Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity! Church Potluck serves up thoughtful, friendly, informal conversation at the intersection of Christianity and contemporary culture. Just like a church potluck, we offer variety: a variety of topics, a variety of academic disciplines, and a variety of Christian traditions. Guests are friends and colleagues who are also experts in the fields of sociology, political science, theology, philosophy, divinity, and more.
Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 24: Blessing of the Animals
In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale is joined once again by Rev. Dr. Valerie Loner, pastor of Rome First United Methodist Church, for a joyful and surprisingly theological conversation about the Blessing of the Animals. Often associated with St. Francis of Assisi and typically celebrated in October, this beloved ritual takes on fresh meaning when viewed through the lens of Advent and Christmas. Dr. Loner reflects on the delight, holy chaos, and deep gratitude that surround these blessings—from dogs and cats to goats and goldfish—and explains how they remind us that God’s covenant extends not just to humanity, but to all living creatures. Connecting the practice to the nativity itself—where animals were present at Christ’s birth—this episode invites listeners to rediscover Christmas as a celebration of God’s love for all creation, and a reminder of our responsibility to care for it with joy and reverence.
The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.
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