In-person worship at 9:30 on Sunday mornings. Services include prayer, scripture reading, a brief message, and lively music. Children are invited to remain in worship or participate in Children’s Church.
The last Sunday of the month is our “All Together Worship” Service which is designed for children and adults and features multiple ways to engage scripture. Participants can choose from a range of reflection activities including art, drama, journaling, and meditation.
“Blessing of the Animals”
Blessing future generations….
Our annual Blessing of the Animals usually focuses on our beloved pets. It’s an important acknowledgement of our connection to all of God’s creatures and the ways they bless our lives. This year, let us look beyond those animals that share our homes and our farms to those animals that we may only know from photographs or from an occasional favored glimpse in the wild. Specifically, let’s focus on endangered species.
Most of us know the story of the recovery of Bald Eagle populations. Bald Eagles were once listed as endangered in most states, but the banning of the pesticide DDT and other protective measures, including the Endangered Species Act, changed the course of history for this majestic bird. If you are unfamiliar with this story, more information is available here: https://www.fws.gov/species/bald-eagle-haliaeetus-leucocephalus.
Recent changes to the Endangered Species Act could have serious consequences for some of our most vulnerable species. The controversy centers on the reinterpretation of “harm” in such a way that habitat destruction is no longer included. Here is the Department of the Interior’s press release related to this change: https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/trump-administration-finalizes-endangered-species-act-regulation-reform.
For an explanation of what this change means, this article from Stanford Law is a good starting place: https://law.stanford.edu/2026/07/23/endangered-species-acts-harm-rule-explained-what-the-change-means-for-wildlife/.
And this letter from former Directors of U.S. Fish and Wildlife and former Assistant Directors of NOAA Fisheries sounds the alarm about the impact of this change to the Endangered Species Act: https://www.endangered.org/assets/uploads/2026/09/ESA-Harm-Rule-Letter-Former-Directors.pdf.
When we celebrate a Blessing of the Animals, we celebrate the interconnectedness of creation, and we affirm our responsibilities to God’s very good creation. This responsibility extends beyond kind thoughts to advocacy and action. Here are some possible next steps:
Educate. Continue to educate yourself about this issue and about Endangered and Threatened Species. Here’s a list specific to Oregon: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/diversity/species/threatened_endangered_candidate_list.asp.
Advocate. Make your values known to your elected officials. There are currently bills in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate related to this recent change to the Endangered Species Act. Congressman Cliff Bentz represents the 2nd Congressional District of Oregon and serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources. Oregon’s Senators are Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. A quick internet query will tell you how to communicate with their offices.
The investment of a few minutes of your time to make a call or send an email can be a blessing to God’s creatures and to future human generations who will live with the consequences of our actions (or our silence).
