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
I have yet to share with you the rest of my trip to Italy. There’s still Florence and Rome to cover on what was for me a spiritual pilgrimage. And so, after Christmas, I’ll continue those reflections.
But Advent has come a knocking and this season asks us to prepare and pray for Jesus to be born anew in our lives and in the life of the world, even as we wait expectantly for his return. I’d like to share with you an Advent prayer that I am praying through Advent. It comes from the Iona Community in Scotland and was originally written in the plural for corporate worship. But I’ve been praying it in the singular in my morning prayers. I offer it to you for yours.
Open my eyes, Lord,
especially if they are half shut
because I am tired of looking,
or half open
because I fear to see too much,
or bleared with tears
because yesterday and today and tomorrow
are filled with the same pain,
or contracted,
because I only look at what I want to see.
Open my eyes, Lord,
to gently scan the life I lead,
the home I have,
the world I inhabit,
and so to find,
among the gremlins and the greyness,
signs of hope I can fasten on and encourage.
Give me, I whose eyes are dimmed by familiarity,
a bigger vision of what you can do
even with hopeless cases and lost causes
and people of limited ability.
Show me the world as in your sight,
riddled by debt, deceit and disbelief,
yet also
shot through with possibility
for recovery, renewal, redemption.
And lest I fail to distinguish vision from fantasy,
today, tomorrow, this week,
open my eyes to one person or one place,
where I – being even for a moment prophetic –
might identify and wean a potential in the waiting.
And with all this,
open my eyes, in yearning, for Jesus.
Advent peace to you,
Pastor Kristen
Announcements
Christmas Services: Sunday, December 24th- Because Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, there will be two services: One at 10a and a Service of lessons, Carols, and Candlelight at 5p.
10:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m. - a service of lessons, carols, and candlelight. click here for more info
There will be no church service on Monday, December 25th.
MASKS OPTIONAL: The wearing of masks at Crete United Methodist Church is optional. While masks are not required, those who are more comfortable masked are encouraged to do so. We also ask that if you have not been vaccinated or if you are feeling a bit under the weather, that you wear a mask as a goodwill effort on your part.

United Methodist Women's Club next meeting
will be held on
Monday, December 11th
at 6:30p
in the church's lobby
Please note the new time. Meeting will be starting at 6:30p
10:00 a.m .Thursdays in the church lobby
You are invited to attend an 8-week study based on the book “Women in the Bible” by Marina Hofman, PhD. Time will be taken off for the weeks around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.
Session 5: December 07 Naomi and Ruth (The Book of Ruth)
Session 6: December 14 Hannah (1 Samuel 1–2)
Time off for Christmas, December 21
Time off for Christmas, December 28
Session 7: January 4 Esther (The Book of Esther)
Session 8: January 11 Mary, Mother of Jesus (Luke 1)

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.

Begins
August 24, 2023
Before and After School Program
Contact
Kathy Carter Young
Director of the Before and After School Program
Email: klcy6000@aol.com for further information.

Start date: Tuesday, September 05, 2023
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
Cost: $50 a month per child Sept/May
Enduring Strings
RECITAL TEA
for 2024 scheduled for May 18th

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!)
SUPPORT UKRAINE: GIVE NOW:
Anyone wishing to provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people in the wake of the Russian invasion of their country may contribute to Advance #982450, UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery. This fund will provide direct assistance to those in Ukraine as well as assistance to Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries.
The link below connects you directly to NIC's Website
Bishop Appeal 2022- Ukraine Assistance
Remember to login in first before donating. This way your donation can be added as part of your tax contribuition for your tithe for Crete UMC. After signing in, click the 3 lines on the left of the top corner of your screen, choose Home and then search for CUMC in the "find a church" search bar. This will get you in the right place to have your contribution recorded by CUMC for tax purposes. Thank you.
https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/2496653

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, please contact the Food Pantry directly at 708-672-5431 to make your contribution.
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
Our first priority remains keeping one another safe. We care deeply for you, and remain committed to doing all we can for each other’s safety and health.
MASKS OPTIONAL
Throughout this pandemic, the mantra of Crete United Methodist Church has been the Wesleyan principal to “Do No Harm.” With this in mind, the Covid Response Leadership team has made the safety and well-being of our members, staff, volunteers, and visitors the single most important priority.
As infection rates improve and restrictions are lifted, we are excited to move forward and begin lifting safety precautions. Beginning this Sunday, March 13th, masks will be 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