Nevada County residents Judy Kenney, left, and Chris Parks bring their dogs to receive a touch of the divine during the Blessing of the Animals, to be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at Peace Lutheran Church, 828 W. Main St., near downtown Grass Valley. Photo by Trina Kleist

GRASS VALLEY, Calif. October 2, 2019 – All creatures great and small will be welcomed at a Blessing of the Animals at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at Peace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley.

This free and informal event honors the concept of a God who embraces all of creation. It commemorates the feast day of the Italian saint, Francis of Assisi, who believed nature mirrors the Divine.

Francis was reputed to speak to animals and call birds his “sisters.”

For more information, call Peace Lutheran Church at (530) 273-9631.