Welcome to

Crete United Methodist Church

Located in downtown Crete, IL.
1321 Main Street
708-672-8353
Worship Service is
Sunday mornings at 10 a.m.
MASKS OPTIONAL
Pastor Kristen Larsen
Admin. Assistant: Diane McGarel
Sunday's Sermon
Our Mission
is to be Christ centered, teaching and learning community, dedicated to reaching out to all in a spirit of caring and sharing, a community where growth in Christ inspires us to be joyful sharing people.
Weekly Devotion
Spring has sprung, dear friends. The buds on the trees are showing off their glorious colors. And the backyard has become a wonderland of wildlife.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve seen rabbits. It started out with just one but a second one has come along. They hang out together, munching on grass, or they just sit there. Sometimes they have fun chasing each other. I wonder if they are a mating pair and I’ll get to see some baby bunnies soon. I’ve seen squirrels frolicking about with each other, too.
Love is in the air. It’s spring after all. I see bees and hornets buzzing around. I’ve watched a robin stuffing its beak with the dry grass under one of the evergreen trees then fly away and return later, beak empty, only to do the same thing over again.
She’s building her nest and I marvel at her efficiency. Somehow she can maneuver that grass to lay perfectly centered in her beak – both sides of grass jutting out equidistant from her beak. I’m assuming she does that to get the biggest load – or maybe its to ensure a good enough grip on the load that she won’t lose any of it while she’s in flight to the tree in the back yard where she’s building her nest. I even pondered if maybe she’s a perfectionist in the robin world. I should probably google it to find the answer. But since I occasionally suffer with a bit of perfectionism from time to time, I send a prayer out for her.
But the highlight so far happened on Holy Saturday, the Saturday before Easter Sunday. I was at my desk, putting some last minute touches on my Easter sermon, when I looked out my window and there – right in front of the window – so close I could touch it – was a wild turkey! And it looked like it was looking at me! I don’t remember seeing a wild turkey in the backyard before. It was so beautiful!
I don’t think she could actually see me (I’m calling her a she but I’ve no idea). The sun was out and the reflection on the glass makes it sort of like a mirror. So maybe she was admiring her own gorgeousness.
And I thanked God for her, for her life, for this wonderful moment of serendipity for me to see her up close like this, thankful for the marvel of God’s creation. And I prayed for her to be safe and enjoy a long life.
As the poem goes: All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small. All things wise and wonderful, the dear Lord made them all.
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
Yours in the journey,
Pastor Kristen
Announcements:
May 1, 2025- Field Trip:
Tomorrow, May 1st., a field trip is planned to Sunrise Greenhouse by our Women's Club. They will be gathering in our parking lot at 10:00 a.m. All are invited to attend. They will car pool to Sunrise Greenhouse. After shopping, lunch will be at Tony's.
This Monday, May 5 at 1:30 p.m., you are also invited to attend the United Methodist Women’s Club next meeting that will be held in narthex.
Bishop’s Appeal 2025: This year’s appeal will provide grants to church that have devised innovative ways of doing outreach. Find out more at https://www.umcnic.org/2025Bishopsappeal
The Crete United Methodist Church Thrift Shop is open Saturdays, from 9-3p.
You’re invited to attend the Enduring Strings Annual Tea Recital, Saturday, May 17, beginning at 2p. It will be held at the church.
Save the Date for The Crete Lions Club Mini Health Fair being held in the lot, 1321 Main Street, Crete, IL, from 9a to 4p., on Saturday, May 24. At the fair you can be screened for hearing loss or eye diseases and can have your blood pressure checked. You can also donate blood.
Save the Dates for the upcoming Farmers' Market, being held in the parking lot of Main & Exchange, from June 16th through August 4th, Monday nights. Rain or shine. If interested in being a vendor then please contact The Crete Chamber of Commerce ( https://www.cretechamber.com) for an application. Once downloaded and completed email to cretechamber.info@gmail.com

Women's Club Meeting
Monday, May 5th
in the narthex
1:30p.m.
The United Methodist Women's Club will be gathering. All are welcome to join. They gather the first Mondays of every month.

