Crawford’s annual Chili Cook-Off, benefitting New England Justice For Our Neighbors! The cook-off will be held:

Saturday, February 3, 2024, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
at Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church
34 Dix Street, Winchester, MA

Bring  your family and friends, and your appetite! Good will offerings will be accepted at the door, and we will sell “ballots” for $1 each — tickets you can use to vote for your favorite chili(s).

Support an important cause.
There is no charge at the door, though good will offerings are welcome. The money we raise through this event helps support free legal counsel for immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in the area, provided by New England Justice For Our Neighbors, in their clinics located across Massachusetts (Lawrence, Lowell, Springfield, and Worcester). Visit newenglandjfon.org for more information.

Take the night off from cooking.
Taste as many chilis as you like and accompany them with extras including salad and corn bread to round out your meal!

Enter the competition!
Do you have a favorite chili recipe? We’re hoping for a wide variety of entries — from sweet and mild to flaming hot. To enter, sign up here, or contact the church office by calling 781-729-5056. On the 11th, plan to bring your chili in a slow cooker (Crock Pot) and serving spoon to Crawford by 5:15. Please also bring a description of your chili including all ingredients, for those who may have food allergies. Everything else (bowls, utensils, napkins, etc.) will be provided.

We hope you will make Crawford part of your Christmas celebration this year. We have three services planned on the day of Christmas Eve, and a community carol sing-along as well! Seeing that Christmas Eve is on a Sunday this year, we will hold our regular Sunday worship service celebrating the Fourth Sunday of Advent at 10:00am. Later that day, we will hold two Christmas Eve services of Lessons and Carols — at 5pm and 9pm. Both of our Christmas Eve services will feature music by Occasional Brass and Strings, and at the 9pm service, they’ll be joined by our chancel choir. In between, we invite the community to join us at 6:30pm in a carol sing-along accompanied by the brass quintet and led by choir member Kate Frisoli on the steps in front of the church. You won’t want to miss any of it. Join us as we listen again to the story of Jesus’ birth, and sing together the Christmas carols we love and know so well. Bring your friends and family — all are welcome!

Christmas Eve Day 10:00am
Worship service celebrating the fourth Sunday of Advent

Christmas Eve 5:00pm
Service of Lessons and Carols, Children’s Message, Occasional Brass Quintet

Christmas Caroling 6:30pm
Community Carol Sing-Along outdoors in front of the church

Christmas Eve 9:00pm
Service of Lessons and Carols, music by our Chancel Choir and Occasional Brass & Strings

Our annual Holiday Faire is coming up soon! The members of Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church are hard at work preparing for this year’s Holiday Faire, to be held Saturday, November 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Our home-made apple pies fill our freezer. Our crafters have been knitting, crocheting, and sewing handmade treasures to sell all year. Our bakers and soup makers are getting ready to fill our baked goods table and snack bar, so you’ll have plenty of tasty options if you get hungry while shopping. Our White Elephant and Book Sale tables will soon be groaning with treasures. Plus the jewelry table and Christmas Room! See you on the 11th!