By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—Bring your furry, feathered or scaly friend to Crosscreek Baptist Church in Pelham on Oct. 12 for a special Blessing of the Animals service at 3 p.m.

“It’s both awesome and hilarious,” Crosscreek Baptist Church Pastor Brandon Hudson said of the service, which includes song, scripture, a blessing, and some barking, meowing and squawking.

The Blessing of the Animals service is a tradition at Crosscreek Baptist Church. It often falls in October around the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, a saint widely known for his love of animals.

“It’s a chance to say thanks for the animals,” Hudson said. “It’s an opportunity to be together in a church setting with our animals, which doesn’t happen very often.”

The service typically lasts between 30 minutes and one hour, and last year, Hudson offered an individual blessing over each animal for the good health and good companionship of each pet.

“I enjoyed praying over each animal,” Hudson said. “I think it’s important to people that sometimes their animals are prayed for.”

The service will take place outside on the lawn of the church, located at 600 Crosscreek Trail. “Any animal” is welcome, although Hudson requested pets be leashed.

“We are a very animal friendly church,” Hudson said, adding he often brings his dog to work with him. “(It’s a chance) to celebrate that God has blessed us with our animal friends.”