Crete United Methodist Church

06/17/2026

Devotion:

As I look out my window this morning, after two weeks in the Pacific Northwest, I am thankful to see that some things in life stay the same.

There are still birds feeding at the bird feeders. I’ve seen a Pileated Woodpecker, a Red Headed Woodpecker and a Red-Winged Blackbird. There’s a baby squirrel right outside my window and the female Baltimore Oriol is now dipping her beak in the grape jelly she loves so much.

So, some things stay the same – but others don’t. My Father died on Friday, June 5th. He died peacefully at the age of 95, just a few weeks prior to his 96th birthday. I am deeply grateful that all of his six daughters were able to spend time with him during that time. And I am deeply grateful for your prayers and the many cards and messages I’ve received from you.

I know that now my life will not stay the same as it was - because my Dad is no longer in it. But I am deeply grateful for having such a wonderful man for my Father. He was kind and caring. He was a total extravert. He loved to meet people.

Wherever we were Dad would strike up a conversation with anyone who was close enough around him to hear his voice.

Jesus said, “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.”
John 14: 1-3

Above all, I am grateful for our faith and the promise of eternal life through our Lord, Jesus Christ. I imagine Dad now in heaven - dancing with Mom - and having a great old time - striking up conversations with everybody there.

Yours in the journey,
Pastor Kristen

Announcements:

Farmers Market
Monday nights, from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.
All are welcome.

06/03/2026

Announcements:

Farmers' Market will take place in the parking lot of the church, beginning June 15 through August 15th, 2026.

If interested in being a vendor, for the market, please check out Crete Chamber's website at https://www.cretechamber.com/farmersmarket to fill out an application.

* Farmers' Market is every Monday from June 15 through August 3, 2026
* Rain or shine-- the market will take place, from 4-8 p.m.
* Location: Crete United Methodist Church Parking Lot (Corner of Main St. & Exchange St.), 1321 Main Street, Crete, IL
* Perks Include: The market is pet-friendly and regularly coincides with Cruise Nights on Main Street.

Our worship service begins at 10 am., Sunday mornings. We will gather this Sunday, June 06th, at 10 a.m. All are welcome to attend.

Send a message to learn more

05/27/2026

Devotion

As I look out my window there are 4 young starlings in the backyard taking a bath in the birdbath. They are splashing away and busy pushing their siblings out of the water. When they were little, they looked so cute, like precious grey-brown fluff balls with a beak at the top and little spindly legs at the bottom. Now they have feathers that are still that color, but when they mature, they’ll look mostly black and have a yellow beak and orange legs. But they haven’t gotten there yet.

I must confess that the starlings are my least favorite bird in the back yard. They are incredibly piggy. They push all the other birds away from the feeders and gobble up all the food. It’s incredibly frustrating. I’ll go out the back door and shoo them away. But by the time I get to my computer they’re already back. They’re like the bullies in the playground. I keep telling them they have to share and be nice to the other birds. Like that’s gonna work. LOL

But this year I’ve noticed something rather sweet. The adult starlings will fly up and get some food from the feeders and fly back and put that food in the young starling’s mouth.

Then they’ll fly off again and keep doing the same. Back and forth, back and forth those parents go. I’ve also seen a parent nip at one of those young ones who was getting too pushy.

Parenting must be exhausting. So, to all you parents out there, here’s a good word from Philippians 4:6-7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Yours in the journey,
Pastor Kristen

Announcements:

The next Women's Club meeting will be held this Monday, June 1st, in the narthex, beginning at 1:30p. All are invited to attend.

Farmers' Market will take place in the parking lot of the church, beginning June 15 through August 15th, 2026.
If interested in being a vendor, please check out their website at https://www.cretechamber.com/farmersmarket

* Farmers' Market is every Monday from June 15 through August 3, 2026

* Time: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

* Location: Crete United Methodist Church Parking Lot (Corner of Main St. & Exchange St.), 1321 Main Street, Crete, IL

* Perks Include: The market is pet-friendly and regularly coincides with Cruise Nights on Main Street.

Send a message to learn more

05/20/2026

Devotion:

Last Thursday I returned from a visit to see my Dad and sisters in the Pacific Northwest.

While I was there my husband kept me up to date on the things that were going on in the backyard. He sent me pictures of the Red Headed Woodpecker that I’ve become quite fond of. He also sent pictures of the Orioles eating grape jelly to their heart’s content. I’m so happy we have a male and female pair of Orioles. I’m so hoping we might see baby ones one of these days.

Yesterday there were 2 baby bunnies right outside my window. One of them put its paws on the windowsill with only it’s back feet on the ground and it stood there – looking as if it was looking right at me. I said, “Well, hello there you little cutie. Did you miss me while I was gone?” Then it scampered away under the bush next to my window where its sibling was waiting.

Then this morning, (by the way, I’m writing this on Tuesday) one of my baby bunnies was munching on some grass outside my window. I opened the back door and went down the stairs to throw some critter food out on the lawn. To my dismay, the bunny didn’t move. It didn’t run under the bush where it likes to stay – at least not at first.

