Calvary Episcopal Church Perfect Paws Pet Ministry

All Saints Episcopal Church (formerly Calvary, Danvers and St. Paul’s Peabody), located at 46 Cherry St., Danvers, is proud to offer the first-of-its-kind Perfect Paws Pet Ministry. The special worship service for people and their canines (on leashes) and other household pets (in carrying crates, please) runs from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month, welcoming human companions and their well-mannered, companion animals to participate. All faiths are welcome ... in O’Neill Hall at All Saints Episcopal Church, Danvers, across from Town Hall. A complete worship service, with Holy Communion, is offered for those who wish to partake, and for people who prefer, special blessings are bestowed on them and their pets, who also receive species-appropriate animal treats at the end of the service. Individuals are able to submit special prayers for animals who are unable to attend, whether due to illness, temperament, or those who are deceased. “Animals make us feel loved and appreciated in an unconditional way, a feeling we’ve lost, sometimes, in our human lives. It’s a rich and authentic experience of God’s love,” says Rev. Thea Keith-Lucas, rector of All Saints, who officiates at the services. All Saints’s offering -- for all animals, not only canines -- is the first of its kind in the nation, although there are a few other churches in the U.S. that offer similar services solely for canines. “There’s a growing movement in the Episcopal church to appreciate, care for and bless animals,” Rev. Thea says. “It’s a new thread within our tradition that goes hand-in- hand with the stewardship of our environment. An initiative at our General Convention two summers ago dealt with how to address the real grief of parishioners in the loss of their animal friends,” she explains. “I hope All Saints’s new Pet Ministry will offer people who come -- who don’t usually think of church as a place to experience acceptance and joy and support –something new in their lives.” Go to Perfect Paws to find out more about our service. / Animals and the Bible