Blessing of the Animals, October 5

Saint Stephen’s will host our annual Blessing of the Animals on Wednesday, October 5, beginning at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome!

A cookout dinner (hot dogs and chips) will be served from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on the patio between the Parish Hall and Carpenter Hall. A brief Blessing of the Animals service will take place at 6 p.m., also on the patio. We will have special pet tags, prayer cards, and dog and cat treats for you to take home, and a photo booth to take fun pictures of you with your favorite furry (or feathered) friends.

Besides the cookout dinner and blessing, we will be collecting items to donate to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Specifically, GBHS has mentioned a need for toys and treats for dogs and cats. Chivon Morse, GBHS Manager of Volunteer Services and Community Engagement, says that these enrichment items are needed to help “manage stress levels and provide positive interactions that will assist the dogs and cats in finding their forever homes.” We will also collect items to help relocate pets who are displaced due to hurricanes and tropical storms at this time of year. You can find their complete list of hurricane evacuation items here.

For more information on the Blessing of the Animals event or our collection for Greater Birmingham Humane Society, contact the Rev. Dr. Rebecca Bridges at becky@ssechurch.org