St. Francis and the Blessing of the Animals

Gal 6:14-18 & Matt 11:25-30
 
Collect
O GOD, who by the merits of blessed Francis dost increase thy Church with a new offspring: grant, we beseech thee; that after his pattern we may learn to despise all things earthly, and ever to rejoice in the partaking of thy heavenly bounty. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
This Sunday, October 4, we commemorate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the little poor man who looked at the world and saw it blazing with the glory of God. Most of us know him for the birds and the wolves, the flowers and the animals, and that is why our pet blessing is this Saturday, October 3. But the Francis of history is stranger and more wonderful than we could imagine, and the propers for his feast show us why.
 
The Collect for his day speaks of "a new offspring" of the Church. Francis did not set out to found a religious order. He set out to obey Jesus literally. While in the ruined chapel of San Damiano, he had a vision where Jesus told him to "Go, repair My house," and Francis began by mending stones. He took the Gospel at face value, especially the passage from Matthew 11: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden." After much physical toil, Francis decided that the answer was not to try harder but to come to Christ empty-handed. He gave away everything, embraced poverty, and discovered that a man who owns nothing has nothing to lose and can therefore be utterly free.
 
That is the connection to the Gospel: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:3). Francis became a little one, small, poor, unimportant, and to him were revealed the things of heaven. The Christian life is a homecoming. We come to Christ burdened, and He gives us rest.
 
And this is where the animals come in. Francis preached to the birds because he believed creation belongs to God and therefore every creature is his brother and sister under one Father. When we bring our dogs and cats and hamsters to be blessed, we are acknowledging that the whole created order belongs to Christ, and that we are stewards, not owners, of the lives entrusted to us.
 
So bring your pets this Saturday morning between 9am -11am. Bring the old dog who has grown gray in your service, the cat who rules the household, the anxious rescue who is learning to trust. Bring them to be blessed, and while you are at it, bring yourself - laboring, burdened, in need of rest - to the One who is meek and humble of heart. Francis would tell you that the same Lord who made the birds of the air made you, loves you, and invites you to lay down your load at His feet.
"The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." May our hearts, like Francis', learn that holy freedom.
 
See you and your companions at the blessing!
 
--- Fr. Chris Fish
 
All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee
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Services & Events

This Saturday, Oct 3, 9:00 - 11:00 AM, Blessing of the Animals,  ALL pets are welcome. Bring your dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and even your pet photos! Please make sure your beloved pets are leashed or caged for their safety. In addition to the blessing there will be free pet medals, kerchiefs and treats for our furry friends! Invite friends and neighbors to being their pets too. To help set up please arrive between 8:30 & 8:45 AM.

Sunday, 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM services, for online participation go to
https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland or to 
https://www.youtube.com/@StAndrewandStMargaret/streams

Nursery during both services

Sunday School, 10:30 AM
 
Wednesday, Noon, Holy Communion and anointing for healing, for online participation go to https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland or to 
https://www.youtube.com/@StAndrewandStMargaret/streams
 
Wednesday, 7:30 PM, Bible study starting on Jesus and David offered by Fr. Bragg in the undercroft
for online participation go to https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland or to 
https://www.youtube.com/@StAndrewandStMargaret/streams

Saturday, Oct 24, 8:30 AM, Men's Group Breakfast and Bible study with Fr. Bragg, good food, good fellowship and great Bible study.

Monday. Oct 26,  7:30 PM, Vestry meeting in the undercroft.

Wednesday, Oct 28, St. Simon & St. Jude, 12 noon 

And Save The Date: Saturday, Nov 7, DMAS Pre-Advent Retreat hosted by our parish, more details to follow
MaRiH Crisis Pregnancy Center: Updated Critical
Needs & More
 
Below are 2 recently updated lists: the critical needs list and the needs list. The all volunteer staff of the MaRiH Center and the families that they help are very thankful for the support that our parish continues to provide.

Critical Needs:
Diapers: sizes 5 and 6
Girls winter clothes: size 3-6 months 
Girls winter clothes: size 6 months 
Boys and girls winter coats: size 2T
Baby Wipes
Baby Blankets
Baby formula: Similac Advance Formula
Bibs: toddler
Baby shampoo
Diaper bags
Diaper rash ointment or cream
Car seat: infant
Other needs:
Diapers: sizes newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4
Spring/Summer Clothing: sizes 3-6 month, 9-12 month, 18-24 month, 
Bibs: infant
Maternity clothes: (Spring/Summer). (Fall/Winter)
Wash cloths
Hooded towels
Baby bottles
Baby formula: All other Similac & Enfamil types. Also accept Alimentum & Nutramigen. No other brands are accepted. Please make sure dates have not expired.
Sleep sack: 0-6, 6-12 month
There are two options for helping the Center with these needs:
Option 1 
Amazon has all the specific items needed. You can order the specific item(s) and have them delivered directly to the Center.  

The MaRiH Center
3230B Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-4521
703-370-4774

Option 2 
Go to your local store, purchase the items requested and drop them off at church on Sunday. We will deliver them to the MaRiH Center.
 
 
Food Bank 
 
The food bank continues to need our assistance to feed the hungry. .

Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Those we help feed are very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar). Also lower sodium products are better and more healthy.

Current needs include the following:
canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
tuna (cans or foil packages)
peanut butter. jelly
canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
individual fruit cups (low sugar)
canned fruit (low sugar)
canola or vegetable oil (48 oz)
boxed cereal (low sugar) and instant or old fashioned oatmeal (18 oz or 42 oz)
pasta (regular and gluten-free):
instant potatoes
single serving fruit juice
macaroni & cheese
soups: Chunky or Progresso, chicken noodle soup; chicken broth, cream of mushroom. tomato
coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
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Our mailing address is:
St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
1607 Dewitt Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1625