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

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