A serv|ce for the b|ess|ngs of An|ma| ets and Compan|ons

St Iohn's Lutheran Church, Norfo|k, Nebraska

Saturday, Cctober 4, 2014
Leader: ln Lhe name of Lhe laLher, and of Lhe Son, and of Lhe Poly SplrlL. Amen
L: May Cod be wlLh you all.
1he anlmals of Cod's creauon lnhablL Lhe skles, Lhe earLh, and Lhe sea. 1hey share ln Lhe
forLunes of human exlsLence and have parL ln human llfe. Cod who confers hls gls on all llvlng
Lhlngs, has oen used Lhe servlce of anlmals or made Lhem symbollc remlnders of Lhe gls of
salvauon.
Anlmals were saved from Lhe ood and aerwards made a parL of Lhe covenanL wlLh noah
(Cenesls 9:9-10). 1he paschal lamb brlngs Lo mlnd Lhe assover sacrlce and Lhe dellverance
from Lhe bondage of LgypL (Lxodus 12:3-14), a glanL sh saved !onah (!onah 2:1-11), ravens
broughL bread Lo Lll[ah (1klngs 17:6), anlmals were lncluded ln Lhe repenLance en[olned on
humans (!onah 3:7). And anlmals share ln ChrlsL's redempuon of all of Cod's creauon. We
Lherefore lnvoke Lhe dlvlne blesslng on Lhese anlmals. As we do leL us pralse Lhe CreaLor and
Lhank Cod for glvlng us responslblllLy over oLher creaLures of Lhe earLh. LeL us also ask Cod
LhaL, rememberlng our human dlgnlLy, we may walk always ln such paLhs of servlce.
sa|m 8
L: C Lord our Cod, how wonderful your name ln all Lhe earLh!
C Lord, our Lord, how g|or|ous |s you name over a|| the earth!
ou have exa|ted your ma[esty above the heavens.
C Lord our Cod, how wonderful your name ln all Lhe earLh!
When I beho|d your heavens, the work of your hngers,
the moon and the stars wh|ch you set |n p|ace -
What |s man that you shou|d be m|ndfu| of morta|s
or the son of man that you shou|d care for h|m?
C Lord our Cod, how wonderful your name ln all Lhe earLh.
ou have g|ven morta|s ru|e over the works of your hands,
pumng a|| th|ngs under our feet:
A|| sheep and oxen: yes, and the beasts of the he|d.
C Lord our Cod, how wonderful your name ln all Lhe earLh.
1he b|rds of the a|r, the hsh of the sea,
and whatever sw|ms w|th|n the paths of the seas.
C Lord our God, how wonderfu| your name |n a|| the earth!
rayer of 1hanks
L: C Cod, Lhe auLhor and glver of every gl, we glve you Lhanks for Lhe anlmals wlLhln our
world. Anlmals also are a parL of Lhe way you provlde love and beauLy Lo our world. Anlmals
are companlons, helpers ln labor, and workers wlLh us ln Lhe klngdom of Cod.
We pray LhaL you wlll make avallable for your servanLs Lhose Lhlngs we need Lo malnLaln a
decenL human llfe. We ask Lhls Lhrough ChrlsL our Lord. Amen
Sa|nt Iranc|s' "Cannc|e of A|| Creatures" |s sung (tune LLW 83S)
Verse 1: All CreaLures of our Cod and klng
Ll up your volce and wlLh us slng
Ch pralse Cod, Allelula!
C burnlng sun wlLh golden beam
And sllver moon wlLh soer gleam
kefra|n: Ch pralse Cod! Ch pralse Cod!
Allelula! Allelula! Allelula!
Verse 2: C rushlng wlnd and breezes so
C clouds LhaL rlde Lhe wlnds alo
Ch pralse Cod! Allelula!
C rlslng morn, ln pralse re[olce
C llghLs of evenlng, nd a volce. (!"#$%&')

Verse 3: uear moLher earLh, who day by day
unfolds rlch blesslngs on our way,
Ch pralse Cod! Allelula!
1he frulLs and owers LhaL verdanL grow,
LeL Lhem hls pralse abundanL show. (!"#$%&')
Verse 4: Ch ev'ryone of Lender hearL
lorglvlng oLhers, Lake your parL,
Ch pralse Cod! Allelula!
All you who paln and sorrow bear,
ralse Cod and glve Lo Cod your care! (!"#$%&')
Verse S: LeL all Lhlngs Lhelr CreaLor bless
And worshlp Cod ln humbleness.
Ch pralse Cod! Allelula!
Ch pralse Lhe laLher, pralse Lhe Son,
And pralse Lhe SplrlL, 1hree ln Cne. (!"#$%&')
Ind|v|dua| 8|ess|ng of the An|ma|s (pets)
"#$% &'$ (%)*$% +, -.$//0123 &'$ 4010/&$% )/5/ ,+% &'$ 1)4$/ +, &'$ )104)./ ,%+4
&'$0% '64)1 7+4()10+18 9'$1 /)*/ &'$/$ :+%;/<
L: _(name of anlmal) , may you be blessed ln Lhe name of Lhe laLher, and of Lhe Son and of Lhe
Poly SplrlL. May you and (Lhe name of Lhe guardlan) en[oy llfe LogeLher and nd [oy wlLh Lhe
Cod who creaLed you."
rayer aher 8|ess|ng of the An|ma|s
L: May Cod, who creaLed Lhe anlmals of Lhls earLh as a help Lo us, conunue Lo proLecL and
susLaln us wlLh Lhe grace hls blesslng brlngs, now and forever. Amen
L: Craclous Cod, along wlLh Lhe wlLness of our 8roLher lrancls, you love everyLhlng you have
made. Pelp us Lo follow your example of Lreaung every llvlng Lhlng wlLh klndness. And so,
Cood and Craclous Cod, waLch over our peLs and keep Lhese companlons safe and healLhy.
Amen
8|ess|ng
L: 1he Lord bless you and keep you,
1he Lord's face shlne upon you and be graclous Lo you,
1he Lord look upon you ln favor and glve you peace:
ln Lhe name of Lhe laLher, and Lhe Son, and Lhe Poly SplrlL. Amen