WHAT DO YOU get when you cross a spiritually minded, animal-loving couple from the Twin Cities with a West Coast concept?
Sage Lewis, owner of Dancing Porcupine, and her partner, singer/songwriter James Schattauer, are the masterminds (and hearts) behind Wags and Worship — A Celebration For All Beings.
What began as a small spark has created a wiggle and a flicker in the Twin Cities. The idea came from a community member who shared about a church in Los Angeles that was “going to the dogs.” They were having trouble filling up their Sunday services and were looking into creative solutions for rebuilding membership. When they allowed people to bring their pets to church, the membership at the church grew substantially.
In the first five months of existence, Wags and Worship is connecting people and animals on Sunday mornings with themselves, one another and Great Spirit — a place of deepening spiritual practice. Those who maybe hadn’t been to a church in years are coming to hear the message and the music. Some who have recently lost their pets are coming to Wags and Worship just to be with the animals in a sacred setting. It’s a sweet mixture of peace and “who knows what’s next.”
Wags and Worship is a special Sunday morning service at Spirit United Church, 3204 Como Ave. SE, Minneapolis, where people can bring their pets to contemplate, grow, connect and be with a community of other animal lovers.
Services are on the first Sunday of the month from 9-9:30 a.m. before the regular service at 10:30 a.m. All pets are welcome. For more information, contact Sage at www.dancingporcupine.com or www.wagsandworship.com.
