Hyde Park United Methodist

This week Mat and Magrey wrap up the Faith250 series by exploring the enduring promise of America's founding ideals. They discuss why Magrey changed his sermon at the last minute, how the Beatitudes connect with the pursuit of happiness, and what it means to keep striving toward "a more perfect union." Their conversation reflects on faith, citizenship, inclusion, and the ongoing wor...

This week Mat and Magrey discuss why growth often begins in life's most difficult moments. Drawing on themes from America the Beautiful, they explore how faith, conversation, and community can change us over time—and how those same values can help shape the future of our nation as we approach America's 250th anniversary. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

This iconic song is a hymn of celebration of the beauty and grandeur of our country, and echoes the majesty of the psalmist, who attributes the beauty of nature to the artistry and provision of God. Indeed, the splendor of this country is all around us, and it is not just meant to be savored and enjoyed, but also to be preserved and protected, as stewards of the environment and God’s creation.   ...

This piece by Frederick Douglass, one of the great writers and orators in our history, reminds us that the work of addressing slavery and racism must be a shared and ongoing project. There cannot be a moment when we feel like we have conquered our “original sin,” for as is the case in our Wesleyan understanding of sin, it is an ongoing task, requiring daily commitment. To be a faithful disciple an...

This week Mat and Magrey wrestle with some of the hardest questions in our shared story. They talk about Frederick Douglass' challenge to the church, what it means to acknowledge privilege and hear experiences different from our own, and why both faith and our nation are always works in progress. Together they explore a hopeful idea at the heart of the gospel: our calling isn't to go bac...

This week Mat and Magrey kick off our new series, Faith250: Our Nation’s Founding Documents, by exploring the relationship between faith, freedom, and the values that shape us as a community. They reflect on what it means to pursue a more perfect union, how our beliefs influence the way we treat one another, and why meaningful conversations across our differences still matter today. Find out more...

This poem by Emma Lazarus is one of the most important in our history, not only for its appearance on the Statue of Liberty, but also for the value that it conveys in welcoming the immigrant. For as is often said, other than indigenous people in this land, we are all descendants of immigrants, or even immigrants ourselves. That recognition is also a recurring theme throughout the Bible, for the Is...

This week Mat Hotho sits down with Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans to explore the picture of community found in Acts 4. Together, they discuss why people often remember how the church made them feel more than what it said, the challenge of accepting help when we need it, and what it looks like to build authentic relationships in a culture that values independence. They also reflect on why unity doesn&...

This classic passage from Acts depicts the early church acting in outward generosity, to meet the needs of people in their community. This is the church at its healthiest and best, and it is part of our DNA. When we function in this way, not only is our church strong; so is our witness, and so, therefore, is the community that we serve. As Miroslav Wolf surmised in his book Flourishing, even thoug...

Peter’s first sermon on Pentecost Day gets a lot of attention, but we often forget his second sermon, the one recorded in the very next chapter. Peter and John are walking through the portico of the Temple when they encounter a man unable to walk since birth. Their subsequent healing of the man was accompanied by Peter’s sermon, in which, again, he declared himself to be a witness of the resurrect...

Prior to Jesus’ ascension, he told the disciples that they would be his witnesses throughout the ends of the earth. On the day of Pentecost, the Spirit descended to empower them – and us – to be just that. In Peter’s stirring sermon, he declared that “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.” What would it mean for us to be witnesses of the resurrection for others who are seekin...

This week Mat Hotho and Pastor Magrey deVega sit down to unpack what it really means to be a “witness” — and why sharing your story doesn’t have to look loud, confrontational, or perfect. From bracelets and spiritual practices to invitation, vulnerability, and finding faith in everyday life, they explore how ordinary moments can become something worth sharing. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/Next...

In the ascension of Jesus, the disciples went from Jesus being by their side all the time to being on their own. That shift forced them to go from looking up to looking out, from focusing on the presence of Jesus with them to focusing on the work of Jesus all around them. That kind of key life-stage transition is emblematic of life itself. To follow Jesus, we need to look forward, and then we find...

