Blessing of the Pets

The Blessing of the Pets is often held on a Sunday nearest St. Francis of Assisi's Feast Day (Oct. 4). St. Mark Presbyterian Church Youth held the service for the congregation's pets on Oct. 5 in the afternoon.

The World Should Praise the Lord

148 Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the skies.
    Praise him high above the earth.
² Praise him, all you angels.
    Praise him, all you armies of heaven.
³ Praise him, sun and moon.
    Praise him, all you shining stars.
⁴ Praise him, highest heavens
    and you waters above the sky.
⁵ Let them praise the Lord,
    because they were created by his command.
⁶ He put them in place forever and ever;
    he made a law that will never change.

⁷ Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you large sea animals and all the oceans,
⁸ lightning and hail, snow and mist,
    and stormy winds that obey him,
⁹ mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
¹⁰ wild animals and all cattle,
    crawling animals and birds,
¹¹ kings of the earth and all nations,
    princes and all rulers of the earth,
¹² young men and women,
    old people and children.

¹³ Praise the Lord,
    because he alone is great.
    He is more wonderful than heaven and earth.
¹⁴ God has given his people a king.
    He should be praised by all who belong to him;
    he should be praised by the Israelites, the people closest to his heart.

Benediction:
May God, who made everything good, teach us to love all of creation.

May God help us to rejoice in the stars and planets; trees and flowers, the rocks and rivers, and especially in these precious pets that have been entrusted into our care.  How great is your name, O Lord our God, in all the earth.

Amen.  Praise the Lord!