VICAR

Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that You are well and have had an excellent week. For those of You with children or grandchildren doing exams right now, wish them the very best of luck from me and this magazine.

This week let’s say a prayer for Your animals, from the dog by Your feet to the horse in the paddock, from the robin at Your bird table to the hedgehog across the road.

The Bible has a lot to say about God’s creatures:

Luke 12:24

24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!

Ecclesiastes 3:18-21

18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.

19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath ; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless.

20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.

21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

Whatever Your opinion on animals, We as Christians should steward them. They have no rights but they merit our care and – those that feed us deserve our – empathy.

God bless You all. Have a peaceful Sunday.

Hear our humble prayer, O God,
for our friends, the animals,
especially for those who are suffering;
for animals that are overworked,
underfed, and cruelly treated;
for all the wistful creatures in captivity,
that beat their wings against bars;
for any that are hunted or lost or deserted,
or frightened or hungry;
for all that must be put to death.
We entreat for them all
Thy mercy and pity,
and for those who deal with them,
we ask a heart of compassion
and gentle hands and kindly words.
Make us, ourselves,
to be true friends to animals
and so to share
the blessings of the Merciful.

Amen.