Crete United Methodist Church

Devotion:

This weeks' devotion is taken from the Upper Room's Website- dated May 11, 2026

Driving in an older section of our town, in Ohio, Mary Ellen (the writer) and myself passed by a historic, majestic church building. A sign out front announced its closure and gratitude for the 110-plus years of its service our community.

Mary Ellen and I felt an overwhelming sadness as we imagined all the weddings, baptisms, and other celebrations that would no longer be held there, in the historic church. I also thought of the somber occasions — the funerals, the broken families seeking refuge. We imagined the people of that church praying with and for each other, sharing in their joy and grief.

Today, worship takes many forms. For some it is an online event. Others feel that the Lord doesn’t require four walls or a church community to worship God. There is truth to that. We can worship anywhere and anytime.

But for me, church is the place where I experience God with other believers and being part of that has been a dynamic experience. There is something special about people of different ages and backgrounds joining together as a church family to worship God. Together we reach into our community and around the world to promote God’s word and to support and help each other.

What a joyous feeling it is to join with others in a shared love for God!

Today's Prayer
"Dear Lord, we worship you and offer all praise and glory in Jesus’ name. Amen."

Yours in the Journey,
Mary Ellen Hazel (Ohio. USA)
Upper Room's Website: https://www.upperroom.org/


Announcements:

May 14, 2026- Thursday.
Tomorrow at 10a, the Women's club will be meeting at the church and traveling together to Sunrise Nursery, in Grant Park. If interested in attending, please contact Sue Naylor, and let her know you will be joining in on the fun: 1321 Main Street, Crete, IL. After going to the nursery, a luncheon will be planned at a local restaurant. All are invited to attend.

Miracle Sunday is this Sunday, May 17th. All are invited to give.

The next Women's Club meeting will be on Monday, June 01, 2026, in the narthex, starting at 1p., at Crete UMC.

Devotion

Here we are halfway through Holy Week and today is April Fool’s Day. Somehow it seems appropriate to me. It reminds me of the time when Mary of Bethany did four very foolish things.

After Jesus had raised her brother Lazarus from the dead Jesus later returned to the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. And John tells us that, “There they gave a dinner for him.”

Mary first, loosens her hair in a room full of men, something no respectable woman would ever do. Second, she breaks a bottle of pure nard worth about $50,000 in our money. Mary, Martha and Lazarus were not particularly wealthy. In that day nard was purchased and saved as something like a rainy-day fund. Third, she pours the expensive balm on Jesus’ feet – which wasn’t the way it was typically done. You anointed the head with balm – not the feet.

Then, fourth, she wipes the salve with her hair. She touches Jesus, a single woman caressing the feet of a rabbi. This was not done, not even among friends. It is totally inexplicable – this foolish, bizarre act – it is wasteful, extravagant, excessive.
Mary has gone overboard, as Judas is quick to point out. Nard was reserved for the royal funerals. This ointment was too expensive for the common folk. It was used only by royalty – at a king’s coronation or at his funeral.

Mary’s foolish gesture points to the extravagances of God’s love. Jesus, it seems, is the only one in the room who understands Mary’s foolishness. He knows his time is near. He is going to the cross. He is going to his death. He is giving his life for us, giving up all pride, giving out of love for us.

By the power of this wasteful, foolish deed, the power of this extravagant love, you and I have been plucked from death, restored to life. The anointed one has anointed us with his perfume.

So Happy April Fools, dear friends. As Paul says, we are “… fools for Christ’s sake.”

Yours in the journey,
Pastor Kristen

Announcements

Holy Week Services this week: April 2- April 5, 2026

Maundy Thursday Come and Go Communion, April 2 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Come when you can, leave when you must. Holy Communion will be served. Join with others seated around a table following a brief time of Scripture reading and prayer.

Good Friday Service, April 03 from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.

A Tenebrae Service consisting of scripture readings with the gradual extinguishing of candles to symbolize the growing darkness of Jesus’ death on the cross.

And Join Us for Easter Sunday Worship, April 5 at 10 a.m.
A service of joy, music and song celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