The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer and First United Methodist Church in Brookhaven will conduct a special “Blessing of the Animals” on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m., in the Redeemer’s Trinity Park, at the corner of West Monticello and South Jackson streets. The event is free, and all animals and “their people” are invited.

The service, which is traditional in both the Anglican and Methodist churches, witnesses to God’s and the church’s love, care and concern for all creation. The church recognizes humanity’s mutual interdependence with God’s creatures, and the need to be good stewards of God’s creation is vitally important.

In the Bible, humans are charged with caring for all the animals that live on the land, swim in the seas, and fly in the skies. In Genesis 1:26, it says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’”

Father Andrew McLarty, Priest-in-Charge of the Redeemer, and Rev. Stacy Douglas, pastor of First United Methodist, will perform a brief blessing over the gathered animals. There will also be contests for “Best Costume,” “Cuddliest Canine,” “Friendliest Feline” and “Best in Show.”

Although the event is free, both churches ask participants to bring donations of dog, puppy, or cat food; or cleaning supplies (bleach, paper towels, etc.), to be donated to the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League.

For more information, contact Church of the Redeemer at 601-833-7399, or First United Methodist Church at 601-833-3519.