They are still chuckling about the stranger who came to worship at First Congregational (UCC).

It was a dog and it scared usher Joe Collins.

Dolly, a Great Pyrenees dog,

opened the door, lifting the latch with her nose, and walked through the foyer and into the sanctuary.

When she spotted Dorothy Henaman, she padded over to her sitting in a pew near the back.

The Rev. Jim Peck, senior pastor at the church located at 1910 3rd Ave. NE, claims he did not see the incident happen.

Peck was preaching the sermon, during the 10 a.m. worship service Sunday, July 14, when the visitor made its unscheduled appearance.

Although denying any knowledge of the canine visit, Rev. Peck said, "First Congregational Church

welcomes all to our church even those with four legs."

The dog's owner, Dorothy Henaman, is a retired second grade school teacher from Greenwood, Wis.

Her husband, Vernon, is deceased, and she has owned Dolly for nearly four years or since she was a puppy.

The dog and her master are familiar to northwest Austin neighbors. Mona Narveson, who used to live across the street from Mrs. Henaman, recalls seeing her neighbor beckon the dog into the house with a bucket of ice cream.

"She wouldn't come in at night," said the dog's owner. "The Great Pyrenees are a very independent and territorial breed of dogs."

Dolly endeared herself to Vernon Henaman and others on visits to area nursing homes.

Now, members of First Congregational Church and their pastor are among Dolly's admirers … maybe.

On July 14 Mrs. Henaman left Dolly in her fenced backyard and walked the short distance to church.

She entered by the main door facing the church parking lot and took a seat in a pew near the rear of the sanctuary.

Pastor Peck's service proceeded without incident until 10:25 a.m..

"I remember, all of a sudden, I saw the usher, Joe Collins it was, jump up," Mrs. Henaman said. "He looked frightened and there was Dolly standing in the aisle with her ears hanging down. She looked so guilty."

Mrs. Henaman got up, took her dog by its collar and walked it out of the church and home again, but not before being startled herself.

"When we got back to the foyer at the rear of the church, I let go of the collar and was afraid Dolly would do something. She likes to hop around sometimes, but I grabbed a hold of her collar again and walked home without a problem," she said. "I laughed all the way home."

Mrs. Henaman returned to church that Sunday and faced only a few questions from friends about her guest in church.

Joe Morgan was among those who teased her and Mona Narveson, too, but Mrs. Henaman took all of it in stride

Life returned to normal; so much in fact, Dolly unlocked the backyard gate with her nose again Thursday and escaped until being recaptured in the neighborhood later.

With First Congregational Church of Christ pastor Peck's announcement of an "open arms" policy offering sanctuary for canines, Dolly has an important friend.

When Vernon Henaman died, and Pastor Peck visited the home to console the widow, the dog-loving pastor said, "I told Dolly if she ever needed someone to talk to I would be glad to listen."

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com