Willoughby Hills United Methodist Church History

04/07/2026

Moments in WHUMC History: "February 4, 1985 -- Rev. Deane & Ruth Williams went to Liberia to work on a mission project for the Conference."

04/06/2026

On the back of the photo is written, "Washington, DC Trip, April 1988"

04/05/2026

One of the greatest joys of my sabbatical in 2017 was holding the manuscript of this beloved Easter hymn from Charles Wesley in my hands. Here it is as it originally was written:

1. “Christ the Lord is risen today,”
Sons of men and angels say,
Raise your Joys and Triumphs high,
Sing ye Heav'ns; and Earth reply.

2. Love's Redeeming Work is done,
Fought the Fight, the Battle won,
Lo! our Sun's Eclipse is o'er,
Lo! He sets in Blood no more.

3. Vain the Stone, the Watch, the Seal;
Christ hath burst the Gates of Hell !
Death in vain forbids his Rise:
Christ hath open'd Paradise!

4. Lives again our glorious King,
Where, O Death, is now thy Sting?
Once He died our Souls to save, *
Where thy Victory, O Grave?

5. Soar we now, where Christ has led,
Following our Exalted Head,
Made like Him, like Him we rise,
Ours the Cross; the Grave; the Skies!

6. What tho' once we perish'd All,
Partners in our Parent's Fall?
Second Life we All receive,
In our Heav'nly Adam live.

7. Risen with Him, we upward move,
Still we seek the Things above;
Still pursue, and kiss the Son
Seated on His Father's Throne.

8. Scarce on Earth a Thought bestow,
Dead to all we leave below,
Heav'n our Aim, and loved Abode,
Hid our life with Christ in GOD!

9. Hid; 'till Christ our Life appear,
Glorious in His members here:
Join'd to Him, we then shall shine,
All Immortal, all Divine.

10. Hail the Lord of Earth and Heav'n!
Praise to Thee by both be given:
Thee we greet Triumphant now;
Hail the Resurrection Thou!

11. King of Glory, Soul of Bliss!
Everlasting life is This,
Thee to know, thy Power to prove,
Thus to sing, and thus to love!

04/05/2026

04/02/2026

Maundy Thursday

03/30/2026

Take a short quiz to test your knowledge of Holy Week and Easter. Be sure to share the link to this page on social media, along with your score!

03/30/2026

Did you know that today was the anniversary of Charles Wesley's death? How many of his hymns do you know?

The anniversary of the death of Charles Wesley is also the anniversary of my ordination to ministry.

From the Charles Wesley Society—

During his adult life, Charles traveled, preached, wrote poetry and hymns, saw to the work of the Methodist societies, bands, and classes, and remained loyal to the Anglican Church until his death. He argued against John’s path of increasing separation from the Church of England that included ordaining ministers, sanctioning their offering the sacraments, and scheduling of worship services at the same hour as local Anglican churches.

He wrote more than 6,500 texts, including the poems and hymns. His range of poetic meters demanded the composition of new tunes and rhythms. His use of Scripture in his texts is unprecedented, with only the books of Obadiah, Nahum, Zephaniah, and Third John not used. The brothers published sixty-four collections of hymns between 1738 and 1785, many of which consisted of only Charles’ texts.

Wesley died on March 29, 1788 in Marylebone, London, England; his final hymn was dictated to his wife on his deathbed:

In age and feebleness extreme,
Who shall a helpless worm redeem?
Jesus, my only hope Thou art,
Strength of my failing flesh and heart,
O, could I catch a smile from Thee
And drop into eternity!

He was buried in the Marylebone Parish Church, London, an Anglican church. He did not wish to be buried in unconsecrated, Methodist ground; his gravestone reads:

HERE LIE
THE REMAINS OF
THE REV.
CHARLES WESLEY, M.A.
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
THE 29TH MARCH 1788
AGED 80 YEARS.
WITH POVERTY OF SPIRIT BLESSED
REST HAPPY SAINT IN JESUS REST.
A SINNER SAVED THROUGH GRACE FORGIVEN
REDEEMED FROM EARTH TO REIGN IN HEAVEN.
AND LABOURS OF UNWEARIED LOVE
BY THEE FORGOT ARE CROWN’D ABOVE
CROWN’D THROUGH THE MERCY OF THY LORD
WITH A FREE FULL IMMENSE REWARD

03/28/2026

Another episode of Women of Methodism..... take a listen!

New podcast day! Join us as Dr. Ashley Boggan talks with historian Dr. Ellen Blue about the Methodist women, deaconesses, and mission leaders who fed the hungry, served immigrants, built institutions, shaped social work, and pushed the church toward change. Their work was often dismissed, their records were often lost, and their leadership was often resisted, but their witness helped turn the world upside down.

The episode is part of our 2026 Women in Methodism series.

Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-they-were-recognized-they-were-leading/id1564596345?i=1000756483029

03/26/2026

We know that this was a 2004 WHUMC Mission trip.... and it looks like it might have been lunchtime! What are your lunchtime memories from WHUMC mission trips?

03/25/2026

WHUMC Photo of the Week: No caption on the back, but it is dated 17 November 1963. Note that this photo was taken in what is now Fellowship Hall. The door is no longer there, and the congregation was still using folding chairs for seating.

03/23/2026

We'd love to have you attend!