Hyde Park United Methodist

This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey and Mat reflect on what it really means to care for creation. Starting with Genesis, they unpack how a single word has shaped the way people think about our relationship with the world — sometimes for worse, but also for better when understood through the lens of stewardship and compassion. From vineyards and backyard lawns to hurricanes and baptism, t...

What if creation itself could remind us of God’s presence? In the midst of personal suffering, Job discovered that God’s power and presence are revealed in creation. Even in our own struggles, we can find God in the wonder of the world around us, drawing closer to Him by caring for it. Reflection Questions: 1. In what way do creation and nature teach you about God? 2. How does creation help you re...

This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey deVega and Savanna Beasley dig into what it really means to practice self-care as people of faith. From routines and resilience to releasing control, they share honest reflections on the tug-of-war between structure and surrender. Together they explore how caring for our bodies, our emotions, and even our 3 a.m. selves can help us grow closer to God. I...

Pastor Magrey deVega continues our Call to Care series with a message on one of the most overlooked forms of care: caring for yourself. Drawing from 3 John, he shows how true self-care is more than self-soothing—it’s building inner resilience by tending to your body, your soul, and your mind. What daily practices help you walk in truth, strengthen your spirit, and live with greater peace? We’d lov...

What if caring for the elderly is a mutual gift? Our older community members have wisdom from years of experience, while we can offer them energy, compassion, and companionship in return. Revering and caring for them benefits us all. Questions for Reflection:    1. The biblical mandate to care for others is very clear. In what ways do you enjoy helping care for others? 2. When caring for others, e...

This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans and Mat Hotho continue our series The Call to Care, reflecting on what it means to walk with people in every stage of life—especially as we age. With stories of prayer, community, and small acts of kindness, Sally shares how care isn’t just something we do, but a way of life that shapes who we are together. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.or...

What if caring for our children is a responsibility for all of us? As the new school year begins, we’re reminded that it’s not just about teaching our children for their sake, but for the sake of all of us, as a church and society.  Reflection Questions: 1. How will you support and encourage professional educators in our society? 2. In what ways are the parenting metaphors helpful or unhelpful? 3....

This week on Beyond the Sermon, we’re kicking off our new series The Call to Care by talking about what it means to care for children — both the ones in our lives and the “inner child” we all carry. From the evolving roles of parenting to the deep work of understanding ourselves, we explore how the way we care changes as we grow. It’s about more than just raising kids — it’s about becoming the kin...

What if we could be instruments of peace? St. Francis’ prayer reminds us that we are not powerless—our actions matter. It calls us to actively seek opportunities to sow peace and harmony in a world filled with discord and suffering. Questions for reflection: 1. In what ways are you ready to say "yes" to what the Prayer of St. Francis calls you to be and to do? 2. How might you become an...

This week on Beyond the Sermon, Decker Tallbacka sits down with Rev. Bernie Leiving to reflect on our “Living Amen” series — and on how prayer evolves over a lifetime. With over 65 years in ministry, Bernie shares how his understanding of prayer has deepened, from battlefield prayers to everyday gratitude. It’s a conversation about how prayer meets us where we are, changes with us, and reminds us...

What if courage comes from knowing we're never alone? St. Patrick, a key figure in early Celtic Christianity, gave us a prayer that brings comfort and strength to those who feel lost, alone, or afraid. Reflection Questions: 1. When have you prayed that God would protect you? What has been the result? 2. What will you do to participate in God’s protection through integrity and courage? 3. What...

This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho talk about Saint Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer and what it really means to ask God for protection. Instead of treating prayer like a divine forcefield, they explore how it can strengthen us from within to face life’s challenges with courage and faith. From ancient monastic rhythms to personal spiritual tools (bracelets included), th...

What if uncertainty could still lead us to God? Merton’s prayer is striking in its vulnerability ("I have no idea where I am going"), yet it also affirms that our desire to please God is enough, even in our ignorance. Questions for Reflection:   1. Did you know much about Thomas Merton before today’s sermon? What surprised you about his life and witness? 2. Can you think of a time when y...

