Hyde Park United Methodist

Latest Episodes:

Easter Sunday Message // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 31, 2024 Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

In Mark’s Easter gospel, the power of the resurrection through Christ can redeem the lingering guilt and shame of our yesterdays, the real time struggle and suffering of our present days, and the fear and anxiety of our tomorrows. God’s resurrection power is timeless, resilient, and always with us.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. What boulder-type burdens are you carrying today?
2. Where have you seen evidence of God’s love at work in your past? In your present?
3. In what way will you move forward and claim the new life God is preparing for your future?

In the Shadow of the Cross, Part 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 24, 2024 Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

The story of Holy Week begins with shouts of Hosanna, but by week’s end, those shouts become cries to murder Jesus. Holy Week is an invitation for us to locate ourselves in the story, and ask, as the old hymn says, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
HydeParkUMC.org/Easter
Reflection Questions:
1. For what reasons are you praying “Hosanna” today?
2. How might your daily prayer time include both verse 24 and 25 of Psalm 118?
3. How will you participate in the services and observances of Holy Week this week?

In the Shadow of the Cross, Part 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 17, 2024 Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

Jesus compared his imminent death on the cross to the burial of a seed, which is necessary in order for it to spring to new life. Likewise, once we are willing to have Jesus put to death the sin in our lives, we can be raised to new life in Christ.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. What is the most challenging aspect of these words of Jesus for you personally?
2. Who has modeled for you servanthood and self-sacrifice?
3. What are the “little deaths” that you are experiencing right now? How might they be the gateway to new life?

In the Shadow of the Cross, Part 4 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // March 10, 2024 Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

This all-too-familiar story from John 3 captures the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, who came to Jesus at night. It is in the midst of their conversation about being born again that Jesus says the iconic words of John 3:16. Just as Nicodemus came to Jesus in the dark, out of fear of his reputation and a sense of self-preservation, Jesus comes to meet us and shine the light of love and forgiveness.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
HydeParkUMC.org/Easter
Reflection Questions:
1. What does being born from above or born again mean to you?
2. In what ways do you recognize your need before God?
3. What are your powerful takeaways from the text?

In the Shadow of the Cross, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 3, 2024 Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) all place the turning of the tables in the Temple in the middle of Holy Week, after the triumphal entry in Jerusalem. John places the story much, much earlier, right at the outset of the ministry of Jesus. By doing this, John makes the overturning of the tables a preamble to all of Jesus’ miracles and teachings, as if to suggest that overturning our lives is an initial step toward discipleship.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. For what reasons do you think Jesus would overturn tables today?
2. How do you think the vendors responded? The religious leaders? The disciples?
3. In what ways can you be a part of a faith community at its healthiest and best?

In the Shadow of the Cross, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // February 25, 2024 Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

The ministry of Jesus was full of reversals. Rather than feed our ego-driven, self-centered tendencies to focus on our own needs, he called us to lose ourselves, serve others, and give our lives for others. These reversals invert contemporary wisdom and right-size our lives for God.

HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Reflection Questions
1. How are you alike and unlike the life of Peter in the gospels?

2. In what ways does Jesus’ phrase “Take up your cross” make you feel unsettled, even challenged?

3. How will you be more intentional and diligent in your practical commitments to Jesus?

In the Shadow of the Cross, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // February 18, 2024 Feb 19, 2024

Show notes

The story of the temptation of Jesus offers us a guide for how to deal with the temptations in our lives, and shift our orientation away from ourselves and toward the benefit of other people.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions
1. What lessons did you learn as a child regarding handling your emotions in a healthy way?
2. What emotions do you most struggle with channeling in a positive way?
3. How will you better integrate the fact that you are fully human, made in the image of God?

Transfiguration Sunday // The Rev. Sally Campbell Evans // February 11, 2024 Feb 12, 2024

Show notes

In Mark’s gospel, the Transfiguration serves as the halfway point in the story of Jesus. It is a marked shift away from the miracles and teachings of Jesus to the journey of Jesus to the cross. Likewise, we need to make a similar shift in our discipleship, away from merely benefiting from Jesus and toward surrender to Jesus and the cross.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. Can you remember a time when you were so overcome with beauty or joy that you were rendered speechless? What was that like?
2. When was the last time you were “lost in wonder, love, and praise” of God because you felt the Lord's present so closely?
3. What is pulling on your heart (or calling to you), as we begin this season of Lent?

You Are Not Alone, Part 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // February 4, 2024 Feb 05, 2024

Show notes

Perhaps the greatest cause of our loneliness and disconnectedness is the tense political and social climate. What if there was a way to bridge differences and have civil conversations about tough issues? What would that look like and could we model that new way of being?
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
15 Practical Guidelines from Romans 12:9–21
1.Our love for each other will be genuine.
2.We will hate what is evil.
3.We will make goodness our bond.
4.The only competition between us will be to see who can show the other greater honor.
5.Together, we will put God first, even when we don’t feel like it.
6.We will be hopeful, not cynical.
7.We will be patient, even when our differences make things difficult.
8.We will never stop praying for each other or for the world.
9.We pledge to be welcoming to strangers, people who are different from us.
10.We will not speak ill of each other; instead, we will speak words of blessing.
11.We will choose harmony with each other over arrogance.
12.We commit to being with those who are less fortunate, less privileged, and less powerful, so that we can learn humility ourselves.
13.We will not respond to evil by doing evil ourselves. We commit to the most noble actions and motivations.
14.We will have hearts of peace for each other, rather than revenge.
15.We will not overcome evil with evil, but by doing good.
Mat Hotho
mhotho@hydeparkumc.org
Reflection Questions:
1. When have you had difficulty relating to a person based on partisan differences?
2. How can Christians be politically engaged, without devolving into polarizing partisanship?
3. What valuable insights have you gained about relationships throughout this worship series?

You Are Not Alone, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // January 28, 2024 Jan 29, 2024

Show notes

Being in a lasting, caring friendship is a true gift. Healthy friendships encourage us when we are down, tell us hard truths when we are reluctant to hear it, and help us be our best selves.
HydeparkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. In what ways has your number of friends or closeness of friendships changed over the last several years?
2. Who are your close friends? How can you be a better friend to them?
3. How will you practice constancy, carefulness, candor, and counsel in your friendships?

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Hyde Park United Methodist

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected