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VERSION:2.0
PRODID:icalendar-ruby
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260919T120541Z
UID:184-85978@joy-lutheran.com
DTSTART:20261004T213000Z
DTEND:20261004T223000Z
CLASS:PUBLIC
CREATED:20260917T103126
DESCRIPTION:Bring your pet(s) or a stuffed animal to receive a blessing! We
  give thanks to God for gifts of our pets who reflect God's love and the h
 armony of all creation. \nTogether\, we will hear a reading from Genesis 
 and say a prayer. Then Pastor Sean and Pastor Elsa will extend individual 
 blessings to every pet and their caretakers.\nAlso\, we have partnered wit
 h Paws for Purple Hearts - a non-profit organization who trains service do
 gs for veterans. They will be on-site to talk about their organization and
  how you can support their work. They are another example of how pets bles
 s us in so many ways! \nAll are welcome! You can particpate as much as li
 ttle as you feel comfortable. \nWant to know the history behind Blessing 
 of the Animals?\nThe Blessing of the Animals is a tradition inspired by St
 . Francis of Assisi\, famous for his deep love and care of all God’s cre
 atures. Celebrated during the first week of October\, this rite commemorat
 es his teachings on kindness and respect for animals. People bring their p
 ets to receive a blessing recognizing the holy bond between humans and ani
 mals. Animals are a special gift from God\, our Creator! This rite reflect
 s St. Francis’ belief in the harmony of all living beings and their rela
 tionship to the divine. \nFrancis brought us the living Christmas nativit
 y scene? In the year 1223 in Greccio\, Italy he gathered people in an outd
 oor stable to portray Mary\, Joseph\, the shepherds\, and the angels. He a
 lso added animals - cow\, donkey\, sheep\, etc. Legend says that when aske
 d\, Francis said “Surely the animals praised the new messiah just as the
  shepherds and angels did!” \nAnd so in honor of this faithful saint we
  gather today with our beloved pets and all God’s creatures to give than
 ks for them and celebrate the joy they bring.
LAST-MODIFIED:20260917T103126
LOCATION:Eagle River Town Square Park
SUMMARY:Blessing of the Animals
URL;VALUE=URI:https://www.joy-lutheran.com/events/blessing-of-the-animals--
 184/2026-10-04
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END:VEVENT
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