9.12.2023 PBPC Family Bulletin
PBPC Family,
This Sunday, as part of our celebration of the Season of Creation, we will have a Pet Blessing. Traditionally, Pet Blessings are held on the Sunday closest to Saint Francis of Assisi's Feast Day, which is October 4th. Saint Francis is considered the patron saint of animals and the environment.
While we don't observe the Catholic calendar and all its feasts for saints, nor do we hold to the veneration of and prayer to saints, we can still appreciate and adopt practices from the Catholic Tradition. I believe a Pet Blessing is one worth adopting.
I'll say a bit more this Sunday, but our pets and our relationships with them are rooted in God's invitation to the first man and woman in the garden - be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over every living creature. Christians have sometimes taken the ideas of subduing creation and exercising dominion over it as a carte blanche freedom to do whatever we want. We are in charge - all of creation will submit to our rule. This is a misunderstanding. God's invitation to humanity to subdue and have dominion over creation is not so we might bend it to our will, but so we might steward, cultivate, and care for creation. That we might help creation, in all its beautiful variations, flourish and grow.
When we tame, house, feed, wash, play with and provide for our pets, we are living into that call to subdue and have dominion over the earth. We are tending to one creature (or more if we are an avid pet lover). Caring for pets is but one way we take care of this world. And as all pet owners know, we don't just provide for our pets, we come to love them deeply. That love is worth acknowledging in our worship together.
So this Sunday, bring your pet, or a picture of them and we will bless them as part of our call to care for all of creation.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Calvin
"Beyond Tolerance"
Romans 14:1-12
Calvin Sodestrom
Lectionary Readings for September 17
As things come together for our joint worship service at First Pres Berkeley, I wanted to lay out some details to ensure that everyone knows what's going on!
Joint Choir: There will be a joint choir singing during the service. Choir practice will be held on Thursday (9/21) at 7:00pm and then Sunday morning (9/24) at 9:00am. I am still waiting to find out if there is child care for either practice.
Parking: There is a parking garage underneath First Pres Berkeley's campus. Entrance to the parking garage is on Channing. If the lot is full, there is a parking garage across the street - entrance also on Channing - and First Pres Berkeley can validate your parking ticket.
Worship: The worship service is at 10:00am and the service will be around 75 minutes.
Post Worship Activities: Following worship, we will have a potluck on First Pres' plaza. There will be lots of people there so if you choose to bring something, be sure to put your name on your dish. At 12:15pm, William Yoo, who is the guest preacher that day, will host an additional conversation for those who want to hear more from him and his work.
If you need a ride on that Sunday, please let me know. I am coordinating rides for that Sunday and want to make sure everyone can join us. If you are willing to drive others, let me know. And if you have any questions, don't be afraid to reach out.