Leland church creates Rainbow Bridge to help families remember beloved pets
LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Losing a beloved pet can be a deeply painful experience, and members of a Leland church are creating a place for people to remember those companions and find support through their grief.
Members of Zion United Methodist Church, many of whom have experienced the loss of a beloved companion animal, came together to create the church’s new Rainbow Bridge Ministry.
The ministry began with an idea to build a physical Rainbow Bridge where people could remember pets who have died and place their collars on the bridge’s rails.
As the idea developed, church members realized the bridge could become more than a memorial.
The Rainbow Bridge Ministry is intended to recognize the grief that can come with losing a companion animal — a type of loss that can sometimes be minimized or misunderstood.
The ministry provides a place for people to remember the animals they loved and the impact they had on their lives.
It also includes an online Book of Remembrance, where people can submit a photo and story honoring a companion who has died, regardless of where they live.
The ministry offers opportunities for prayer or personal contact, individual remembrance services, and resources for children and families dealing with the loss of a companion.
Zion United Methodist Church will hold its first annual Blessing of the Pets on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m. at the Rainbow Bridge.
The outdoor service will celebrate the love and companionship animals bring to people’s lives while also providing an opportunity to remember pets who are no longer with their families.
Community members are invited to bring their pets to receive a blessing. Those remembering a companion who has died are also welcome to attend.
Both the Rainbow Bridge Ministry and the Blessing of the Pets are open to the community.
The Rainbow Bridge is located at Zion United Methodist Church, 6864 Zion Church Road in Leland.
More information about the ministry and online Book of Remembrance is available through the church’s website.
