Hyde Park United Methodist

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...

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...

What if the church is more than a destination? On Pentecost, Peter quoted Joel, saying that young people would see visions and older ones would dream dreams. That dream lives on in us as we carry out God’s mission in a changing world, reminding us that the church is a hub, where people find their purpose and mission to make a difference.  Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What if we all embraced the power to be witnesses? On Ascension Sunday, we hear Jesus’ promise to the disciples: they would receive the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses, near and far. This service invites us to reclaim that evangelical spirit, which has been central to the Wesleyan movement from the start.  Reflection Questions: 1. What significant life stage transitions were rewarding? What were c...

In this episode of Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho kick off our new series Hearts of Fire by exploring how spiritual practices help us stay balanced in seasons of change. From the disciples watching Jesus ascend, to becoming an empty-nester, to parenting in the thick of it—this conversation is all about what keeps us grounded when life feels uncertain. Magrey shares ancient w...

The character Nostalgia does not get much screen time in the film Inside Out 2, but it is a significant and regular aspect of our personality and emotional makeup. The capacity to remember the past with fondness can be a gift. Indeed, the Bible is filled with numerous commands to remember what God has done, and to celebrate the faithfulness of our ancestors. At the same time, like all emotions, no...

In this final episode of our series on emotions, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho explore the complex emotion of nostalgia—how it helps us remember, reflect, and grow. They unpack the biblical tension between “remembering” and “listening,” and how both God and humans are called to do both. From seminary basketball games to parenting wisdom passed down unknowingly, this conversation invites us to...

Go behind the scenes of a powerful moment from our recent event with psychologist Dr. Erica Clarke. In her talk "Decoding Your Emotions," she unpacks how understanding our feelings can lead to healthier relationships, stronger self-awareness, and a more grounded life. She reminds us that no emotion is inherently bad — each one has a purpose, and we can learn to bring them into balance in...

“Anxiety” is the newest character addition to the Inside Out films and is the one that most resonated with people who viewed it. Throughout the Bible, people exhibited worry, from the Israelites wandering in the wilderness to the disciples who followed Jesus. But even though worry is a natural human emotion, it does not need to define our experience. We can, in the words of Jesus in Matthew, excha...

What if anger isn’t the issue, but how we channel it? Anger itself isn’t sinful. The key is being angry at the right things and directing it toward positive action, just as Jesus and the Bible show us.  Reflection Questions : When you think about a time you felt deeply angry, what was the source of that anger—was it rooted in love and justice, or ego and fear? How can you tell the difference? How...

What do you do when something makes you angry —not just annoyed, but deep-in-your-body angry? In this week’s episode, Justin and Mat unpack what it means to recognize and work through our anger without letting it consume us. Mat shares a real-life situation that stirred up frustration, anxiety, and powerlessness, and Justin walks through a spiritual inventory tool that helps name the source of ang...

This week, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho open up about their personal experiences growing up with emotions like fear, sadness, and anxiety. From emotional suppression to learning how to feel and express emotions in a healthy way, this episode dives deep into why our feelings matter — and how they can actually help us connect, grow, and heal. Plus: a powerful story about proud tears on a socce...

What if grief is not something to escape but something to navigate? Grief is the shadow side of love—we only grieve what we have loved. Avoiding grief means avoiding attachment, which is not an option in the human experience. The question isn’t how to minimize grief but how to move through it in a healthy way. Reflection Questions: 1. When are you most prone to experiencing sadness? Fear? 2. In wh...

What if joy isn’t about circumstances but about strength? True joy is anchored in the unwavering truth that God is our strength, no matter what we face.  Reflection Questions: 1. What does it mean for you to have healthy emotions?   2. How can you experience joy amid hardship? 3. What do you think it means to believe that “the joy of the Lord is your strength”? Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/Nex...

In this joyful episode of Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho celebrate Holy Humor Sunday, a tradition rooted in the idea that Easter is God's ultimate "gotcha" moment against evil. They kick off a new series on emotions by diving into joy — and sharing some hilarious faith-based memes along the way. From Spongebob and St. Paul to a Smokey Bear Bible story and a no...

In the most personal and poignant resurrection encounter in the gospels, Jesus appeared to Mary in the garden and revealed himself once he spoke aloud her name. The work of resurrection in us begins with recognizing our identity in Christ as a child of God, and then seeking to affirm the personhood of others who feel lost in their own grief and despair.   Reflection Questions: 1. Why do you think...

Journey into the drama of Holy Week through "Sarah's Story," a dramatic re-imagining of the last days of Jesus' life through the eyes of Sarah, a first-century woman who was close to the events of Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

The cross and resurrection give us victory over sin, evil, and oppression. This includes the suffering associated with addictions and other harmful hangups and behaviors. The Christus Victor atonement theory can help those on a recovery journey discover new power in Christ to overcome their hardships.  Reflection Questions: 1. Where do you feel powerless right now? 2. Which of the ‘false palms’—th...

In this episode of Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Justin LaRosa and Mat Hotho explore the Christus Victor atonement theory and its powerful message of liberation from sin, systems of evil, and spiritual forces. They discuss how this view of the cross offers a broader understanding of salvation and what it means to live out the hope of resurrection in everyday life. Join us as we unpack this compelling...

The ransom atonement theory is built on the notion that we are being held captive by forces that are beyond our control, and in the cross, God has released us from being held hostage. We are therefore called and empowered to be agents of liberation against the injustices people face in our society and in the world. Reflection Questions: 1. In what ways has Jesus set you free from personal sins? 2....