 This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans and Mat Hotho share stories of uncertainty, reflection, and the surprising ways God shows up along the way. Inspired by the prayer of Thomas Merton, they talk about letting go of control and learning to trust—even when we don’t know where the path leads. Whether you’re standing at a crossroads or just looking for space to breathe, this e...

What if peace comes from knowing when to act and when to surrender? The Serenity Prayer beautifully balances personal agency, humble surrender, and keen discernment, making it one of the most repeated prayers of our time.  Reflection Questions: 1. What does this tension between planning and trusting Jesus Christ look like in your own life? 2. Share one situation when your plan didn’t seem to line...

This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Justin LaRosa and Mat Hotho reflect on the Serenity Prayer—not as a worn-out phrase, but as a real tool for navigating life’s hardest moments. Through honest conversation and personal stories, they explore what it means to face what we can’t control, take action where we can, and wrestle with the wisdom to know the difference. Whether you're sitting in g...

This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho kick off our new series on history’s most powerful prayers by diving into the Wesley Covenant Prayer—a bold act of surrender that still hits hard today. They reflect on how this prayer challenges our culture of self-fulfillment and invites us to offer every part of our lives to God. Join us as we explore what it means to live with...

What if true renewal begins with surrender? John Wesley’s prayer for covenant renewal is a powerful reminder to shift our focus away from ourselves and toward obedience and surrender to God.   Reflection Questions: 1. What would praying “Suscipe” to God each day mean for you? 2. What new insights does the Wesley Covenant Prayer give you? 3. How will you apply the Wesley Covenant Prayer to the way...

This week, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho wrap up our series on the Lord’s Prayer by asking a surprising question: why do we say a final line that doesn’t actually appear in scripture? They explore how tradition, worship, and scripture have long been in conversation—shaping how we pray and how we see God. From ancient manuscripts to personal reflections, this episode uncovers the deeper meanin...

What if God’s intent is to deliver us from evil, not use it? The Lord’s Prayer reminds us that God stands against evil, desiring our deliverance. The final line is a benedictory alleluia, declaring that all of who we are belongs to God, for all creation is part of His kingdom. Reflection Questions: 1. What would it mean to give God all of what you have and do? 2. How can you make your life a livin...

What if everything we need is already provided? God guides us away from anything that hinders our relationship with Him. These words remind us of God’s providence and His call for us to co-create with Him. Reflection Questions: 1. Which of the four petitions do you resonate with the most right now? 2. What do you think it means to pray, “Lead us not into temptation”? 3. How will reciting the Lord’...

In this episode of Beyond the Sermon, Mat Hotho and Pastor Magrey deVega reflect on Sunday’s message and get personal about their own prayer lives. What does it look like to pray when you’re not sure what to say — or when you’re not even sure you want to pray? Whether you’re a long-time believer or just exploring faith, this conversation invites you to think differently about what it means to conn...

The Lord’s Prayer reminds us of this critical but often forgotten truth: It’s not about us. We are not the center of the universe, and all we are and do should be centered in the worship and praise of God.  Reflection Questions: 1. What word or phrase do you find most meaningful from the Lord’s Prayer? Why? 2. What aspects of the Lord’s Prayer prompt questions or curiosity for you?  3. How will th...

This week, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho kick off a new worship series exploring the Lord’s Prayer—one of the most familiar, yet deeply profound, prayers in scripture. They reflect on how this short prayer invites us to see God more intimately, reorient our perspective, and live with a renewed sense of purpose. From rethinking father language to noticing God in everyday moments, this episode...

This week, Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans and Mat Hotho reflect on the meaning of Pentecost—a celebration of the Holy Spirit’s power to comfort, challenge, and send us into the world with boldness and love. From vibrant symbols of global unity to a moving poem about radical belonging, this conversation invites us to see Pentecost not just as a moment in history, but as a call to live connected, compa...