Blessing of the Animals | St. Andrew's on the Sound

Sunday, October 6, 2024, 4:00 PM

A Blessing of the Animals service will be held on Sunday, October 6 at 4:00 p.m.

Plan to bring your furry friends for a special blessing! We will gather outdoors unless weather encourages us to move inside on that day. Please bring all your furry, feathery or scaly guests in a crate on on a leash. This is a wonderful time to invite friends and neighbors, so spread the word!

Why do we bless the animals during this time of year?
Honoring Creation in the spirit of St. Francis

The Blessing of the Animals is a beloved tradition inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. St. Francis believed that all creatures are a reflection of God's love and deserve respect, care, and protection. His life was marked by compassion for all living things, from the smallest bird to the greatest beasts, recognizing that all of creation is interconnected and part of God's divine plan.

St. Francis famously preached to birds, tamed a fierce wolf, and treated all animals as brothers and sisters in creation. This deep love for nature and animals has continued to inspire people of faith for centuries. By blessing our pets, we acknowledge the joy, companionship, and responsibility we share in caring for God's creatures. It’s a way to give thanks for their role in our lives and to pray for their well-being, just as St. Francis taught us to honor all life.

As we gather for the Blessing of the Animals, we celebrate the bond between humans and animals, and the wonder of God's creation in all its forms.

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Our name says a lot about us: St. Andrew’s On-the-Sound. While not overlooking Wrightsville Sound, we are close enough to the beach that our basic attitude is pretty laid back. We can’t help but feel that we track a little sand into the church whenever we enter. Our worship is traditional, but relaxed; our focus is on living our faith as God’s family in this place. Young families with kids, retirees, and folks in between find a comfortable home here.

Bring your faith and your doubts, your experience and your questions, and, above all, your hopes. There is comfort and joy in our community as we share in worship, fellowship, learning, and service.

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Our namesake, St. Andrew was the first evangelist and came to Jesus trusting him as his teacher. Andrew wanted to learn, to know God, and to understand Jesus as Messiah.

We gather together in worship as we rejoice, pray, and contemplate the wonder of God. Our worship is best described as traditional and relaxed. Please do not worry about what to wear and when to stand up; after all Jesus wore sandals and we do too.

At St. Andrew’s On-the-Sound we do not tell you what to believe. You are invited into the journey at whatever place you are in your life. We are all sharing this journey together.

What We Believe

8:00 a.m. Holy Communion at Mt. Lebanon Chapel, 10:15 a.m. Holy Communion at St. Andrew's, 5:30 p.m. Celtic Evening Service in the Parish Hall

We are located on the way to Wrightsville Beach at the corner of Airlie Road and Military Cutoff Road/Oleander Drive, next to Airlie Gardens.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). We could as easily translate this as “where your money is…” and not miss the mark. When we give to support St. Andrew’s On-the-Sound we are helping to secure a place where our hearts feel at home. Everything we are as a loving community, our worship, our study, our service, and our play is founded on what we give together.

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We are grateful for those who support this church by their presence Sunday to Sunday, and we invite others to join us again.
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