Farmers Market Mondays, June 16 through August 4th, 2025
RAIN or SHINE
in the parking lot of Main & Exchange Street, Crete, IL
Market Coordinator - Somer Snow
Interested in being a vendor?
Please complete the Vendor Application and email it to cretechamber.info@gmail.com
Once your application is reviewed and accepted, we will notify you via email and will send an invoice for your booth.
The 2025 Vendor Application is now available!
Farmer's Market Vendor Application
If you choose to pay online, please submit your application via email at cretechamber.info@gmail.com
or mail it to us at P.O. Box 263 Crete, IL 60417
Want to become a preferred Vendor?
Click below and become a Chamber Vendor Member TODAY!
Market Vendor Membership Information
Market Vendor Membership Application
Need your Will County Food License?
All food vendors MUST have a valid Will Co. Food License to attend our farmer's market.

Art & Craft Fair this year, 2025
will be on the grounds of Crete Public Library
at 1177 North Main Street, Crete, IL
July 11, 2025
Click here to learn more and download an application

Crete UMC hosts an on-line worship sermon that is available on our Facebook page, our YouTube Channel, and can be e-mailed directly to you if you join our e-mail list.

Before and After School Program
will resume in the Fall of 2024
Kathy Carter Young
Director of the Before and After School Program
Email: klcy6000@aol.com for further information.

Beginners class meets
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday from 7:30a- 8:15a
10 children per class
Advanced Class meets
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 7:30a- 8:15a
10 children per child
Recital Tea will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025
Enduring Strings
begins on September 3, 2024
Program runs on CM201U School Schedule Cost: $50 a month per child Sept/May

Online Giving
Secure, reliable, and convenient! Give a one-time gift (no account needed), or schedule recurring giving using your checking account, debit, or credit card. (See our SCHEDULE YOUR GIVING help page, or contact Diane at 708-672-8353, if you have questions!)

Crete
The Pantry is open on Wednesday mornings
from 9:00 a.m. till 11:00 a.m.,
It's only Available to Crete Township Residents
pick up and drop off of food is at
1367 Wood Street
Crete, IL 60417
To receive, come into the building located at 1367 Wood Street to register. Proof of residency is required.
"Even as phase four is taking place, we are bombarded with ”virus” news. Life does go on and many people face unemployment and hard times. The Crete Pantry is continuing to serve any one who comes for food on Wednesday mornings. This is straining the budget of the Pantry.
If you are able to help financially at this time, your gift will be put to immediate use.
Any monetary gift is tax deductible and can be sent to either The Crete Pantry, 1367 Wood Street, Crete, Illinois 60417 or at Crete UMC
If you are dropping off food at the Township, please contact the Crete Food Pantry directly at the Township to make your donation. The Township's Phone number is 708-672-8279 to schedule a time to make your donation.
Located at 1367 Wood Street
Crete, IL 60417

At Crete United Methodist Church we realize that there will be times in our lives where problems and circumstances seem overwhelming. It is at these times when we may want to isolate ourselves and hide.
We want you to know that you are not alone!
There are many who share your struggles. Crete UMC's Spiritual Themes in Recovery (S.T.I.R) helps those who are struggling with the addictions of Alcohol and is designed to provide an opportunity for you to share and interact with others and find encouragement and support that you may need. To attend, please call
(708) 672-8353 or email office@creteumc.org
for information
Quick Links
Contact
MASKS OPTIONAL
While masks will not be required, those who feel more comfortable masked are invited to do so. We ask, as a good faith effort, that if you have not been vaccinated or if you are feeling a bit under the weather, that you personally chose to wear a mask while in the church buildings.
Worship Services:
Sunday mornings
at 10:00 a.m.
Phone: 708-672-8353
Email: office@creteumc.org
Phone: 708-672-8353
Email: office@creteumc.org
Diane McGarel, Admin Asst.
Office Hours
are Monday thru Friday from 8-1p.
Office Hours: In-person
Tuesdays, 8-1p
Fridays 8-12p
Calls received during non in-person office hours are forwarded and answered remotely. Your call is very important to us so if the line is busy please leave a message as Diane, the Office Admin Assistant will return your call as soon as possible.
Located at 1321 Main Street, Crete, IL 60417


©2022 Crete United Methodist Church
All Rights Reserved.
Created by Diane J. McGarel