October 1, 2026

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Dear Friends,

Do you remember those “How It Started vs. How It’s Going” photos that made their way around the internet during COVID? Two simple pictures, side by side—a small beginning and then a glimpse of what blossomed from it. In a year when we were all searching for hope, those photos reminded us that even in hard times, good things can grow.

Lately, I’ve been picturing what those two photos might look like for us at St. Nick’s.

In the first photo, I see us gathered outside for worship, so grateful just to see each other’s faces and hear each other’s voices again. And of course, somewhere in that picture, there’s a dog—maybe more than one! We’ve always been animal lovers at St. Nick’s, and when worship moved outdoors, our COVID puppies and dogs came right along with us. They curled up beside our chairs, greeted their friends, and sometimes even added their own barky and joyful “amen.”

For a great many of us, our animals helped carry us through that season in ways we may not have expected. When the days felt lonely and uncertain, they still needed their walks and their meals. They still wanted us to sit beside them. They greeted us with joy, even if we had only stepped away for a moment. Their simple needs shaped our days, and their companionship reminded us – over and over again – that we were loved.

In the second photo, it’s Sunday morning. We’re still gathering outdoors at 8 a.m., and the dogs are still right there with us. Some of them know the routine so well that their people have told me they get excited when it’s time for church, and a little sad when they can’t come. They know, just as we do, that St. Nick’s is their church home, too. When we say everyone belongs – we mean it!

What started as a safe way to worship together has become one of the unexpected gifts of our life together. When I look out and see children, grown-ups, and beloved dogs all sharing the morning and their love of God, my heart is full of gratitude for the life we have created here at St. Nick’s.  Even the chorus of barking is a reminder of how much life and joy are present among us.

This Saturday, October 3, from 5 to 7 p.m., we’ll gather for the Blessing of the Animals, inspired by and in thanksgiving of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis loved creation because he loved the God who made it. Stories about him tell of his preaching to the birds, who stayed as though they were listening, and of his meeting with a wolf that had frightened the people of Gubbio. Francis helped the townspeople see that the hungry wolf needed their care, too. Whether we hear these stories as folklore or as invitations to see the world differently, they remind us that every creature has a place in God’s creation. I hope you’ll bring the animals you love and join us in giving thanks for them.

Our pets have so much to teach us about unconditional love. They stay close when we are sad. They are glad to see us, even on days when we feel like we have very little to give. They invite us to pay attention, to be gentle, and to show up for them, day after day. In loving them and being loved by them, we catch a glimpse of the generous love God has for each of us.

So I invite you to bring your pets to St. Nick’s this Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. Bring a neighbor, too. If you are remembering an animal you have loved and lost, bring a photo. There is room for your gratitude and your grief in our prayers together.

How it started: a church gathered outside, finding our way through a difficult time with dogs huddled close. How it’s going: some of those same dogs and lots of new ones know the way to church now. So do we. And week by week, God keeps teaching us how to make room, give thanks, and love all the creatures who gather here.

God’s peace, love, and blessings,
Rev. Beth