your bulletin or bring your own Book of Common prayer to worship. And know that you can contact the church in ad- vance if you would like to borrow a Book of Common prayer during this season of addi- tional safety protocols. There’s no singing at this time, nor processions, nor passing the offering plate. We are also abstaining from many of our typical expressions of fellowship, including sharing food, or hugging or physical contact for greetings or passing the Peace. Please honor these necessary changes, as we strive to keep everyone safe. Hand Sanitizer stations will be available at entry and exits to our events and should be used. We’ll be working on one-way walking traffic flow wherever possible to help us avoid crossing paths. Plan to arrive early for our events and be patient when it’s time to leave, as we provide directions on how to enter and exit our space safely. Restrooms are available (in Parish Hall) for emergency use only. Should you feel ill and/or test positive for COVID-19 within 5 days of attending an in-person event at All Saints, please contact the office or Mother Bon- nie immediately.
Do keep in mind that our primary objective is to act in love towards one another by keeping our most vulnerable safe. Thank you for cooperating with our safety protocols during this challenging time.
The Rev. Bonnie Underwood, Priest-in-Charge Deacon Barbara Windom Linda Gerdes, Parish Administrator Kipp Gill, Organist/Music Director