Creston United Methodist Church

08/13/2026

🎒💛 Boo-Hoo, Woo-Hoo! What a Joyful Morning! 💛🎒

This morning, we had the joy of welcoming students, parents, and families as they began a new school year. Some came with big smiles and excitement, while others may have carried a few nervous feelings—but we were grateful to share a little food, coffee, encouragement, and love with our community.

Thank you to everyone who helped prepare, serve, pray, and welcome our neighbors. Your kindness made this morning especially meaningful.

We are praying that every student, teacher, parent, and school staff member will have a wonderful year filled with learning, friendship, courage, peace, and joy. May God watch over each child as they begin this new chapter!

08/12/2026

Wednesday Devotion
We keep looking at J.D. Walt's.
Today, we are looking for Genesis 1:1–3a NIV
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, . . .

Faith is the willful decision of a community of people to live the totality of their existence in the light of God and in the world of God’s making.

08/11/2026

🎒 **Boo-Hoo, Woo-Hoo! You’re Invited This Thursday!** 🎉

The first day of a new school year can bring all kinds of feelings for both kids and parents.

For some families, it is filled with excitement—new friends, new learning, and a fresh start. For others, it may bring a few nervous thoughts, worries about change, or even a few tears.

However you may be feeling, **we will have a warm welcome waiting for you this Thursday at 7:30 AM in front of the church.**

As students head back to school, please stop by and take a little break with us! We will have food, drinks, and a small gift to share as we offer encouragement, comfort, and joy to students, parents, teachers, and families.

Whether you are feeling a little “Boo-Hoo” as you send your child off to school, or shouting “Woo-Hoo!” for a new beginning, please know that you are not alone. Our community is cheering for you and praying that this school year will be filled with learning, good friendships, kindness, courage, and joy.

**Stop by in front of the church this Thursday at 7:30 AM, enjoy a snack and a drink, and celebrate this new school year with us!** 💛

08/11/2026

Tuesday Devotion
We keep looking at J.D. Walt's.
Today, we are looking for Acts 2:32–35 NIV
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’”

Discipleship to Jesus means learning to pray in agreement with Jesus, in union with the mind of Christ.

08/07/2026

Friday Devotion
We keep looking at J.D. Walt's.
Today, we are looking for James 5:13–16 NIV
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James understood that prayer isn’t just a religious routine. It’s our lifeline.

08/06/2026

Thursday Devotion
We keep looking at J.D. Walt's.
Today, we are looking for James 3:2–6 NIV
We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

You are who God says you are: loved, chosen, forgiven, held, and made new.

08/05/2026

Wednesday Devotion
We keep looking at J.D. Walt's.
Today, we are looking for Mark 16:4–8 NIV
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

With the resurrection, we have the whole council of God and the sure hope of our own resurrection because we have given our lives to the Risen One.

08/04/2026

Tuesday Devotion
We keep looking at J.D. Walt's.
Today, we are looking for James 1:2–4 NIV
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

We don’t build spiritual strength by avoiding every hard thing. It is formed as we walk through difficulty with God, one day at a time.

07/31/2026

Friday Devotion
We keep looking at J.D. Walt's.
Today, we are looking for Mark 16:4–8 NIV
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

With the resurrection, we have the whole council of God and the sure hope of our own resurrection because we have given our lives to the Risen One.

07/30/2026

Thursday Devotion
We keep looking at J.D. Walt's.
Today, we are looking for Mark 15:6–15 ESV
Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is how the gravest injustice in the history of the world became the most gracious invitation for all eternity to come.