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Church of God will bring the stories of the
Bible to life
Inspiration Point: Most messy family situations
start small
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Animals and their owners reaping God's blessings |
Annual Blessing of the Animals set for June 9 at
North Valley Friends Church; 25 attended last year |
By Nicole
Clark, Newberg Graphic intern
E-mail Nicole at
thegraphic@eaglenewspapers.com
|
Many people attend church on
Sunday and are blessed while there. So why not have a similar
opportunity, if only once a year, for pets to reap similar
blessings?
That’s the idea behind “Blessing of the Animals,” a project put on
by the Newberg Animal Shelter Friends and a local church. This
year’s event will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. June 9 at North Valley
Friends Church, 4020 N. College St.
The event, now in its third year, was the brainchild of Darlyn
Adams, president of the Newberg Animal Shelter Friends. This year’s
event was organized by Suzy Wood.
Wood said the event is a community goodwill project. While Newberg
Animal Shelter Friends asks participants to donate two cans of dog
or cat food, Wood said the real fund-raisers include the yard sale
and the auction.
Pets and their owners who wish to participate in the Blessing of
the Animals will meet in the field next to North Valley Friends
Church. There, pastors Stan Thornburg of North Valley Friends Church
and Steve Jaquith of Gospel Chapel will pray for each animal
individually.
Wood said the event drew about 25 animals last year, mainly dogs and
cats, with the occasional bird.
“We’d like to have more,” she said. “I think it’s growing as people
hear about it.”
There are a few rules for event participants: dogs must be leashed;
cats must be kenneled or on a leash; horses, goats and other large
animals must be haltered; ferrets must be kenneled; and birds and
reptiles must be caged.
In addition, the organization asks that no aggressive animals
attend. Wood said there haven’t been problems with aggressive
animals to date; in fact, the only problem came the first year when
pit bulls — stereotyped as “aggressive” dogs — were denied access to
the ceremony.
“The first year, we (requested) ‘No pit bulls’ and we got calls
from several people saying ‘Our pit bull’s really nice,’” she said.
Wood characterized the event as worthwhile, something appreciated by
pets and their owners.
“I think the people that come out, they hope that their animals are
better behaved. I think they feel better about it,” she said.
She added, “I think it’s a nice thing (for pet owners) to do for
their animals. I mean, most people go to church and they’re blessed
there, so why not bring your animals once a year and have them
blessed?” |
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From
May 19, 2007, Newberg Graphic
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