BRATTLEBORO — The community of St. Michael's Episcopal Church invites everyone to the Feast of St. Francis, and the celebratory “Missa Gaia” of Paul Winter on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 10:15 a.m.
The Missa Gaia brings together choirs, instruments, and the voices of wolf, whale, and loon, and will be directed by Susan Dedell, with special guests Steve Rice, percussion; Don Baldini, bass; and Bruce Diehl, soprano sax. The music will be the central element for this joyful service, according to a news release.
The “Missa Gaia” premiered in 1980 at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, where it has become a yearly event attended by over 5,000 people. Director Susan Dedell undertook the work with the Brattleboro Concert Choir in 2013, and has fielded requests ever since for a repeat.
“I echo the words of Paul Winter, who suggested that the word 'sacred' means a sense of connectedness with the Universe,” Dedell said in the news release. “St. Francis himself saw the Divine equally present in every created object, an idea that was radically different from most of the church in those days. This music brings that idea to vivid life.”
Later that day, at 4 p.m., there will be a Blessing of the Animals on the Brattleboro Common. In the event of rain, this event will be held at the Church.
The St. Michael's Choir School children will lead everyone in a brief time of music, readings, and prayer, followed by a time of blessing pets individually.
Everyone in the region is encouraged to bring dogs, cats, alpacas, goats, snakes, rabbits and/or whoever your animal companion is to this celebration in honor of St. Francis' love for animals. You can also bring a picture if your animal isn't comfortable in groups of people and pets.
All animal-loving people are invited - with or without their animals.