It served as both a tribute to the beauty of local fauna as well as a reminder that environmental stewardship is a pillar of Christianity, church leaders said.
‘‘As a church, we feel a particular call to reflect the ethical and spiritual value of prizing our Earth in this time of global warming,” said the Rev. Judy Young.
Animal blessings are becoming more common with many churches, often reflecting this green perspective, said United Methodist Church spokesman Stephen Drachler from the church’s Nashville headquarters.
‘‘It represents that we are all God’s creatures, and our pets are important members of our families,” he said. ‘‘This is an opportunity to recognize the relationship we have with the animals in our household and we have in our community.”
Maggie Range, who brought her 3-and-a-half-year-old cat Noodle to the service, complimented Young on reaching across religious lines when she invited the community to contribute.
The event touches an environmentally friendly perspective felt by many in Washington Grove, Range said.
‘‘I thought it was a lovely idea,” she said while cradling Noodle.
Linda Buel, Stoney Boy’s owner, agreed, adding that it’s a great way to get to know what animals her neighbors fancy.
Drachler said he’s unfamiliar with other churches employing virtual means for the ceremony, but said he could see it catching on.
‘‘I would imagine that as more churches add technology to their worship experiences, this type of using slideshows and PowerPoints and overhead presentations is becoming more and more common,” Drachler said.
The idea came during a creative meeting of the church’s worship committee last month, Young said. The slideshow reduces stress for animals and their owners, and also helps include more wildlife, she said.
Grove resident George Paine, a freelance photographer and information securities professional, coordinated the submitted photographs in the 5-minute slideshow.
During the blessing, Young referenced paintings by Quaker artist Edward Hicks, which she said feature a sense of ‘‘profound peace” in the relationships between humans and animals.
‘‘With God’s help, we are called to move away from domination, and towards preservation,” she said during the ceremony. ‘‘We’re called to care for all animals, loving them as we love our pets.”
