Beloved people of God,

This Sunday we conclude our celebration of the Season of Creation by commemorating the Feast of Saint Francis and blessing our animals. Luigi will of course be in attendance and I invite you to bring your pets, or pictures of your pets to our service. Animals are a special blessing of the Creator and those of us who know or have known the companionship of a beloved pet understand this. We are also blessed to live in a beautiful location and to know the presence of the wild animals: deer, whales, eagles etc. 

Next week we move back into ordinary time, but as people of faith, we know that there is no such thing as ‘ordinary’ on our journey of faith. The Spirit of God is at work in mysterious and yet to be revealed ways and we are wondrously complicit in that activity. The Season of Creation is intended to awaken us to the beauty of creation and to help us to consider our own role in caring for it, both individually and collectively. No-one understood this better than the Indigenous people who have long held the position that none of us really ‘own’ the land, it is given by the Creator to be cared for and preserved for all generations. Let us keep alive our sense of wonder and gratitude as we complete liturgical year B and move towards Advent. 

Our friend and parishioner Joan leaves this week for Portugal where she will walk the Camino trail to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela; the Cathedral of St. James the Apostle. She takes with her our hopes and prayers, and I ask you to pray for her as she makes this journey of faith. 

Finally, we are approaching the Thanksgiving holiday. Although life has its struggles; in some cases very deep worries, and though not all of us will be gathering with family or friends for a thanksgiving meal, we know we still have much to be thankful for, particularly the gift of faith. As my grandma always told me, it’s important to “count your blessings”. 

With love and prayers 

Rev. Colleen+ 

Just in case a bit of repetition is helpful, this Sunday, we extend a special invitation to our pets!

We will remember St. Francis of Assisi and his love for all God's creatures.  

So -- bring your pet (or a picture) and we'll send them home blessed and acknowledged.