Hyde Park United Methodist

Latest Episodes:

Faith250: Part 2 // Pastor Magrey deVega // June 21, 2026 Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

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 and a responsible citizen, from a Wesleyan perspective, we should be co-laborers with God, who empowers us to be perfected in love, especially in the work of anti-racism.  
Reflection Questions:
1. What “lenses” help you see history, faith, and others more clearly?
2. Where might God be calling you to help build bridges today?
3. How can you grow more perfect in love toward those different from you?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Why the Best Days Aren't Behind Us | Beyond the Sermon Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

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 back to some perfect past, but to keep becoming more perfect in love and move toward the future God is inviting us to create.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Faith250: Part 1// Pastor Magrey deVega // June 14, 2026 Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

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 Israelites as well as the early Christians. Caring for the immigrant is a pathway for both faithful discipleship and responsible citizenship.  
Reflection Questions:
1. How does your faith shape the way you view immigrants and refugees?
2. What does it mean to treat every person as native-born and beloved?
3. Where is God calling you to practice hospitality, dignity, and welcome?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

When Faith Shapes a Nation | Beyond the Sermon Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

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 at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Something Worth Sharing: Part 3 // Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans // June 7, 2026 Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

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 though organized religion at its worst may be the cause of some of our world’s greatest problems, the solution to our world’s greatest problems can be organized religion at its healthiest and best. That is the future we get to step into together.  
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

The Church At Its Best | Beyond The Sermon Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

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't require uniformity, how Christians can disagree with love, and why meaningful connection remains one of the church's greatest gifts.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Something Worth Sharing: Part 2 // Pastor Magrey deVega // May 31, 2026 Jun 07, 2026

Show notes

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 resurrection. In verse 15, he says, “You killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.” How is the Holy Spirit empowering us to be witnesses of new life through acts of healing, compassion, mercy, and justice?  
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Something Worth Sharing: Part 1 // Pastor Magrey deVega // May 24, 2026 May 25, 2026

Show notes

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 seeking new life? What evidence of resurrection within us can we invite people to experience for themselves?  
Reflection Questions:
1. What experience of God’s goodness feels most natural for you to share?
2. Which voices or influences are drawing your heart away from God’s peace?
3. How has God guided and sustained you through uncertain or difficult seasons?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What Witness Really Means | Beyond the Sermon May 25, 2026

Show notes

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/NextSteps

On The Edge: Part 6 // Grace Bennett // May 17, 2026 May 18, 2026

Show notes

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 Jesus summoning us into the realities of life.  
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever felt “behind” in your faith journey compared to others? How does this parable challenge that way of thinking?
2. Why do you think it can be difficult to accept that God’s grace is freely given rather than earned?
3. What is one practical way you can help someone feel welcomed, supported, or encouraged in their relationship with God?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

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