First Church and Parish - Dedham

October 19, 2025

​Blessing of the Animals

 

This week we will be celebrating and recommitting

our blessings toward the animals with whom we share

our homes and our world, and attending to their teachings.

Please bring a photo (physical or digital) of a special animal

in your life to share with your neighbors in the pews, and/or

a stuffed animal.

 

We will have a time to light a candle and place a portrait

on the altar in memoriam of pets who have died

(especially in the past year, but not strictly limited). 

Please remember to take your pet portraits home

at the end of the service.

 

Please, NO LIVE ANIMALS except those trained

to assist those with a disability.

 

This Sunday is also our monthly honoring of Joys and Concerns.

We will try out a new practice used in other UU congregations.

You are invited to write your name on your Joy/Concern. If you don’t want your name read out loud, we’ll have an “anonymous”

box to check. Please still write your name so staff and Parish

Community Network can follow up with you directly.

We hope making Joys and Concerns more personal will create opportunities for deeper connection with one another outside of the service.

 

With love, Rev. Mel

​

Please join us for a social hour after service for coffee, tea, refreshments and fellowship in the Parish House dining room .