Fish in the baptismal font? Chooks in the pews? Yep, it's blessing of the animals time in Canberra.
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And this year, there might even be a horse up the aisle.
The Kippax Uniting Church in Holt is this Sunday holding its 14th blessing of the animals service, celebrating the bond between man and animal.
Executive Minister Gordon Ramsay said the service was always chaos, but in the nicest possible way.
"It's relaxed chaos," he said, with a laugh.
"The only dog that has ever misbehaved in the past was my dog who decided it would be fun yapping at all the other animals. But it's actually a very well-behaved service, if with that chaotic element.
"It's by far one of the most popular community gatherings of the year."
In previous years, there have been chooks, cats, dogs, pigs, snakes, guinea pigs, lizards and stick insects at the service, and even fish in the baptismal font.
"We believe there's a chance we might have a horse this year," Mr Ramsay said.
"We had a Clydesdale lined up one year but it got sick at the last minute."
The 40-minute service will include songs, a roll-call of animals and the opportunity for the owners in unison to read out a blessing for their pet.
"It's a really relaxed, light-hearted service," Mr Ramsay said.
And the importance of a pet for companionship couldn't be underestimated.
"We may be very urbanised, but our bush capital setting reminds us how important other animals are in our lives", Mr Ramsay said.
"For many people who are socially isolated, companion animals play a vital part in their lives. We know the importance of animals for those who are sight-impaired. And for many of us, the friendship of animals is something that brings joy and meaning. The annual service is one way of celebrating this"
There is no limit to the size or nature of the animal who might receive a blessing.
"All creatures great and small – or in the words of Monty Python, all things dull and ugly, all creatures short and squat," Mr Ramsay said.
If people could not bring an animal, one option was to come dressed as an animal instead.
"Dorothy the Dinosaur has appeared on more than one occasion," he said.
The Blessing of the Animals service will be held at the Kippax Uniting Community Centre at the corner of Luke Street and Hardwick Crescent in Holt on Sunday, September 20, at 9.45am.
