As part of the Great Aycliffe Festival, St. Clare’s Church held it’s first ever Family Service for pets and their owners on Saturday July 23rd. The theme for the weekend was All Things Bright and Beautiful and the church and halls certainly reflected this, with a display of flora and fauna photographs and a creative look at litter. The service began at 10.30 am and was almost an exclusive dog service if it were not for
the lovely Coco the guinea pig, who was very well behaved and squeaked in all the right places ! After a short welcome by Reverends Debbie and Elizabeth the service began with the song ‘If I were a butterfly’, continuing with a reflective diary entry from both a dog and a cat’s perspective – very different and oh so true. Each owner was then invited to come forward and receive a blessing for themselves as carers and the pets also were blessed and thanked for all they bring to our lives. The service ended with, of course, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All creatures great and small, with more than one dog joining in! Then it was outside in the sunshine for a pet parade where awards were given for specific categories – the winners received a rosette, certificate and small treat and all the children enjoyed a lollipop. Inside the coffee morning, which is held every week, was extra busy with delicious cakes and bacon sarnies on offer with a chance to view the displays. A huge thank you to Clare from Wilson’s Vets who helped judge the pet show and was on hand to give advice on pet care, also to the Dogs Trust for coming along and to the health and wellbeing team whose display was interactive and informative. We hope to make this an annual event as it was such a great morning and we hope to encourage lots more of you, the townspeople to come along next time and join in and to have many more creatures great and small.