On Sunday, Oct. 7, St. John's Episcopal Church, Norwood Parish, is pleased to invite all pet guardians to our annual Blessing of the Animals and to meet adoptable animals from local rescue organizations at the Pet Adoption Fair to be held at the church preceding the Blessing service.

Starting at 2 p.m. with the Pet Adoption Fair, St. John's will enthusiastically mark the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, traditionally the patron saint of animals and the environment. Following the Fair, at the start of our regular 5 p.m. "Come As You Are" worship service, all pet guardians and their furry, feathered or finned family members are invited to join us inside the church to celebrate the importance of our pets in our lives. St. John's clergy will offer individual blessings for each pet. Dogs and cats will each receive a special memento of the event to take home with them. If your pet is more of a homebody and prefers not to travel, photos are welcome, and those pets will also receive an individual blessing, in absentia!

Animals and their human guardians are welcome and encouraged to stay for the regular worship/communion service, which will continue after the Blessing of the Animals. All are welcome, regardless of their faith tradition. A wine and cheese reception will follow the service where we look forward to meeting our visitors and their pets! For those who prefer not to stay for the entire service, please know that everyone is encouraged to stay for as long or short a time as is comfortable for them.

The Pet Adoption Fair will feature adoptable animals from local rescues, which are eager to meet potential new forever families. From 2 to 5 p.m., representatives from Montgomery County SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), Pet Connect and The Metropolitan Guinea Pig Rescue will be at the church along with some of their precious adoptable charges. Come meet the newest member of your family! 

If you are unsure about adopting an animal, take the opportunity to chat with the representatives from these rescues about fostering a homeless, abandoned or forgotten pet while they await their forever home. If adopting isn't an option, fostering is a marvelous way to help save a needy animal's life and a wonderfully rewarding experience. So, there's something for everyone at our diverse Pet Adoption Fair! 

We hope to see you and your pets on Sunday, October 7!

St. John's Episcopal Church, Norwood Parish

6701 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, MD (Wisconsin Avenue at Bradley Lane)

For more information, contact the church office at 301-654-7767.