Faithful Companions: A Service of Remembrance

Event Schedules

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Oct 4 2026

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM on Sun

Event Description

Hope United Methodist Church invites the community to Faithful Companions: A Service of Remembrance on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. The free service honors dogs, cats and other animal companions who have died in the past year, and is open to everyone, regardless of faith background.

For many people, losing a pet means losing a family member, yet that grief often goes unrecognized. There's no funeral, no bereavement leave, and friends don't always know what to say.

"Anyone who has loved an animal knows the hole they leave behind," said Rev. Rich Fuss, Lead Pastor of Hope UMC. "Our culture doesn't give us many places to grieve them. We want to offer one."

The service will include a time of gratitude for Bellevue-area veterinarians and veterinary technicians, who care for animals and their families through the hardest moments. It falls on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.

Attendees may email a photo and their pet's name to faithfulcompanions@hopeumc.net by noon Friday, October 2, to be included in the service, or bring a photo for a remembrance table. Refreshments will follow. Gifts in memory of a pet may be made to Seattle Humane.