Crete United Methodist Church

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.

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.

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.

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.

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