Organizers of tomorrow's "Festival of God's Creation" want the public to walk, bike or carpool to Sunday Park in Brandermill for an interfaith celebration of the environment.

The program, from 2 to 5 p.m., will be held rain or shine, and pets are welcome.

The festival will include displays on earth-keeping themes. There will also be music, local produce, children's activities, canoe rides and a liturgical dance. And people can bring their pets to be blessed.

There will be a snake petting exhibit, organic toys and products to sample and order. The festival will end with a blessing of the elements, including air, water and the earth.

Participants are urged to bring chairs.

"It's a fun way to appreciate the things God has created for us and to see the connection to our faith," said Tom Pakurar, chairman of the "Planting Seeds: Faith and the Environment" series, which has been held during the past three months at The Brandermill Church.

The four-part program brought together speakers of various faiths and denominations to discuss the interconnectivity of faith and environmental stewardship.

"There were 12 different faith groups on our planning team," Pakurar said.

Volunteers included Christians, Muslims and Jews.

The festival is the culminating event.

"We are god's stewards of the earth upon which we live, and we are the covenanted co-partners in the protection of God's creation," said Rabbi Ben Romer of Congregation Or Ami. "That's why we're coming together."

"We're all in this together," said Romer, who served as a panelist during the series.

Imad Damaj, president of the Virginia Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs, agreed.

"This is a great way for people to come together and share common values and work together for the environment," he said.
Contact Robin Farmer at (804) 649-6312 or rfarmer@timesdispatch.com.