This week on Beyond the Sermon, Mat Hotho sits down with Youth Sunday preacher Grace Bennett to talk about fairness, faith, and what it’s like seeing Bible stories through fresh eyes. From school pressures and ChatGPT shortcuts to helping friends explore Christianity for the first time, Grace reflects on how faith grows differently for everyone. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

This week Mat Hotho returns to Beyond the Sermon to sit down with Pastor Magrey deVega and unpack the idea of “positive disintegration” — the moments in life that shake us, challenge us, and ultimately shape us. Together, they reflect on childhood fears, experiences of the Holy Spirit, and why spiritual growth often begins with discomfort, uncertainty, and learning to trust that everything will be...

Just as last week’s text provided proof of the presence of God the Father, this week’s text shows us evidence of the Holy Spirit. It is through our love of one another and our commitment to Jesus’ commandments that we see the work of the Holy Spirit. Why? Because it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit, who advocates on our behalf, that we are empowered to do what God asks of us. When we f...

John Barolo, Discipleship Director, and Pastor Magrey deVega sit down to unpack this week’s sermon on Philip’s question, “Just show us God.” Together, they explore doubt, deconstruction, and what it really looks like to experience God—not in big, dramatic moments, but in the ordinary, everyday rhythms of life. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Phillip speaks for all of us in wanting to see tangible proof of God’s presence. Clearly, if God were as plainly visible and audible as God appeared to be throughout the Bible, there would be very little cause for atheism and agnosticism today. Nonetheless, Jesus gives Phillip an intriguing response: If you’re looking for evidence of God, look at the life and teachings of Jesus himself. He and the...

In this iconic passage, Jesus equates himself to the gate through which the sheep will not just find security within the fold; they will hear the shepherd’s voice clearly amid the threats around them. Living on the edge of resurrection means constant attentiveness to the shepherd’s calling, so that when we find ourselves lost and confused, we can follow God’s way home.    Reflection Questions: 1....

Michael Dougherty and Pastor Magrey deVega sit down to unpack this week’s sermon, exploring the image of the Good Shepherd, the challenge of silencing competing voices, and what it really means to listen and obey. From sacred music to daily spiritual rhythms, they reflect on how we discern God’s voice in the middle of noise, comparison, and real life. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Mat Hotho sits down with Pastor Magrey deVega to unpack this week’s message and talk honestly about why change doesn’t always happen overnight. From doubt to daily habits, they explore what it really looks like to grow, stay grounded, and find meaning in the middle of real life.  Find out more about us and join a small group at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

The travelers on the road to Emmaus uttered the words that capture the deepest longing in the human heart: “We had hoped.” They had held out hope that the reports of Jesus’ death were not true, and that he was the long-awaited Messiah. Then, because they created space for Jesus to remain with them in their home, he opened their eyes to his presence, and he gave them the hope they were longing for....

One week after Easter, the lilies fade and real life returns—bringing questions, doubts, and uncertainty with it. In this opening message of the On the Edge series, Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans explores the story of Thomas and reminds us that doubt is not the opposite of faith, but a vital part of it. Through personal story and the Gospel of John, we are invited to bring our questions into communit...

In this episode of Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans shares her personal journey through doubt, calling, and rediscovering faith. Reflecting on her sermon about Doubting Thomas, she opens up about a season in seminary where everything she believed was questioned—and how that struggle ultimately shaped her ministry. This conversation is a reminder that doubt isn’t something to fear, bu...

The resurrection of Jesus is the pivotal moment in human history, declaring God’s redemptive power and the end of sin and evil as the controlling force over our lives. The practice of visio divina invites us to not just hear the story, but to gaze upon it, just as famous artists have invited us throughout the centuries, to discover how we can experience the power of resurrection in our lives and i...