Willow Hill United Methodist Church

Willow Hill United Methodist Church Our mission is to Gather in the name of Jesus, Grow Disciples and equip them for ministry, and Go into the world to share the transforming power of God's love.

Traditional Service - 9:00 a.m. Online Worship - 10:00 a.m. Contemporary Service - 11:00 a.m.

Today, we remember. 🕯️We remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001. We remember the families who still carry that lo...
09/11/2026

Today, we remember. 🕯️

We remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001. We remember the families who still carry that loss, the first responders who ran toward danger, and all those whose lives were forever changed.

Twenty-five years later, may remembrance also call us toward hope. In a world that can feel divided and uncertain, may we choose compassion over hatred, peace over fear, and love for our neighbors again and again.

May we be people who bring light into dark places, care for those who are hurting, and work together for a world shaped by the peace of Christ.

🙏 God of peace, be near to all who grieve today. Comfort those who carry painful memories and strengthen those who continue to serve and care for others. Where there is fear, help us bring hope. Where there is division, help us seek understanding. Where there is hatred, teach us to love. Make us instruments of your peace today and every day. Amen.

We remember. We pray. We choose hope.

Grief doesn’t follow a timeline. 💙Whether your loss was six months ago, sixteen years ago, or somewhere in between, ther...
09/08/2026

Grief doesn’t follow a timeline. 💙

Whether your loss was six months ago, sixteen years ago, or somewhere in between, there may be days when the weight of missing someone feels especially heavy. You don’t have to carry that grief alone.

Beginning Tuesday, September 22, Willow Hill will offer GriefShare, a 9-week small group for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Together, we’ll create a safe and compassionate space to process grief, gain meaningful perspective, and connect with others who understand something of what you’re walking through.

GriefShare will meet Tuesdays from 6:30–8:00pm. All are welcome, wherever you may be in your journey with grief.

If you (or someone you love) could use a little extra support right now, we gently invite you to consider joining us. 💙

Register here:https://find.griefshare.org/groups/302854/registrations/new.

Questions? Please reach out to Pastor Nicole.

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day from Willow Hill! The church office is closed today in observance of the holiday.

Today we’re giving thanks for all the ways people work, serve, create, teach, care, build, and make our community a better place. Whether you’re enjoying a well-earned day off or heading to work today, we hope you find a little time to rest, recharge, and enjoy the people around you. 💙

🙏 A Labor Day Prayer:
God, thank you for the gifts you’ve given each of us and for the many ways we use them to serve others. Bless the work of our hands, give rest to those who are weary, and help us bring your love into whatever we do. Amen.

💬 Who deserves a little extra appreciation for the work they do? Tag them or give them a shout-out below!

https://youtu.be/1AmfPXrM9RgWhere is God when life hurts—and what hope do we have when nothing seems to be getting bette...
09/06/2026

https://youtu.be/1AmfPXrM9Rg

Where is God when life hurts—and what hope do we have when nothing seems to be getting better?

We thirst for so many things: peace, justice, healing, reconciliation, answers to unanswered questions, and relief from the pain we carry. And sometimes we wonder: If God is good, why hasn't God made everything right yet?

In this week's online worship service, Pastor Nicole concludes our Refreshing sermon series with “Living Water,” based on Revelation 7:16–17.

Revelation was originally a message of hope for people experiencing real suffering, violence, uncertainty, and persecution. Its promise wasn't that their pain wasn't real. Instead, God reminded them—and reminds us—that suffering does not get the final word.

Revelation gives us a beautiful image of Jesus as both the Lamb and the Shepherd. Jesus understands what it means to suffer, grieve, hurt, weep, and thirst. He doesn't lead us from a distant place untouched by our pain. He leads us as One who has walked through suffering himself.

And this Shepherd is leading us toward springs of living water.

Living water isn't stagnant. It moves. It flows. It's fresh and full of life. Pastor Nicole explores how this image points us toward God's promise of restoration—a future where justice, peace, healing, and love flow freely and life is fully alive in the presence of God.

We aren't there yet. There are still unanswered prayers, people we miss, wounds that haven't healed, and things we wish God would fix right now.

But this isn't the end of the story.

Our thirst is real.
Our suffering is real.
Our grief is real.
But they are not the final word.

We have a Shepherd. And our Shepherd knows the way to the water that never runs dry.



If you are new to Willow Hill, and you would like to stay connected, please complete our online connection card: https://forms.gle/Hdsm3akVBN5FdGTt6

Check us out on social media at:
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Giving information:
Online at: https://willowhill.org/giving
Download the free Vanco Mobile Faith Engagement app and search “Willow Hill UMC”
Mail Contributions to: Willow Hill UMC, 304 E. Far Hills Dr., East Peoria, IL 61611

Before the Little Willows classes start ➡️ After finishing classes for the day. 😂💛Bright-eyed and ready to go in the mor...
09/04/2026

Before the Little Willows classes start ➡️ After finishing classes for the day. 😂💛

Bright-eyed and ready to go in the morning…still smiling (but maybe a little more tired!) by the end of the day!

