----- Original Message -----
From: <chasrscott@...>
To: <faithandlife@...>
Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2004 1:38 AM
Subject: [FaithandLife] Unbelievable


Fr. Erich wrote:

Brothers,

Below are the first two paragraphs of an article on the front page of the
Wall Street Journal, March 10, 2004.

HOUSES OF WORSHIP ARE REACHING OUT TO A FLOCK OF PETS

"Purr Box Goes to Communion at St. Francis Episcopal..."
<snip>
. . . . its just weird.

Blessings,
Erich+

----------------------------------------------
Then Charles+ wrote:

> Fr. Erich+
>
> I thought dogs in church was part of the Anglican tradition.
>
> Bp Clavier, commenting on church furniture once said that the reason
communion rails were installed in English churches was to keep the dogs from
peeing on the altar.   8-)
> <snip>
> Charles+

This reminds me of a visit to Colorado last summer.   On Sunday we worshiped
with the ACC congregation at the Church of St. John in Idaho Springs, CO.
The Rector is Bishop Fischer.  As newcomers we we started at the end of the
last hymn, and at the first line of the postlude, to see the sacristy door
burst open seemingly spontaneously.

Racing forth, because they recognized the end of the service and their
permission to enter, were two miniature dachshunds who then raced in circles
of joy before the altar!  Named Annie (for St. Anne) and Sissy (St.
Cecilia), they were the pets of the rector, well trained to wait until after
Mass to enter, but then unrestrainable.  Judy and I enjoyed it thoroughly,
while the rest of the congregation took it totally in stride as a normal
weekly occurance.  No, they did not receive communion.

John+