Blessing of the Animals
Presbyterian Church
October 7, 2007

Welcome

Opening Prayer

Hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small.
All things wise and wonderful; the Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings;
God made their glowing colors, God made their tiny wings.

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small.
All things wise and wonderful; the Lord God made them all.

God gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty, who has made all things well.

Scripture Readings
Psalm 148:1-10

Genesis 1:20-25

Litany for All Creation-read responsively

One: Gracious God, you created the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them. You love the whole world—the sunshine and the rain that refresh the earth, the outgoings of the morning and the evening, the changing seasons, the plants that grace the earth and the animals that inhabit it.

All: You have given us the responsibility to love and care for all of creation. We confess that we are often indifferent and insensitive to your good creation. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to change our destructive habits, that we may be channels of your goodness.

One: We give thanks to you, O God, for the life and witness of all who have nurtured the earth—for prophets who remind us of our responsibility, for those who minister with tenderness to all living things, and for those who bring their healing touch to the creatures of your hand.

All: We give thanks to you, O God, for animals who live in our homes, on farms, in the wild, and in havens of refuge. Make us ever aware of our responsibility to your creatures, who in so many ways bless us. Help us to be faithful in our caring for them.

One: We remember before you in the silent and deep places of our hearts those animals who have died, and have been dear to us. At this time, we also remember and pray for the animals who are lost, separated from their owners, or are sick, hurting, or in danger.

All: Gracious God, help us to be good stewards of all you have blessed us with. Make us instruments of your peace, love and compassion, given freely to all of your good creation. Amen.

The Blessing
Animals and people come forward to receive God’s blessing.

Closing Prayer unison
Gracious God of abundance and love, we ask your continued blessing on every creature gathered here today, the large and the small. May we live peacefully in praise of you. Bless us all to love your creation, and to revere its sacredness. We ask this in the name of the One who was, is, and always will be; Eternal God to whom every creature belongs. Amen.

Benediction