We were SO excited to welcome our Little Willows friends back for another wonderful year! This year, 108 children are filling our classrooms with laughter, learning, curiosity, and plenty of energy. We’re thrilled to see familiar faces returning and to welcome so many new children and families into the Little Willows community.

And can we take a moment to celebrate these incredible teachers?! 💛 They pour so much time, energy, patience, creativity, and love into our students each day. Their work goes far beyond teaching letters, numbers, shapes, and colors. They are helping children learn how to make friends, solve problems, grow in confidence, practice kindness, and develop the skills they’ll need as they prepare for kindergarten. These teachers may look a little more tired at the end of the day, but that's because what they’re doing matters so much.

Little Willows is an incredible ministry to families with young children throughout our community, and you can be part of it! We’ve included a QR code on this graphic that will take you directly to the Little Willows Amazon Wish List. Any item purchased would be such a blessing to our teachers and students and helps provide the supplies they need to make these classrooms places where children can learn, play, and thrive.

📱 Scan the QR code to shop the Wish List and help support Little Willows!

Here’s to a wonderful new school year—and maybe a little extra caffeine for our teachers. 😉☕💛

💛 Welcome to the Willow Hill Family! 💛There’s something special about watching our church family grow!On Sunday, we had ...
09/03/2026

💛 Welcome to the Willow Hill Family! 💛

There’s something special about watching our church family grow!

On Sunday, we had the joy of officially welcoming new members to Willow Hill, and we are so grateful they’ve chosen to make this community part of their faith journey. We’re excited for all the ways these newest members will deepen their roots in the life and ministry of Willow Hill.

Help us give a BIG Willow Hill welcome to our newest members listed below! 👋💛 We’re so glad you’re here, and we're blessed to grow, serve, worship, and do life together!

Erin Thurston
Joe Turner
Amber Turner
Angela Fritch-Milton
Joseph Milton

09/03/2026

Ever feel a little like a plant that desperately needs water?

In this week’s Midweek Moment, Pastor Nicole introduces us to one of her office plants—and it’s looking a little rough. It’s dry, wilted, and desperately in need of some water. And sometimes, life can leave us feeling exactly the same way.

Maybe you’re exhausted. Overwhelmed. Grieving. Hurting. Or simply trying to make it through a season that has taken more out of you than you expected.

When we find ourselves in those dry places, it can be tempting to beat ourselves up because we think we should be handling things better. We should have more energy. We should know what to do. We should even know what to pray.

But you don’t have to force yourself to bloom.

Isaiah 58:11 gives us a beautiful promise: God provides for us even in the parched places and tends to us like a well-watered garden. And when we’re so tired or overwhelmed that we don’t even have the words to pray, Romans 8 reminds us that the Spirit intercedes for us. God already knows what is heavy on our hearts.

So if you’re walking through a dry season, maybe today you don’t need to try harder or fix everything. Maybe you can simply let yourself be. Let God meet you where you are. Let God tend to you.

Connect yourself to the spring that never runs dry and allow God to water those dry places until, little by little, you begin to flourish again. 💧🌱

09/01/2026

When Life Feels Empty, God Is Still There | Isaiah 58:11-

When life feels dry, it doesn’t mean God disappeared. 💧

Sometimes you don’t know what comes next. You’re exhausted from trying to figure everything out. Your faith feels more like a question than an answer, and spiritually? You’re running on empty.

Isaiah 58:11 doesn’t promise us a life without hard seasons. Instead, it gives us something better: the promise that God is present even there.

Your circumstances may feel dry.
Your world may feel empty.
Your soul may feel exhausted.

But God is not empty. God is still the spring that won’t run dry.

Maybe that’s the reminder your soul needed today. 💙

📖 Isaiah 58:11

Less than an hour of your time can help make sure a child in our community has food for the weekend. 💛For many local chi...
08/31/2026

Less than an hour of your time can help make sure a child in our community has food for the weekend. 💛

For many local children, the school lunch they receive on Friday may be the last full meal they have until Monday. SnackPac helps bridge that gap by providing free, kid-friendly meals and snacks each weekend—and you can be part of making that happen!

🥫 Join us for our first SnackPac packing night:
📅 Monday, August 31
⏰ 6:00pm
📍 Willow Hill
🙌 All ages are welcome!

Packing usually takes half an hour or less, making this an easy way for individuals, families, and friends to spend a little time together while making a meaningful difference for kids in our community.

Can't make this one? Our second packing night is Monday, September 28, at 6:00pm.

You can also support SnackPac by donating kid-friendly, individual, non-perishable, easy-open items. Shopping lists are available at the SnackPac table in the church entrance. An easy way to shop is by scanning the QR code and donating directly through purchases from the Amazon Wishlist. Monetary donations are also welcome (just note “SnackPac” on the memo line).

Whether you pack a bag, donate an item, or make a gift, every act of generosity helps care for a child in our community. ❤️

Come serve with us, and bring the whole family!

Address

304 E Far Hills Drive
East Peoria, IL
61611

Telephone

+13093832700

Website

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