Beloved Friends-
Next Monday, October 4th, is the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi.
Francis astounded and inspired the Church by taking the gospel literally—not in a narrow fundamentalist sense, but by actually following all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit, and without a sense of self-importance.
Born in the 12th cent. in Assisi, he is now the patron saint of Italy, animals, archaeologists, merchants, metal workers and the environment; a pretty impressive list to be sure!
St. Francis considered all of creation to be a reflection of the Divine. He called every living creature his “brothers” and “sisters,” and, in one story told about him, preached to the birds and persuaded a wolf to stop attacking the people of a certain town and their livestock if the townspeople agreed to feed the wolf. Above all, his deep sense of connectedness to and for all things serve as an iconic reminder that we are never alone and whenever we forget that connection we do it at our own peril.
This Sunday during Trinity@Home we will celebrate St. Francis’ life through word and song.
Then on Sunday afternoon at 4:00pm we invite everyone to bring their beloved pets (or a picture of your pet if you prefer) to Middlegrounds Metroparks to participate in our annual Blessing of the Animals.
We have enjoyed this tradition over the past 3 years in this fun and relaxed service. This year will be extra special as we have decided to expand the service slightly to include a creative Eucharist and some music. It has been far too long since we have been able to safely gather together at the Table of Love set for us to remind and encourage, inspire and challenge us to live the Way of Love.
We will once again read a contemporary version of the story of creation from Genesis and offer individual blessings for each of our beautiful pets. And even if you don’t have a pet to bring, please come be with us for this special time of being together.
I end today offering a prayer often attributed to St. Francis- and whether the veracity of authorship can be proven or not- it is indeed a prayer that calls out the best in each of us as we strive to stay connected to each other and all of creation.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offense, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.
Come “home” this Sunday- either through Trinity@Home at 9:00am on-line or in-person in Toledo at 4:00pm, where we will have a place ready and waiting for you!
And may you never forget that you are loved.
Lisa