October, 2003 Calendar In This Issue: From Religious Institution to Spiritual Community Why You Should Try Teaching Sunday School A Novelist Considers Prayer Membership in the Three Ages of the Church Blessing of the Animals A Letter from the Rev. Jerry Drino in the Province of Sudan St. Augustine-by-the-Sea To Erect Fountain of Joy

Reprint of a 1998 article by The Rev. Kathy MacKenzie

(On September 28th, we will be celebrating the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with our annual Blessing of the Animals after the 9:00 a.m. service. This feast provides an important stopping point for us to reflect on God's created order and our appropriate place in it.)

In contrast to some Christian theologies which only see creation as fallen and corrupt, Anglicanism is often seen as a "green" theology. And one of the great Anglican theologians of the 20th Century, Archbishop William Temple, certainly espoused this point of view. He argued that God acts in history through and by means of material things, thus he said, "Christianity is the most avowedly materialist of all the great religions." He asserted that God not only created the universe at some moment in the historical past, but that God at every moment sustains its continuing existence. God is not simply the transcendent Creator, who like a watchmaker sets the universe in motion and moves on. Rather, in addition to creating the world at some point in the past, God is immanent here and now, deeply present and involved in the universe and its historical processes. Thus, the creation is sacramental-an outward and visible sign of the God who creates, redeems and sustains. As such, the material world and its ongoing historical processes are relevatory to God.

A sacramental notion of creation that is relevatory of God demands different treatment than a theology which sees creation as fallen and bereft of God. In the latter case, it is acceptable for humankind to dominate the world and completely exploit its resources with consequent pollution, because the world is destined to pass away in a fiery end and be remade by God. But when creation is viewed as sacramental, then humankind is but a caretaker entrusted to exercise conscientious stewardship of a creation that is good and through which God continues to make God's self known.

Many centuries earlier than Archbishop Temple, St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) too had a consideration for and identity with, all elements of the physical universe, as illustrated by his poem "Canticle of the Sun." In it, he refers to Brother Sun and Sister Moon, Brother Wind and Sister Water and he praises how God works through these instruments of creation. Legends have been passed down through the generations that Francis's rapport with animals was so great that he preached to the birds and tamed a wolf by his words. Thus, he has become the patron of natural conservation. And so on his feast day, we bring animals for blessing as a way of reminding ourselves of the beauty of God's creation and our role in ensuring its care and proper use.

Our pets have an uncanny way of reminding us of our place in God's creation, both as precious and lovable people, and yet as finite beings that are not the end all and be all of God's creation.* The following story, which was e-mailed to me recently, illustrates this point beautifully.

It is reported that the following edition of the Book of Genesis was discovered in the Dead Seas Scrolls. If authentic, it would shed light on the question, "Where do pets come from?"

And Adam said, "Lord, when I was in the garden, you walked with me everyday. Now I do not see you anymore. I am lonesome here and it is difficult for me to remember how much you love me." And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will know I love you, even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish and childish and unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourself."

And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased. And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and he wagged his tail. And Adam said, "But Lord, I have already named all of the animals in the Kingdom and all the good names are taken and I cannot think of a name for this new animal." And God said, "No problem! Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG." And Dog lived with Adam and was a companion to him and loved him. And Adam was comforted. And God was pleased, And Dog was content and wagged his tail.

After a while, it came to pass that Adam's Guardian Angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam has become filled with pride. He struts and preens like a peacock and he believes he is worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught him that he is loved, but no one has taught him humility." And the Lord said, "No problem! I will create for him a companion who will be with him forever and who will see him as he is. The companion will remind him of his limitations, so he will know that he is not always worthy of adoration."

And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam. And Cat would not obey Adam. And when Adam gazed into Cat's eyes, he was reminded that he was not the supreme being. And Adam learned humility. And God was pleased. And Adam greatly improved. And Dog was content and wagged his tail. And Cat did not care one way or the other.

The blessing of our animal companions is a joyful and fun event, so join us for the festivities! Please know that if you do bring your pets for a blessing, all animals must be suitably restrained (on leash or caged), and owners are responsible for any "accidents" that might occur.

For the Blessing of the Animals: If You Can ...

If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, color, religion or politics,
Then, my friend, you are almost as good as your dog!!

Copyright © 2003 St. Augustine by-the-Sea