On Saturday 6 June, Braydon Brook Benefice had its first ever Zoom Pet Service. The idea was formed, posters created, zoom invites sent.
As the day arrived and people join in sheep and lambs galore were seen, the local farmer Richard, moved sheep from field to paddock, so that the participants could all ooh and aah over what they could see. Young lambs with their mums, leaping and bleating with joy. They knew they were part of something unique, something special!
Back into everyone’s homes and the service began, cats meowed, dogs barked, caterpillars quietly hummed. There was peace, there was contentment and there was much love.
Now, not everyone had a pet and that was alright, someone brought along Kermit the frog, others brought cuddly bear, cuddly gorilla and cuddly dog.
“It was good fun, though sadly no horses appeared, which I was expecting, maybe next time!”, said Revd Tonya Nixon, Rector to the Braydon Brook Benefice.
Stories were told about the relationship between human and pet, love given and love received. One person spoke of how they trained dogs to work with the blind. And some of participants danced with their pets when the song, ‘If I were a butterfly’ was played.
Now, not everyone had a pet and that was alright, someone brought along Kermit the frog, others brought cuddly bear, cuddly gorilla and cuddly dog.
The service ended with their pets being blessed and then of course treats were shared.
Will they do it again? You bet!
Anything they’d do differently? Nothing at all.
Would they encourage others to do something similar? Yes, yes, yes...it’s a risk, but then we’re followers of Christ and where there are risks, there we will find God.