Covenant Presbyterian Church in uber-hip Los Angeles has started a pet-centric worship service. The linked article says this is something of a mini-trend, crossing denominational boundaries and showing up as “pet blessing” services or “Woof and Worship” services.
It’s easy to write this off as just another bad idea that emanates from a failing evangelicalism, but I wonder if we should pay closer attention to the crying need for community that is expressed by some of the “worshippers” at the Covenant service. They have traded in family connections for pet connections. As important as those are, they cannot be life-sustaining, no matter what sort of piety we dress them with.
If the pastor and church in question recognized this, the possibilities for true outreach would be significant. Instead, doggie treats are served and the congregation sings a hymn titled, “GoD and DoG.” Sigh.
Tags: evangelicalism
There has been a blessing of the pets liturgy in the Lutheran, Anglican, Roman, and Eastern traditions for years. My LCMS church did it a little while ago and I fail to see the purpose of it. There is also a “blessing of the bikes” for bikers that goes on in some areas.
Do you think Calvin College would Claim this alumnus?
There was a “Blessing of the Animals” service at a church near me in Regina, Saskatchewan Canada. They announced it on a big billboard in front of their church. It read:
Blessing of the Animals
September 24th
BBQ to follow
Can’t quite put my finger on it…but something about that sign makes me laugh every time I think about it.