"A Blessing of Animals, in many congregations, witnesses to God's and the Church's love, care and concern for creation. As we recognize our mutual interdependence with God's creatures, the Church's witness of stewardship of creation is strengthened." (UM Book of Worship)

This Sunday we will celebrate a Blessing of the Animals at 2:00pm in the church parking lot. The Blessing of the Animals is one of my favorite special services. As lover of animals, I appreciate the opportunity to give God thanks for our four-legged friends. We picked the first Sunday of October since it is the Sunday closest to St. Francis of Assisi's feast day. In the Roman Catholic tradition St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals. St. Francis considered the creature of the earth his brothers and sisters.

I hope you will join me in giving thanks to God for the all the animals of the earth! "O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures." (Psalm 104: 25)

Yesterday Gary and I participated in the Vermont Walk to Defeat ALS. I know of others in our congregation who participated in yesterday's Alzheimer's Walk going in Shelburne. Additionally there are many others in our congregation who walk (or paddle!) for other causes including breast cancer, diabetes, and hunger.

Walking is a way to feel like we can do something in the face of uncertainty. As I walked yesterday I thought of my father who died of ALS last December. I know he would have been proud of me. Walking is a way to honor the suffering and courage of others. Walking is also a way to raise awareness. When you see a mass of people walking down the road all wearing the same T-Shirt you've got to wonder what is going on!

Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Matthew, "People don't light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." As followers of Christ we are called to shed light in the darkness. Many of the causes that we walk for are things that people don't like to talk about ~ Alzheimer's, Cancer, ASL, Hunger. By bringing attention to them we are bringing them out into the light. By shedding light in dark places we can begin to bring justice and healing and hope to others. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it.

“What the world needs is people who believe so much in another world that they cannot help but begin enacting it right now.” ~ Shane Claiborne

This Sunday is the last Sunday of our Season of Creation and it is "River" Sunday. Throughout the Bible rivers symbolize renewal and new life. The river is even central in the Holy City envisioned in the Book of Revelation. "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb." This river sustains the trees of life that grow on its banks and bring healing to the nations.

This new creation described in Revelation is one of joy, love and refreshment in the presence of God. In the Holy City there will be no darkness, no pain, no sorrow. While darkness, pain and sorrow are part of this life, I wonder if there are ways that we can begin in live into the Holy City ~ the Kingdom of God ~ even now? Can we be like those trees of life that grow along the river ~ growing in God's grace and sharing healing with all we meet?

(Picture of the Winooski River in Montpelier)

On the first Sunday of Church School Maggie asked our Church School kids "What makes a good Church School teacher?" Of course the first response was no homework! Maggie asked the kids to draw the characteristics of a good Church School teacher on the white board.

Some of the traits that came up were:

~ a good sense of humor
~ ears to listen
~ mouth to smile
~ hands to reach out
~ heart to love
~ soul to be guided by God

I love the Church School teacher our children described and drew together! In fact, this generic Church School teacher sounds a lot like our current Church School teachers! My thanks to everyone who gives of their time and talent to our youth and children's ministries. May we all strive to live up to the characteristics described by our children, because every day each one of us has a chance to teach someone about God!

Several women of our church joined together last weekend at the Bishop Booth Center in Burlington for a time of retreat and renewal. This retreat was specifically for the women of Faith UMC and the focus was on life's passages. Women from several different generations shared laughter, wisdom and guidance with each other. We also created this life-loom weaving representing the different passages we have experienced. Our weekend flowed from inward reflection to outward reaching to upward devotion.

The retreat itself was a wonderful blessing. (Thanks to all who worked so hard to organize, plan and bring it to fruition!) One of the best parts of it for me was being together in a different way. It was great to be interacting outside of the church building and church meetings and really getting to know each other in a new environment. The retreat setting fostered a deeper kind of sharing among new friends and old.

The author of Acts described the early Christians in this way: "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Are there things we can do (continue to do) to build our fellowship together as believers? Are there additional steps we can take or opportunities we can provide that will help us grow in our inward, outward and upward reaching faith?