The squirrels all scattered. The birds all scattered. But that baby bunny just stayed there. I said, “Good morning, my sweet bunny.” And only then did it finally run under the bush. I wonder if it just wanted me to say “hi.”

Did they know that I was gone for a week? Did they miss me? I wake earlier in the morning than my husband so I’m always the one who feeds the critters. I’m the one who talks to them each morning and tells them how beautiful they are. I’m the one who always says a prayer for them while I’m scattering the seed and critter food on the ground. I’m the one who says a prayer for them every morning that they will be safe and happy and live long, healthy lives.

Did they know that I was gone for a week? Did they miss me? Frankly I have no idea. But one thing I know is that it’s good to be back. Scattering seeds and critter food each morning and enjoying their company each day.

Yours in the journey,
Pastor Kristen

Announcements:

Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th
The church and the office will be closed due to the holiday, Monday, May 25th. The Memorial Parade starts at 11a, check The Crete Village's website for more details for the time and place. Check in begins at the Crete Public Library.

05/13/2026

Devotion:

This weeks' devotion is taken from the Upper Room's Website- dated May 11, 2026

Driving in an older section of our town, in Ohio, Mary Ellen (the writer) and myself passed by a historic, majestic church building. A sign out front announced its closure and gratitude for the 110-plus years of its service our community.

Mary Ellen and I felt an overwhelming sadness as we imagined all the weddings, baptisms, and other celebrations that would no longer be held there, in the historic church. I also thought of the somber occasions — the funerals, the broken families seeking refuge. We imagined the people of that church praying with and for each other, sharing in their joy and grief.

Today, worship takes many forms. For some it is an online event. Others feel that the Lord doesn’t require four walls or a church community to worship God. There is truth to that. We can worship anywhere and anytime.

But for me, church is the place where I experience God with other believers and being part of that has been a dynamic experience. There is something special about people of different ages and backgrounds joining together as a church family to worship God. Together we reach into our community and around the world to promote God’s word and to support and help each other.

What a joyous feeling it is to join with others in a shared love for God!

Today's Prayer
"Dear Lord, we worship you and offer all praise and glory in Jesus’ name. Amen."

Yours in the Journey,
Mary Ellen Hazel (Ohio. USA)
Upper Room's Website: https://www.upperroom.org/


Announcements:

May 14, 2026- Thursday.
Tomorrow at 10a, the Women's club will be meeting at the church and traveling together to Sunrise Nursery, in Grant Park. If interested in attending, please contact Sue Naylor, and let her know you will be joining in on the fun: 1321 Main Street, Crete, IL. After going to the nursery, a luncheon will be planned at a local restaurant. All are invited to attend.

Miracle Sunday is this Sunday, May 17th. All are invited to give.

The next Women's Club meeting will be on Monday, June 01, 2026, in the narthex, starting at 1p., at Crete UMC.

05/06/2026

There will be no devotional this week.

Announcements:

On Thursday, May 14, at 10a, the Women's Club will be gathering at the church, 1321 Main Street, in the narthex, traveling together to their next outing, the Sunrise Nursery. After visiting the Nursery, The Women's Club plan to meet at a local restaurant for lunch before coming back to the church. If interested, please let Sue Naylor know, before May 14th. All are invited to attend- women as well as men.

The next Women's Club meeting will be on Monday, June 01, 2026, in the narthex, starting at 1p., at Crete UMC.

04/29/2026

Devotion

Last week I told you about 2 birds in the backyard that I hadn’t seen before. One was a rather large brown bird. I still don’t know what kind of bird it is but it’s still hanging around here. The other one was the Pileated Woodpecker that I’ve not seen since.

But on Monday, there was another new bird in the yard. It was eating the suet in the little cage that’s next to the bird feeders. I quickly called my husband over to have him see it. It turns out it’s a Red Headed Woodpecker. It’s much smaller than the other woodpeckers I see. It’s head and neck is fully red, it has a white belly and black wings that are white at the tips – and has black tail feathers.

My husband looked it up for me and it turns out these birds are listed as endangered species. This is due to the loss of their habitat. These birds nest in dead trees by making a hole to nest in its trunk. I imagine most people who have dead trees on their property just cut them down – not knowing how important dead trees are for the ongoing survival of this bird.

What a blessing to see this rare bird!

There is only one dead tree left on the property behind the parsonage. And there are a few on the property beside us to the west.

I am so hoping this Red Headed Woodpecker finds a mate and makes new Red Headed Woodpecker chicks. Today I pray to God for the survival of this precious, endangered species. And I invite you to do the same.

Yours in the journey,
Pastor Kristen

Announcements

This Monday, May 04, at 1:30p in the nathex is our next Women's Club meeting. All are invited to attend.

