Blessing best friends

Michele Marr

On Sunday, at the Huntington Beach Church of Religious Science, under

the late-afternoon summer sun, it looked like it had rained cats and

dogs.

Dozens of pets and their owners gathered for the Day of Blessing Our

Animals, part of the church’s ongoing Animal Kinship Ministry.

“We do this every year to honor our animals,” said Christi Coker,

director of the ministry. “This is their special day of acknowledgment --

a tribute to them.”

In the parking lot of the church where the event was staged cats dozed

in their carriers. Some looked bored and aloof. Dogs on leashes yapped

and squirmed, pranced and wagged their tails.

“They always quiet down when we begin. They seem to know that this is

especially for them,” said the Rev. Peggy Price, senior minister of the

church.

When church practitioner Barry Byram took the microphone to give

thanks for the gift of animals, there was for a moment a muffled bark

here and soft woof there. Then the dogs were calm and quiet.

Only a quick round of barks -- possibly an agreement -- went through

the canine crowd when church member Jan Liss sang, “He cheers you up by

chewing up the news,” from “Times Like This.”

Prayers included the prayer of Francis of Assisi, Catholic saint and

protector or animals. Calvin Coker, Christi Coker’s husband and member of

the animal ministry team, sang “You Are So Beautiful.”

This year, dogs of service across the nation received special honors.

Christi Coker called for a moment of silence to remember the dogs that

worked so tirelessly and long in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 to find

both survivors and the dead among the victims of those terrorist attacks.

Some dogs lost their lives in the efforts.

Coker also presented an award of $250 to the Huntington Beach Police

Department’s four K-9 Unit teams. Officer Jerry Abrahams and his K-9

partner, Belgian Malinois Sheky, attended Sunday’s observance to accept

the award before hastily leaving to assist with a pursuit.

Price blessed the water used for the ceremonial blessings. “Water

represents spirit, which flows through everything, everywhere, at every

moment,” she said.

She and several practitioners went into the crowd with the water to

offer a unique blessing for each animal and their owner.

Wynne Tapley brought her white, West Highland Terrier, McDougal and

her newly adopted 10-week old tabby, Mimi, to Sunday’s ceremony to be

blessed.

McDougal wore a bandanna and hot pink sunglasses.

“He’s got lots of costumes, vests and ties, even Santa Claus,” Tapley

said.

Kay Long and her granddaughter Katie Nicole were there with Long’s

three Persian cats, Bogie, Bunnie and Precious.

“I brought them to receive the blessings of our heavenly Father,” Long

said.

Kathy and Chris Myers who are new to the church came with their

1-year-old yellow Labrador, Luke. They had photos of his housemates, a

black Labrador and three cats, in their pockets.

“We decided to come because our animals really are a big part of our

family,” Kathy Myers said.

When the last animal was blessed they all got treats -- chunks of

chicken and steak that Christi Coker cooked just for them.

* MICHELE MARR is a freelance writer and graphic designer from

Huntington Beach. She has been interested in religion and ethics for as

long as she can remember. She can be reached at o7

[email protected]