About
We strive to be a welcoming and safe place to ask questions and to be heard. It is important to us to create a space that values and nurtures spirituality for those who have been harmed by church, society, family, or self. We don’t pretend to have all the answers. We find wisdom from many backgrounds to be helpful in understanding our faith journeys and our relationships with God and with each other.
We see and use our Sanctuary as a Living Room (we don’t have pews). In it we gather, eat, sing, celebrate, knit, discuss, show films, play games, laugh, and cry.
Our Mission
To connect people to God and each other through love and acceptance. We acknowledge the spirituality and goodness in each person and our connection to all of creation. We encourage searching, questioning, listening, and dialogue as well as actions to bring about justice and wholeness.
Our Vision
We believe that God is Love and that Love is for Everyone. As followers of Jesus Christ our response to God’s extravagant, unconditional love and mercy is to share and demonstrate that message of love to others. Jesus sought out the poor and the marginalized, and it is through the empowering of the poor and marginalized that the deep truth of God’s love is known.
Reconciling Congregation
We are committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion and justice. As a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network we are committed to outreach, affirmation, and intersectional ministry with and for LGBTQ+ persons locally. We also work to create opportunities to engage in dialogue, build relationships, and advocate for changes to Church policies related to ordination equality, marriage equality, and the availability of funds that help make LGBTQ+ justice a reality.
For Our Visitors
As Methodists, we utilize a four-pronged approach to answering questions about Christian belief and practice. We believe that Christian faith is revealed in Scripture, interpreted by tradition, brought to life in the experiences of each of us and confirmed by reason.
We believe there are many ways to experience God -- including music, art, scripture, nature, community and service. God’s presence and grace is found in each person, and no one is excluded.
We believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ offers a revolutionary alternative reality in which justice, mercy and grace rule. The first shall be last and the last shall be first. The measure of devotion to the Holy is how we treat the widow, the stranger and the orphan. In the Methodist tradition, we believe involvement in social justice is a necessary part of our walk with God. Our community partnering is an important part of who we are.
To learn more about the beliefs of the United Methodist Church CLICK HERE.
Yes, so are some of us.
Our parking lot is off of 78th street just east of the church building. There is one accessible space on Greenwood and a handicap drop-off space in front of the building (on Greenwood). Our parking lot does not have specified handicap spaces although the spaces are large. Our facility is handicap accessible.
Prayer, singing, reading, shared prayer requests, and open discussion of scripture and sermon topic.
Communion is served on the first Sunday of each month. All are welcome to The Table.
Whatever you want, but most are dressed casually.
Join in our Searching for Sunday class for adults at 9:30am every Sunday morning. This class focus changes often from Bible Study to book discussion to other topics of interest.
Absolutely, yes! We love having children join us in worship and all other gatherings and feel blessed by their “noises”. There is a special table in the worship area for children to color and read and another area in the Narthex that has toys they can play with if they have busy hands.
Yes! We would love to add your voice. Our choir meets every Thursday evening at 7:30pm.
Come to Just Coffee on Fridays from 2-5pm and discuss how you would like to get involved.
Yes! Please contact our office administrator for details and availability at woodlandparkumc@gmail.com or call 206-784-6969 Mon-Thurs from 9am – 12noon.
Yes. We recognize this issue in our society and take time to face it and provide solutions in our own special way. We welcome you to have a conversation after church while we drink coffee and eat snacks. We invite you to drop by Just Coffee on Friday afternoons 2-5 pm each week. We sit, drink coffee, eat a few snacks and talk, talk, talk. We invite you to work beside us to help address and decrease this community issue.
Personal spiritual formation and world transformation are intensely interrelated, according to Pastor Willie. Compassionate communities are built with compassionate people, embodying and bringing to life the radically inclusive, grace-filled, just, and merciful love of Jesus. Willie tries to approach preaching and theology with equal measures of playfulness and academic rigor. The sermon might include current events, but it might also include impressions, dad jokes, music, and real-time input from the congregation. Willie identifies as a Contemplative Christian, practicing Centering Prayer, mindfulness, and meditation.
An Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, Willie joined Woodland Park UMC as pastor in July 2018. Originally from southern Illinois, Willie has pastored churches in Illinois and Washington. He graduated from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (go Salukis!) with a B.A. in Psychology and an M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling; and from Eden Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity.
In his spare time Willie likes playing the guitar, recording and producing music, and especially Geocaching with his spouse Tiffany. He has dabbled in improvisational comedy and has played lead guitar in church bands and pub bands. Willie is also a passionate Cat Dad of three hilarious kitties.
Meet Our Team
- Music Director
- Office Coordinator
- Treasurer
- Janitor