Come one, come all, creatures great and small receive a blessing!

December 20, 2007 – Santa Rosa, CA
  On Christmas Eve, December 24, 2007, Church of the Roses, located at 2500 Patio Court in Santa Rosa, California is holding a special Christmas Eve Worship Service, Blessing of the Animals.  The 3:00 P.M. service presents an opportunity to connect to the sacredness of nature celebrating the sacred nature of our humanity.  Come have your animals blessed and open spiritual pathways for connection to our sacred nature with Lessons and Carols blessing the animals at the Church of the Roses. 

Special guest, Safari West animal handler, Kimberly Robertson, will give a live animal presentation of some of Safari West’s animal friends and offer educational opportunities to help us reflect upon the positive impact our connection to animals can have on our well-being.  The services are open to the public and will be led by Dr. John H. Cushman, Pastor of Church of the Roses.  All creatures great and small are invited.

  Church of the Roses is a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) with denominational offices in Louisville, Kentucky.  Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation.  Our heritage, and much of what we believe, began with John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before him.  Our special work in the world is the work of love and acceptance, striving with others for justice, freedom, and peace.  The Church of the Roses continues to support the global work of our denomination, special offerings for mission and disaster relief. A portion of our mission budget also supports local organizations whose charitable works parallel the humanitarian goals of our church and denomination.

 

  Safari West, located at 3115 Porter Creek Road in Santa Rosa, California, is nestled on 400 acres in the heart of California's wine country and is home for over 400 exotic mammals and birds. Not a zoo, not a drive-through park, it's a wildlife preserve where the whole family can experience some of nature's most beautiful animals in a natural habitat.

  Established by Peter Lang in 1979, Safari West gained membership in the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, one of only six private facilities in North America to belong to that prestigious organization. The ongoing mission of Safari West is wildlife preservation through breeding, education, research and public interaction.

For more information:

Church of the Roses – www.churchoftheroses.org or 707-542-4272

Safari West – www.safariwest.com or 707-566-3620