I’ve been seeing so many critters in the backyard lately. I’m rather amazed by that. I’ve seen so few but now that it’s getting cold out, they seem to be showing up everywhere.

Is this their last hurrah before winter comes? Yesterday there was a huge bunch of house sparrows in the back yard (that is if the picture of them from Sibley’s Backyard Birds in the Midwest is right. I always have it on my desk so that I can identify the birds I’m seeing outside my window. Next to the picture (actually it’s a colored drawing of a male and female house sparrow), it says, “House sparrows were brought from Europe in the 1880’s, it’s now ubiquitous in cities, towns, parking lots, and farms. Nests in any sheltered cavity (for example birdhouses, streetlights) and avidly seeks handouts in parks.”

The flock I saw were peck, peck, pecking in the grass, fattening themselves up for winter, I imagine. I don’t know what they were eating. Insects, maybe?

Then this morning I saw a clock of geese fly overhead.

The winter solstice/first day of winter won’t be until December 21st. That’s a good long time away. But autumn is here good and proper now. So let’s enjoy it and give God thanks for it. The air is crisp. The leaves are turning in earnest – showing off their beautiful colors. The squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and all the other critters are out there gathering up what they can.

“For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies; Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.”

Yours in the journey,
Pastor Kristen

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                                  Announcements:

Daylight Saving Time in the US ends on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 2 a.m. local time. Clocks will "fall back" one hour. 

 

All Saints Sunday will be Sunday, November 2nd, at 10a. All Saints Day is an opportunity to give thanks for all those who have gone before us in the faith. You are invited to bring a framed photograph of a loved one who has gone on before you. As the opening hymn is sung, you’ll be invited to bring the photo of your saint down front to the chancel, where it will be placed around the Lord’s Table as a sign of our eternal communion with them in eternity. You are welcome to take your photograph home with you after worship.

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Daylight Saving Time in the US ends on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 2 a.m. local time. Clocks will "fall back" one hour. 

 

On my it's PIE Day & FOOD DRIVE November 16th.

Bring in a can or box of non-perishable items and stay for pie. We are collecting non-perishable items such as canned goods or boxes of spaghetti, etc. non-perishable food items before or after church service on Sunday, November 16th, 2025. After church service stay for a piece of pie. All are welcome. 

 

Penny-Pantry Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of every month and from October to December, we collect for the Pastor's Helping Hands Ministry, a ministry that provides help within the congregation or to the needs within our community. Although we officially collect on the fourth Sunday of the month, you can donate anytime to Helping Hands. 

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Saturday, December 6th, in the church lobby will be our Annual Christmas Craft Fair. If you are a vendor and wish to participate, please contact the church office for an application. Cost is thirty dollars per space. You will need to provide your own table and chairs. You can set up your table the night before or the day of the event. Click the word doc icon to download the application and then mail in the application to 1321 Main Street, Crete, IL 60417

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