NEW PALESTINE — A bearded dragon, a goat, a snake, one cat, two guinea pigs, and lots of dogs attended outdoor church services at Cross of Grace in New Palestine last weekend.
Each year, the Lutheran church hosts a pet blessing ceremony during regular services on the first Sunday of October, which fell on Oct. 1 this year.
“It’s a celebration of creation and a celebration of pets who serve as our companions,” said lead pastor Mark Havel, whose black lab, Rosie, attended the service.
Cross of Grace has been hosting the pet blessing ceremony for at least 15 years, but this may be the first time there’s ever been a goat in attendance. Stevie, a pygmy goat, seemed to take Sunday’s service in stride, strolling amongst the parishioners just as far as his leash would allow.
“I’ve brought out dogs in the past, but thought it would be fun to bring him today,” said Stevie’s owner, Paula McCain of Greenfield, who counts two goats, two dogs and a cat and her kittens among her pets.
Sixteen-year-old Kylee Garrity brought her pet bearded dragon, Mars, which some mistook for an iguana, and took him out of his hard shell carrier to receive a blessing from Havel during Sunday’s service.
Pet owners lined up in the yard outside the church, where two morning services were held, to have their pets blessed by Havel and the church’s associate pastor, Cogan Blackmon.
Jim and Susan Buist and their daughter Lilly, 14, have been bringing one of their two cats to the annual pet-themed service for years.
“It’s just a nice thing to do, and of course everyone loves their pets,” said Susan, as her cat, Pixie, enjoyed some solitude within her cat carrier.
Havel tailored Sunday’s sermon around the essential role pets play in people’s lives.
“They give us companionship, and alleviate loneliness and depression by giving us compassion,” said Havel, saying that for some, pets are their main source of comfort and joy.
With dogs far outnumbering other pets in attendance on Sunday, Havel ended his sermon by reading a widely circulated poem entitled, “God Made a Dog,” a humorous take on why God created the creature that would become known as man’s best friend.
“And on the ninth day, God looked down on his wide-eyed children and said, ‘They need a companion,’…so God made a dog,” Havel read.
“God said, ‘I need somebody willing to sit, then stay, then roll over. Then with no ego or complaint, dress in hats they don’t need and costumes they don’t understand … Somebody to care, cuddle, snuggle, and nuzzle, and cheer, and charm, and snore and slobber, and eat the trash and chase the squirrels … Somebody who no matter what you didn’t do, or couldn’t take, or didn’t win, or couldn’t make, will love you without judgment just the same. So, God made a dog.”