Send a message to learn more

04/22/2026

Devotion

The lilac bush outside my window is in full bloom. I’ve enjoyed the beautiful yellows, whites and pinks of the flowering trees on my morning walks. Their leaves are all green now and filling out.

How I love Spring. As I look out my window, there is a bird I’ve not seen before. It’s drinking water from the pan I put out every morning. The bird is a beautiful brown color with a long thin tail and a longish beak. It has black and white markings on it’s chest and it has a white butt.

It’s a rather large bird – and least 12 inches long from beak to tail. It’s been hanging around here for the last few days and I sure hope it stays a while.

Then this morning I’ve seen a bird I’ve never seen before. I looked it up and it’s a Pileated Woodpecker. I’m so excited about this. I looked out the window and there it was – clinging to the squirrel proof bird feeder my sainted husband bought for me a few weeks ago. The feeder looks like a 1-foot high and 1-foot wide cage that lets the small birds into it to get to the seeds and suet – but the squirrels heads are too big to get in.

This woodpecker looks like Woody the Woodpecker. And he’s a big fellow (at least 16 inches in length). It has a red stripe on his head that forms a pointy peak in the back. It looks like he’s wearing a cap. He has a long thin beak – long enough to get to the seeds and suet (which he’s particularly fond of) in the cage.

So that’s 2 new birds I’ve seen this week. What a blessing! As the Good Book says:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-2

Yours in the journey,
Pastor Kristen

Announcements

Next Monday, May 04, at 1:30p in the nathex is the next Women's Club meeting. All are invited to attend.

04/15/2026

Devotion

On Sunday I saw a strange thing in my backyard. There’s been a red-winged blackbird hanging around lately. It’s quite a handsome fellow. A bit bigger than the size of a robin. It’s all black except for a red stripe with a yellow stripe just below it on it’s wings.

I looked out my window, and I saw a bird at the feeder that looked for all the world like a red-winged blackbird in every way except this one had only a yellow stripe on its wings.

Had I discovered a new bird? I’ve never heard of a yellow winged blackbird before.

So I asked my husband to come and look at it. I showed him from my Sibley’s Back Yard Birds of the Midwest a picture of what a red-winged blackbird should look like. He too was puzzled and so he googled it.

It turns out a red-winged blackbird is quite fashionable. Do you know the old saying, “A tiger can’t change it’s stripes?” Well, it turns out that a red-winged blackbird can. Google says they can conceal the red patch with only the yellow patch visible – and visa-versa – with just the red patch showing isn’t that remarkable? They must cover the red or yellow patches with their black feathers –using their beaks. Why do they do that? Google didn’t say. Maybe they just wake up in the morning and say, “I think I’ll wear yellow today. Tomorrow can be a red day.”

Aren’t God’s creatures amazing! Every morning I give my heartfelt thanks to God, looking forward to what new wonder I will see outside my window.

“All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small. All things wise and wonderful, the dear Lord made them all.”

Yours in the journey,
Pastor Kristen

Announcemetns

The next Women's Club meeting will be held on May 04th, at 1:30p, in the narthex.

Women Club next outing will be on Thursday, May 14th to Sunrise Nursery. They are gathering at the church at 10a to travel together to the nursery. After the nursery, will have a luncheon, restaurant to be determined as the date gets closer. All are welcome to attend.

Send a message to learn more

04/08/2026

Devotion

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Not everyone knows that Easter is a Season and not just a day or a week. The Easter Season (also known as Eastertide and the Great Fifty Days) is a season from Easter Sunday to Pentecost in which we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

These last few days I’ve been waking up to the mournful coo-cooing of a mourning dove. So, when I get up out of bed, I go out on the patio and I tell that mourning dove not to sound so sad.

It’s Easter! Christ is risen! It’s a great way to start my day.

On Monday, my husband and I went to Ace to buy a bird feeder and suet in a hanging cage. When we came home, Chris set our bird feeder pole in the ground close to my window. I filled the bird feeder with bird feed and the suet cage with suet.

In the morning, I still go out and fill the pan with fresh water and scatter some seeds and critter food on the ground. But now I have a close up view everyday. All I have to do is look up over my computer screen and there the birds are feeding.

I can see their markings more clearly. Right now, as I look out the window, there is a bunch of starlings on the suet cage trying to shoo each other away with their yellow beaks and get to the suet.

So far this morning I’ve seen a beautiful goldfinch pair pecking away at the seeds in the feeder. I’ve seen cardinals, purple finch, house finch and a dark eyed junco drinking the fresh water I put out every day.

There are 6 squirrels on the ground right now, 2 of whom are chasing each other around the yard. Feeding on the ground are 2 mourning doves – one a bit smaller than the other. So I wonder if they might be a mating pair.

My backyard is teeming with life. New Life – Resurrection Life. It’s as if all of creation is singing: Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.

Yours in the journey,
Pastor Kristen

Announcements

Our next Women Club meeting will be held on Monday, May 4th, in the narthex, at 1:30 p.m. All are invited to attend.

Send a message to learn more