Yesterday morning I woke to the sound of birds singing and a beautiful blue sky. I went out to the backyard to fill the pan I use for water (in case the birds and squirrels were thirsty).

Then I scattered some critter food for the critters and birds.There is a beautiful pair of cardinals that have been hanging around our house lately. The male so red and the female dressed in feathers of more modest colors. I watched them up close as they drank from the water pan right outside my window.

I watched a squirrel digging up the brown grass and putting it in its mouth – then dashing off somewhere to put it in the nest that its building. All was well in my world.

And then, I turned on the TV and everything went south. I like to watch the WGN weather report in the morning just to see what the day will be like. I learned that we were under a severe weather alert with potential tornados, large hail and flooding. As the day went on, my husband kept checking the weather report. The report became more and more dire. I wondered if the animals knew the storm was coming because I saw neither hide nor hair of any critters.

My husband and I did what we always do when there’s a potential for tornadoes. We made sure we had some gallon jugs of water in the downstairs of the bi-level house we live in, we made sure we had flashlights with us and reminded each other of the safest spot to go to in the house in case a tornado hit.

In the late afternoon and into the evening, I kept WGN news on. My husband had a storm chaser on his computer who was filming the storm live. There were several tornadoes or severe weather events up toward Chicago, and south of us. Many continued on into Indiana.

 
Kankakee and around Kankakee got the worst of it. A supercell – that produces tornadoes -passed over that area. One stayed on the ground for several miles traveling northeast.

In today’s morning press conference, it was reported that there were 4 tornadoes in total, some with 6-inch hail. There were no deaths, no missing persons. Nine persons were injured and there has been significant property damage including several totaled cars.

Today I pray for all the people and communities affected by these storms. I give thanks that Crete didn’t get hit. I give thanks for the critters who are safe and sound and have come back out of their hiding places to eat their critter food and drink the water from the pan right outside my window.

 
Yours in the journey,
Pastor Kristen

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                                     Announcements: 

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Pancake Breakfast on Palm Sunday- March 29th. The Women's Club will be hosting this event. All are welcome. invite friends and neighbors to join us for church service and breakfast. 

 

PENNY-PANTRY SUNDAY- March 22, 2026

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    Holy Week Services at Crete United Methodist Church

 

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 29, 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

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