View today's sermon on our YouTube channel: Not available.

Genesis 1:20-25

²⁰ And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” ²¹ So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. ²² God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” ²³ And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

²⁴ And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. ²⁵ God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind and the cattle of every kind and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.

The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in meand I wake in the night at the least soundin fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,I go and lie down where the wood drakerests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.I come into the peace of wild thingswho do not tax their lives with forethoughtof grief. I come into the presence of still water.And I feel above me the day-blind starswaiting with their light. For a timeI rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

“Animals Bless Us”

God created everything. Waters and an abundance of beings to live in and around the waters. God created the earth and sky and birds to fly and animals of every kind to abound on the earth. And God declared it all good!

The Genesis scripture that was read today is from the first of two Creation narratives in the Hebrew Scriptures, also known as the Old Testament books of the Bible. Day five of the narrative encompasses creation of creatures of the sea and birds of the earth. Day six details God speaking into being both wild and domestic animals, and humans. And on the seventh day, we are told that God rested from these labors. 

This morning we gather on this day of rest to give special attention to the particular animals with which we share the earth. Today we bless the creatures that bless us each and every day. With some we share our intimate living spaces; not only our homes, but our beds. Others we nurture and care for in back yards and farm pastures where they provide eggs and milk and wool and meat, and perhaps labor, as in horse-power. 

Animals hold a special place in many of our hearts. Those that we live with and those that live wild and free and we admire only from a safe distance, for us and for them. Observing animals and other creatures can bring feelings of peace and calm in a chaotic world. Living where we do, we may often see deer, fox, rabbits, turkeys, porcupines, skunks, moose, bears, seals, herons, ducks, loons. 

When we are with animals, or observing from afar, we are in touch with nature: with creation; with our Creator. We are blessed by their presence. 

Animals have much to teach us, if we let them.

I am hoping that some of you will share a word or two about your animal companions—what have they taught you? What pleasure do they give you? How are you and others enriched and blessed by their presence? 

Teachings:  Live simply Live in the moment Play Unconditional love Joy

Empathy

Pleasure: Laughter Awe Wonder

Blessings: Companionship Comfort Unconditional love Bridge to community

There is no doubt that animals enrich our lives. They are a gift from God. May we promise to love and protect them, always. 

Rev. TJ Mack – Union Congregational Church of Hancock – September 28, 2025