WAKE FOREST, N.C. (WTVD) -- Worshippers at St. John's Episcopal Church in Wake Forest celebrated the feast of St. Francis Assisi with a blessing of the animals.
"He preached to the birds. He preached to squirrels. He was a little bit crazy, but that came actually from a very profound place of loving all of what God has made and blessing it," said Reverend Sarah Phelps.
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From cats and dogs to a memorial prayer for a hissing cockroach, every animal brought to the church received blessing.
"It may sound silly and superficial, but it does it bring a lot of joy. There's a lot of laughter, but it actually is very profound thing to recognize that all features of the creatures that God has made are holy and sacred creatures."
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Typically, the annual event has those attendance gather under a shady tree. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, worshippers participated in a drive-thru.