A Half-Century on 99th Avenue
Willowbrook United Methodist Church has stood on the north side of Sun City, Arizona since the late 1970s, but its first morning goes back further than the buildings. On Easter Sunday, April 18, 1976, 171 people gathered with the Rev. Albert J. Wilson for the very first worship service, and 37 of them took membership vows that day. The congregation was officially constituted a few weeks later, on May 16, 1976. When membership reached 250 the following year, the church voted to build a permanent home at 19390 North 99th Avenue, where it still meets.
The founders adopted a single-sentence faith statement that has shaped the congregation ever since: "Expect a Miracle." Rooted in Christian faith, shaped by close and caring fellowship, and committed to serving both local and global needs, Willowbrook grew into a warm, welcoming church with a heart for mission. That heritage continues today, and in 2026 the congregation marked its fiftieth anniversary with a Golden Banquet and a year of remembrance.
Two Services, One Congregation
Worship is at the center of life at Willowbrook, and the church offers two weekly services designed for different rhythms of the week.
The Saturday Sabbath service begins at 5:00 p.m. in the Willowbrook Chapel. It is intentionally relaxed and intimate, a smaller and more informal setting where members and visitors can worship without the hurry of a Sunday morning. Oral prayer requests are welcomed and prayed upon during the service itself.
On Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., the congregation gathers in the Sanctuary for what the church describes as spirited traditional worship. Services last about sixty minutes and include heartfelt prayer, meaningful preaching, and inspiring music. The Sanctuary is home to some of the most stunning stained glass in the Valley, and a digital pipe organ leads the congregation alongside the Sanctuary Choir. After the service, at 10:30 a.m., everyone is invited to stay for fellowship, coffee, and conversation. Many lasting friendships at Willowbrook begin at that post-service hour.
For those who cannot attend in person, the Sunday service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel at 9:30 a.m., and recordings of older sermons are available to watch anytime.
What to Expect on a First Visit
Willowbrook sits in an adult community and primarily serves an adult congregation, and that shapes the rhythm of Sunday morning. The church does not offer dedicated children's programming, but everyone is welcome to worship together, and the atmosphere is set to be relaxed and accommodating for all ages.
Plenty of accessible parking is available, with reserved guest spots near the entrance. Greeters are on hand to help with directions to the Sanctuary, the Chapel, restrooms, or the Welcome Desk, where volunteers are ready to answer questions about the church. Ushers are cross-trained to assist anyone who needs help finding a seat, and several are AED trained for emergencies. Walkers and wheelchairs are welcomed, with the simple request that they be positioned so aisles stay clear.
There is no dress code. Members arrive in everything from jeans and slacks to dresses and Sunday best, and visitors are received the same way.
The Music that Carries Worship
Music is woven deeply into the life of Willowbrook. The Chancel Choir presents a wide range of sacred music from September through June, enriching the 9:30 a.m. Sunday service each week. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, and new singers are always welcome without audition. From the first Sunday in June through September, the Summer Singers drop-in choir fills the same role, gathering for a brief 9:00 a.m. rehearsal in the Music Room before worship.
The Joyful Bells handbell choir is a small but dynamic group that rings several times each year from fall through spring, at both Sabbath and Sunday services. New ringers of all experience levels are invited to join; rehearsals are on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. in the Music Room.
The digital pipe organ, the Sanctuary Choir, the Joyful Bells, and the sanctuary's stained glass combine to give the Sunday service the feel of a long tradition carefully kept alive.
Prayer at the Heart of the Church
Prayer is described as the heart of Willowbrook, and several connected ministries keep that promise visible week to week.
An Intercessory Prayer group meets every Monday at 2:00 p.m. in the Library to lift up the needs of the congregation, families, friends, and the wider church. New names are added each week, and praises are shared as prayers are answered, with members continuing to pray daily between meetings. The Prayer Chain provides immediate support, with dedicated prayer warriors notified by email each weekday so requests can be lifted up as soon as they arrive. At the close of every Sunday service, a Stephen Minister is available in the Prayer Room just outside the Sanctuary for one-on-one prayer.
Growing Through Study
Bible study has been central to Willowbrook since its earliest days, and a wide range of opportunities is offered.
The Lectionary Bible Study gathers on Mondays at 11:00 a.m. in the Library, working through the four assigned Scripture readings of the Revised Common Lectionary each week, beginning each year with Advent. A Men's Bible Study meets on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. in the Library, and a Women's Bible Study meets at the same hour in Wilson Fellowship Hall. The multi-year Disciple Bible Study series - four phases covering both Old and New Testaments - runs January through April on Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. in the Library, with each phase building on the last.
