Crete United Methodist Church

Weekly Devotion

 

My mother was fond of quoting the scripture from Proverbs, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”

 

For centuries, the week following Easter was a week of joy and laughter, parties and picnics, playing practical jokes on your neighbors and general tom foolery all around. It was called “the Easter laugh” and came from the idea that at Easter, God played a joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead.

 

On the Sunday after Easter, clergy and their congregations played practical jokes on each other, sang, danced and had fun. This old tradition has gained some traction in recent years, in a service of joke-telling and hijinks (sometimes called “Bright Sunday” or “Holy Humor Sunday”) to celebrate that in fact, God has had the last laugh over death. And so, here are…

 

Actual Announcements from Church Bulletins

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• Thursday night – potluck supper. Prayer and medication to follow.

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• Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and the community.

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• This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.

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• A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

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• At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" – come early and listen to our choir practice.

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• Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday. Please use the back door.

 

 

Jokes

 

A Sunday school teacher asked the children just before she dismissed them to go to church, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" Annie replied, "Because people are sleeping"

 

At Sunday School they were learning how God created everything, including human beings. Johnny was especially intent when the teacher told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and said, "Johnny, what is the matter?" Johnny responded, "I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife."

 

Another Sunday School teacher said to her children, "We have been learning about how powerful the kings and queens were in Biblical times. But there is a higher power. Who can tell me what it is?" Tommy blurted out, "I know, Aces."

 

After explaining the commandment to honor your father and mother, a Sunday School teacher asked her class if there was a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters. One boy, the oldest in his family, immediately answered, "Thou shalt not kill."

 

I pray for you the good medicine of laughter and a merry heart. As G.K. Chesterton said, "Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly."

 

Yours in the journey,

Pastor Kristen

 

Announcements

 

JOIN US TONIGHT FOR WORSHIP AT 7:00PM Sermon topic, “The Easter Laugh” Holy Communion will be celebrated. All are welcome.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS YEAR’S CROP WALK: Donations per mail clearly marked for CROP WALK can be made to Crete United Methodist Church or donate online by going to the CWS CROPWalk site:  www.crophungerwalk.org/homewoodil

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The South Suburban CROP Hunger Walk has taken place each spring for about 36 years.    Last year, and again this year, it is a “virtual” walk.  We’ll not have a mass walk on a set route.  On April 25 (or at another time if it works out better for us) we will walk on our own or with our family on a route of our choosing, even if it’s just to the corner of our block and back.  Our greater purpose is to raise funds to help people who do not have enough food, locally and around the world.  Three-fourths of the money raised will go to Church World Service, a world relief agency that works in 30 countries around the world, and ¼ of the money raised is divided among six local food-providing agencies:  Respond Now, The Pantry of Rich Township, Jones Community Center, South Suburban PADS, Hazel Crest UMC Food Pantry, and Transformation UMC Hot Meals.
To Join our Team and/or donate:  Go to   crophungerwalk.org/homewoodil
   
Click on the first heading—South Suburban Crop Hunger Walk.  On the page that comes up scroll down to where there is a box to type in.  It says, “Do you know someone who has signed up?”.  Type in Crete UMC, and our team page will come up.  If you just wish to donate, click on “Make a donation.”  If you are willing to join the Team and be a Walker, raising funds by contacting friends and relatives to donate via your page for the team (by email or face book), then you will scroll down a bit further and click on “Join the Team” to register and get started.  Once you are registered, your name will appear in the upper right-hand corner of the screen, and you click on that for options like “manage my page.”
       
Candi Kleindorfer, Crete UMC Hunger-Walk Team Captain

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