Pawsing for Prayer

With four-legged worshippers lining the pews, services at Christ Church in Beaurepaire last weekend had a distinctly offbeat flavour. On Sunday the church was the scene of Paws and Pray, a collaborative effort with Companion Animal Adoption Centres of Quebec (caacQ) and the first of its kind in the province. Despite the potential for pandemonium, “it went very well. The dogs all got along; there were no episodes,” Reverend Michael Johnson said. “There were at least 30 dogs of all shapes and sizes, from a baby Chihuahua that could fit in the palm of your hand, to retrievers, to a 100-lb.-plus bulldog. Most of them sat in people’s laps in the pews, while the bigger ones stood in the aisles. “There was some barking, of course, but on the whole they were quite well-behaved,” he said. The event was intended as a celebration of our relationship with man’s best friend. It was the first in a series of four monthly services in which parishioners will be invited to worship alongside their furry companions, Johnson explained. The idea was proposed by Johanne Tasse of the caacQ. “She approached me with the idea after hearing about a church in the U.S. which had done this. Johanne had it all well co-ordinated, and helped keep the dogs from confrontation.” Johnson conducted a one-hour, full Communion service, complete with reading from Scripture – not to mention doggy treats and water bowls. “The dogs even kept quiet during the sermon,” he said, adding, it “was a fun and inspiring afternoon.” The response from church members in attendance was also very positive. “Many said that they would be back again next month.” The next Paws and Pray service will be held Nov. 1. For more information, call 514-697-2204, or visit www.caacq.ca.