Covenant Presbyterian Hosts Blessing of the Animals Service

Covenant Presbyterian Church will hold a special worship service and blessing of animals on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 4 p.m. All are invited to bring their pets to join in this lively celebration, but every animal must be on a leash or confined inside a cage or crate. The service will be held in the church’s parking lot at 2461 Peachtree Road in Buckhead. Red Bandanna Pet Food will sponsor the popular annual event and will be on hand with treats for the animal participants.

“This is one of the year’s most joyful services,” said Rev. Katie Aumann, associate pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church. “The animals in our lives bless us every day with their love and devotion. On Nov. 12, we will come together to give thanks for all of God’s creatures, and ask for His blessing on our own beloved animals. The outdoor service will no doubt be a little noisy and messy, but that’s all part of the fun. We’re expecting to bless a good number of dogs, cats, hamsters, fish and birds, but I’m sure there will be a few surprises, too.”

The tradition of blessing animals began in the Catholic Church as a way to honor St. Francis of Assisi on or near his feast day of Oct. 4. The idea has spread into many other denominations, which have incorporated their own practices into the service and usually focus on blessing pets.

About Covenant Presbyterian Church

For nearly a century, Covenant Presbyterian Church has served the city of Atlanta through its mission of “Equipping the people of God to serve Christ in the world”. The church is led by Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Richard Hill and Associate Pastor Rev. Katie Owen Aumann. Located at 2461 Peachtree Rd., NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30305, Covenant is home to a welcoming congregation that seeks, serves and celebrates together. The church boasts a lively youth group, hands-on mission work, a women’s spirituality ministry and a strong music program, as well as offering public lectures, social events, educational opportunities and more. Covenant supports numerous organizations including Buckhead Christian Ministry, the Central Night Shelter, ChildSpring International, Habitat for Humanity, The Open Door Community, Earth Covenant Ministry and Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta. Covenant also takes a leadership role in the LaGonave Haiti Partners, a more than 20-year partnership with the Episcopal Church of Haiti. Ongoing Haiti projects include a community health center, as well as programs for education, agriculture, adult literacy and children’s nutrition. www.covpresatlanta.org