Our Church

Our Church

Willowdale Chapel is a nondenominational church founded in 1956. From our humble roots, we've grown to be a thriving body of 1,500 people. Today we are one church in two locations, with campuses in Kennett Square and Jennersville. We're passionate about Jesus and his Gospel, which offers the grace we all need every day. Whether they're longtime followers of Christ or just trying to figure it out for the first time, we love meeting people where they are and helping them grow in their faith.

Our Ministries

Our Ministries

We have all the core ministries that most churches have — children, youth and adult small groups — along with some "specialty" ministries that meet particular needs we sometimes face. Three of those — Celebrate Recovery, Re|engage (marriage) and Special Needs — offer distinctive help for some during the biggest challenges of their lives.

Our Outreach

Our Outreach

God intends to make all things new. That's why he sends us into the world with a gospel that touches—and begins to transform—all of life. Thus our Outreach Ministries are built on three pillars: Gospel Proclamation, Serving our Neighbors and Advocating for the Vulnerable. We organize around these key priorities to give full expression to God's love for the world.

CARE Ministries

We all experience periods of pain in life: physical, emotional, relational and spiritual. But you don’t need to go through these trials alone. Our Care Ministries provide friendship, support and pathways forward. There is always an outstretched hand to lift you up.

Recovery

Celebrate Recovery

Mondays, 7 p.m.
Celebrate Recovery helps people experience God’s healing power through a Christ-centered 12-step program. We meet in the Worship Center at our Kennett Campus, beginning with music and teaching before moving into various safe men’s and women’s open-share groups.

  • Newcomer’s Groups for all first-time attendees (Men’s Group/Women’s Group)
  • Chemical Dependency Groups (Men’s Group/Women’s Group)
  • Life Issues Groups (Men’s Group/Women’s Group)
  • Codependency Groups (Men’s Group/Women’s Group)
  • Recovery From Abuse Groups (Women’s Group)
  • Sexual Integrity Groups (Men’s Group)
  • Sexual and Emotional Integrity (Women’s Group)
  • Anger and Control Groups (Men’s Group)
  • Food Issues Groups (Women’s Group)

We encourage you to stop by on any Monday night and see what we’re all about, or contact us at [email protected].

Celebrate Recovery WILL:

  • Provide you a safe, confidential place to support you in whatever you’re dealing with.
  • Provide you with a group of people who have gone through similar hurts, hangups or habits.
  • Provide you with the opportunity to find an accountability partner or sponsor.

Celebrate Recovery WILL NOT:

  • Attempt to offer professional clinical advice; our leaders are not counselors.
  • Allow its members to attempt to “fix” one another.
  • Judge anyone based on faith or lifestyle.

Celebration Place

Mondays, 7-9 p.m.
Bring your kids to Celebrate Recovery! Celebration Place is our “Pre-covery” program for newborns through fifth grade. This kid-friendly version of Celebrate Recovery is run by a paid, trained staff who help your kids grow and experience recovery principles in the same way you do. No preregistration necessary. Just bring the kids, and we’ll take it from there. For more information, email [email protected].

Resources

The Twelve Steps and Their Biblical Comparisons
Eight Principles Based on the Beatitudes of the Bible
Open Share Small Group Guidelines
Serenity Prayer

Special Needs

We believe every individual is precious to God and made for a purpose. That’s why we seek to fully include individuals with special needs in our church family. Our goal is to include all children in their peer classroom, nurturing their faith, while also providing a Special Needs Room for those who need a break or their own space.

We use a buddy system for all kids with disabilities. To provide the best care we can, we encourage this process:

  1. We meet with a parent to learn about your child’s unique needs and develop a strategy to help him or her succeed.
  2. We create a notebook for each child containing emergency contact information, specific challenges your child faces, and strategies for success.
  3. We assign a small team (2-3 volunteers) who get to know your child and serve as a “buddy” each time you’re at church. These buddies assist your child in class, help with activities, and give your child breaks if needed. Buddies write their own notes in the notebook, so everyone is up-to-date on challenges and successes!

Respite Night

We know that having a child with special needs is challenging for both parents and siblings. During Respite Night, trained workers take care of all your children while you enjoy an evening out. Respite Night usually occurs on the second Saturday of the month from 5:00–9:00 pm.

Our typical Respite Night includes:

  • Dinner
  • Age-graded groups so your child will be with peers
  • Gross motor games to get the kids moving and having fun
  • Fine motor crafts and sensory activities to celebrate the current season
  • Participatory music sessions
  • Time with a therapy dog
  • Movie and snack to end the evening

If you have questions or would like to participate, contact Deane Lafferty. If you’d like to volunteer to help with Respite Night, please complete this form.

First Friday for Moms

First Friday for Moms provides community and support for women raising children with special needs. Join us on the First Friday of the month (September-May) from 9:30 to 11 am as we discuss a variety of topics geared toward raising children with special needs.

For more information on First Friday for Moms, contact Anne Isabella.

To learn more about our programs for children with special needs, contact Deane Lafferty.

Grief

GriefShare

Starting a new series on February 16, 2018!

Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m., Kennett Campus
GriefShare is a small-group community whose members help each other journey from mourning to joy. The group covers a broad range of topics, including:

  • Is This Normal?
  • Challenges of Grief
  • The Journey of Grief (Part One)
  • The Journey of Grief (Part Two)
  • Grief and Your Relationships
  • Why?
  • Guilt and Anger
  • Complicating Factors
  • Stuck in Grief
  • Lessons of Grief (Part One)
  • Lessons of Grief (Part Two)
  • Heaven
  • What Do I Live For Now?

Each new session runs for 14 weeks, but you are welcome to begin GriefShare at any time. For more information, contact Denny Dunagan at [email protected].

Counseling

There are seasons in life when we seek experts to help us process our brokenness and struggles. Our pastoral staff has established relationships with the following organizations and individuals that we recommend:

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The PeaceMaker Center
Downingtown – 103 Garris Road
Kennett Square – 202 S. Willow Street
West Chester – 300 Lawrence Drive
610.269.2661

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Tom Wolff Counseling Services
Bethlehem United Methodist Church
4 Westtown Road
Thornton, PA 19373
610.368.6408

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Barbara W. Shaffer Ph.D. & Associates
455 Old Baltimore Pike
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
610.388.2233
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Counseling Scholarships

Willowdale’s Counseling Scholarship program provides financial assistance to those in need. Complete the application here.

CARE ministries

Other CARE Ministries

Benevolence Team

We assist those in our church and wider community with meeting basic needs such as food, clothing, housing, medical treatment, funeral expenses and counseling.

If you find yourself in a hard season of life, let us come alongside and help. Please complete the Care Fund Request Form, and someone will contact you.

Meals Team

Every other night for up to two weeks, we provide meals for those who’ve experienced a new birth, surgery, hospitalization or other crisis. Please submit the Meals Request Form, and we will be in touch.

Prayer & Visitation

If you or someone you know is in need of prayer or a visit from one of our Care Team members, please contact Lisa Herion at [email protected].