Blessing of the Animals Prayer (from learnbiblestudy.com)

Creator of all things, seen and unseen, we come before You today with hearts full of gratitude for the gift of animals. You have placed them in our lives as companions, helpers, and reminders of Your boundless love and creativity. From the smallest creatures that crawl upon the earth to the great beasts that roam the land, from the birds that soar in the sky to the fish that fill the seas, all are the work of Your hands, and all proclaim Your glory.

Lord, we ask for Your blessing upon these beloved animals that You have entrusted to our care. You have given them life, and in their innocence and loyalty, they reflect Your goodness. Bless them with health, safety, and well-being. May they be free from harm, hunger, and suffering. Protect them from illness and injury, and grant them long and joyful lives under Your watchful eye.

For the pets that share our homes and hearts, we thank You. They bring us comfort in times of sorrow, companionship in times of loneliness, and joy in times of celebration. Their unconditional love is a reflection of Your own divine love for us. Help us to be good stewards of their lives, treating them with kindness, compassion, and respect. May we always provide for their needs and never take for granted the joy they bring into our lives.

For the animals that work alongside us, whether in the fields, in service, or in protection, we ask for Your strength and guidance. May they be treated with dignity and care, and may their labor be met with gratitude. Bless those who rely on animals for their livelihood, that they may always act with integrity and mercy.

For the creatures that roam wild and free, we give thanks. They are a testament to the beauty and diversity of Your creation. Help us to be mindful of our responsibility to protect their habitats and to live in harmony with all living things. May we never exploit or harm them, but rather cherish and respect the delicate balance of nature that You have ordained.

Lord, we also lift up to You the animals that are suffering—those who are abandoned, abused, or neglected. Have mercy on them, O God. Soften the hearts of those who would do them harm, and raise up compassionate souls to rescue and care for them. May no creature suffer needlessly, and may we always be voices for those who cannot speak for themselves.

We ask for Your blessing upon all veterinarians, rescue workers, farmers, and caretakers who dedicate their lives to the well-being of animals. Grant them wisdom, patience, and strength in their work. May they be instruments of Your love and mercy, bringing healing and comfort to all creatures in need.

Above all, Lord, help us to see in every animal a reflection of Your divine handiwork. May their presence remind us of our duty to be faithful stewards of creation. Teach us to love as they love—freely, unconditionally, and without judgment. And when their time on this earth is done, may they find rest in Your eternal embrace, where all creation is made whole again.

We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, who was born in the presence of animals, who taught us to love all of Your creation, and who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Opening Song: Atlanta Master Chorale, “All Things Bright and Beautiful”

Scripture: Job 12:7-10, NIV

Ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.
Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.

Sunday Sermon

Last week I was leaving the beach when a golden retriever came running up to me wagging its tail. I bent down to pet it and asked, “Where is your human?” It instantly bolted away, ran around the corner and out to the parking lot, found its human, looked back and barked at me once. I was like, “Woah, how did you …” I didn’t know that dogs knew that many words. Turns out most dogs know a hundred words, some dogs know 150 words and a few specially trained dogs know 1000 words, which is about the vocabulary of a two or three year old toddler. So be careful what you say around dogs! Cats, on the other hand, allegedly know only 20-50 words, but most people suspect they know as many words as we do but ignore us unless the words are important to do with them.

Another time I was walking on the beach and a Labrador started walking next to me. There was not another human in sight. I told the Labrador that I was going to run to the jetty and was that alright? Then I ran to the jetty and he ran with me but then he kept going and I never saw him again, so obviously he was in better shape than I was.

Way back in college I had an internship at a battered women’s shelter. My job was to work with the kids. Pets weren’t allowed at the shelter, but one day there was a German shepherd there so I asked how that happened. The people there said that the man had locked the dog in the basement and proceeded to go after the woman. The German shepherd climbed up a bunch of boxes, broke a window and climbed out, ran around the outside of the house, broke another window and climbed in, jumped on the man and saved the woman’s life. I was like, “Good dog!”

Our animal companions are amazing. They can keep us out of depression and lethargy, teach us how to love and accept love, make us laugh and smile, and generally extend our lives. And it’s not just dogs, or even pets. An experiment was done with rats, who were given a choice of getting chocolate or freeing another rat; they freed the other rat first, then shared the chocolate! Mice were given the choice of a T-R-E-A-T, getting two T-R-E-A-T-S or getting two T-R-E-A-T-S and sharing one with another mouse, and most chose the third option.

Commenting on these experiments, Dr. Ben Rein writes, “I can’t help but wonder, if emancipating one another from traps and sharing treats is standard behavior for many of Earth’s beings, why we humans have seemingly lost so much of this. While these animals may fall short of us in their intellectual abilities, do they exceed our kindness? Have we lost some of the fundamental social attributes that characterize even the most basic forms of life? What do we get from the division we’ve embraced, besides a poorer mood, compromised health and a less nurturing world?”

This quote isn’t from a book about animals; it’s a book about humans that says we could learn a lot from animals if we started to emulate their better qualities. Many animals don’t see color (they literally don’t see color!), they don’t care if their meal comes from a Republican or a Democrat, and many species, from birds to monkeys, are more about cooperation than competition. Sure, there are exceptions: on the beach, the big seagulls bully the little seagulls. But in my yard, if I throw out a bunch of berries, the squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and birds all enjoy the food without fighting with each other. Imagine if we did that!

The book of Job contains the remarkable sentence, “Ask the animals, and they will teach you.” This sentence, and the passage that follows, isn’t about pets, but wild animals, and suggests that wild animals know that they have a Creator. There’s a scene in the movie “Flow” that illustrates this belief. (That’s the Latvian cat movie that won the Oscar for Best Animated Film in 2024.) A cat witnesses the soul of an injured bird caught in a whirlwind and ascending into heaven. The cat even rises a few feet itself before the wind puts it gently back down. The cat doesn’t understand exactly what happened, but understands that there’s a higher power. In the book of Isaiah, the prophet receives a vision of a peaceful kingdom, where every animal plays together and children play among them. The children’s book Go, Dog, Go ends up with a big dog party, where all the dogs are wearing party hats and hanging out in and around the biggest tree ever. I think of that when I think of doggie heaven.

The Scripture goes on to say, “In (God’s) hand is the life of every creature.” This passage puts us on an even par. We’re given charge of the other animals; we’re given power over the other animals; we’re given responsibility for the other animals; but we’re also animals, which we tend to forget. And also, theology and science agree, they were here first; in fact, all of creation was here first. And they may be here after us as well.

Technically, we’re here today for the Blessing of the Animals, but we’re also here because our animal companions have blessed us, and because God has blessed us together. If a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a guinea pig, even a snake or a rat can teach us something about God ~ if sharing time with animals can help us to grow humbler and kinder and more compassionate ~ then isn’t that a mutual blessing? And isn’t this a great day to be out here, and to celebrate together? Speaking to all the non-human animals on the lawn – thank you for bringing your humans!

Closing Song:  Rufus Thomas, “Walking the Dog”