Old First is known around Philadelphia as the church with the live animal creche at Christmas time. In October, we invite animals of every size and shape into our courtyard for our annual Blessing of the Animals, to be held this year on Sunday, October 14 at 11 am.
It’s a fun day in the courtyard, not too churchy, sort of all creatures great and small. We can probably pull off not just Christian blessings (or blessings for Christian dogs and cats), but a Baruch for a Jewish horse or an Assalamu Alaikum for a Muslim bird, a Namaste for a Hindu frog, or a Wai for your Tai pet snake. We can probably, on the fly, come up with a blessing for a pet who professes to be of no faith as well.
No matter who you are, or whether you have hair, fur, feathers or scales, you are welcome at Old First!