Membership Classes are offered every other month as a two-part series on consecutive Sundays at 11:00 a.m. in the Library, covering United Methodist beliefs and sacraments and the particular story of Willowbrook. For those seeking deeper spiritual formation, the church supports Lay Servant Ministries training through the Desert Southwest Conference and the Walk to Emmaus, a 72-hour spiritual retreat for adults, with a Willowbrook Emmaus Reunion Group meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. in the Conference Room.
Walking Together Through Every Season
Caring for one another is described by the church as essential to its health and growth. The Caring Congregation is a team trained to share the love of Christ with members who are hospitalized, in care centers, or homebound. Stephen Ministers provide confidential one-to-one care for those navigating a difficult season, meeting privately each week for about an hour for as long as the relationship is needed.
GriefShare, a thirteen-week support group, meets on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in the Library and offers a safe, welcoming place to work through the unpredictable emotions of grief. KrisKrafters gathers on the first, third, and fifth Thursdays of the month at 9:00 a.m., creating items - including prayer shawls knit and crocheted with prayer - that are donated to charities such as Solace Hospice, the Veterans' Furniture Warehouse, and the Justa Center. The group's annual Holidaze Craft Fair each fall helps fund the materials.
Winsome Widows brings together women who have lost their husbands for fellowship, games, meals, and short field trips on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.
Women at Willowbrook
United Women in Faith is open to all women of the church as well as friends and neighbors, and its purpose is to know God and experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ, to develop a creative supportive fellowship, and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. Unit meetings are held on the third Monday of most months with a bring-your-own-lunch and a program. Four Circles - Mary, Elizabeth, Rachel, and Dorcas - meet in smaller groups on the second Monday, second Tuesday, and second Wednesday.
A Community Built on Fellowship
Beyond study and service, Willowbrook offers a steady calendar of gatherings that bring members together around tables, books, and shared interests.
Art & Soul is a relaxed adult coloring group that meets every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. in Wilson Fellowship Hall. First Tuesday at Noon is a free monthly lunch, prepared by a team from the Church Council, with a program and donations welcomed to cover costs. Hooked on Books, a book discussion group, meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. in the Library. Youthful Seniors has offered monthly fellowship - dinners, potlucks, movies, games, and musical programs - for over twenty-five years, meeting on the second Friday of each month at 5:00 p.m. in Wilson Fellowship Hall. Metho Travelers offers reasonably priced outings, day trips, and cruises in partnership with Lakeview UMC, First UMC, and Royal Oaks.
Reaching Beyond the Campus
Outreach is described by the church as a vital expression of faith. Willowbrook supports a network of community partners with both financial gifts and hands-on service.
The Justa Center, which serves homeless and near-homeless seniors with access to healthcare, benefits assistance, and daily necessities, is supported by volunteer time and donations. The HART Pantry partnership involves ongoing collection, sorting, and distribution of food for teens in need. UMOM New Day Centers receives support for families experiencing homelessness. The Valley View Community Food Bank is supported through regular food drives and donations, and the Salvation Army receives an annual financial gift along with food from the First Sunday food drive, school supplies from the Back-to-School Drive, and items from Undie Sunday.
Wesley Community & Health Centers at the Golden Gate Campus is supported financially to provide programs and services that improve the quality of life for children and families in west central Phoenix neighborhoods. The Veterans' Furniture Warehouse receives pillows collected during the annual Pillow Drive, with custom pillowcases sewn by KrisKrafters for veterans transitioning into permanent housing. Wildlife World Zoo is supported on the second Sunday of every month with needed items, most often gently used sheets and towels.
At the global level, Willowbrook financially supports UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, as it responds to humanitarian crises through disaster relief and recovery, migrant and refugee support, environmental sustainability, agriculture, and food security.
The Willowbrook Foundation
Beyond the annual operating budget, the Willowbrook Foundation exists to provide long-term financial support for the ministries and mission of the church. Gifts to the Foundation are invested and stewarded carefully, strengthening general ministry, training and leadership development, music and worship ministries, and the care of church facilities. The Foundation is overseen by a dedicated team of trustees who manage all gifts with care, integrity, and transparency. Many members support the Foundation through legacy gifts such as bequests, memorial gifts, or other planned giving options, leaving a lasting testimony of faith and generosity.
Leadership and Staff
The pastoral team is led by Senior Pastor Rev. Matt Ashley and Associate Pastor Rev. Doug Reynolds, with Lois Hedden serving as Pastor of Visitation. Dr. Robb Butler is the Music Director, and Carol Manley serves as a Worship Musician. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and is closed on Fridays. The office can be reached at (623) 974-5637.
As part of the worldwide United Methodist Church and the Desert Southwest Conference, Willowbrook stands within the Wesleyan tradition, shaped by close fellowship and a deep commitment to loving God and neighbor. From its first Easter Sunday in 1976 to its fiftieth anniversary on 99th Avenue, the congregation continues to live out the same bold faith statement that guided its founders: "Expect a Miracle."