Beyond the Sermon: Full Disclosure Nov 18, 2024

This week, Mat and Magrey reflect on what the crumbling temple might look like in your life, and how to find hope and guidance in those times of uncertainty.
-- Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps --

Not the End of the World, Part 3 // Pastor Magrey Devega // November 17, 2024 Nov 18, 2024

Christ never promises an easy walk, but one of sacrifice.
Reflection Questions:
1.) When in your life did all you thought was true and reliable seem “thrown down”?
2.) When have you seen evidence of God not giving up during your hard times?
3.) How will you release your energy as an act of defiant hope in the world?
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Beyond the Sermon: How to Overcome Hopelessness Nov 11, 2024

Join Mat and Justin as they dive deeper into the message of Thessalonians, exploring how to find hope when it feels like the end is near. Justin shares a personal story of facing hopelessness, and together they reflect on what it means to persevere with faith.
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Not the End of the World: Skipping to the End, Part 2 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // November 10, 2024 Nov 11, 2024

It may feel like the end is near, but we have to keep going.
Reflection Questions:
1. How have you attempted to stay grounded in your faith with unsettling news or alarming situation in today’s world?
2. How do you think modern-day predictions or claims about end times events impact people’s faith, both positively and negatively?
3. How can you stand firm in your faith during difficult times, and how might you offer this to others?
--Find out more at HydeParkUMC/org/NextSteps--

Not the End of the World: The Work of Waiting, Part 1 // Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans // November 3, 2024 Nov 04, 2024

God is at work in the dark places, even when we cannot see it.
Reflection Questions

1. When you are struggling who helps you (or what helps you) get back up and try again?

2. What is one thing you could do today to encourage someone (a friend, family member, stranger) who is struggling with their faith in God?

3. Who are some of the saints that have encouraged you on the journey of faith? How did they encourage you? Take a moment and thank God for their presence in your life.
--Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps--

Living Impact: Committed to the Future, Part 6 // Pastor Magrey Devega // October 27, 2024 Oct 28, 2024

The culmination of remembering our membership vows is an act of recommitment, which would include the submission of our estimates of giving cards.
Reflection Questions:
In what way do you experience this congregation as a “household”?
How are you uniquely called and gifted to build up the work of this church?
How will you recommit your efforts of prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness?
--Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps--

Living Impact: Committed to the Future, Part 5 // Pastor Magrey Devega // October 20, 2024 Oct 21, 2024

The kingdom of God is built one life at a time, one relationship at a time, one moment of personal invitation at a time.
Reflection Questions:
What experience have you had with evangelism that is coercive or argumentative?
What natural ways will you be a witness for Jesus?
Which of the five ways to be a witness come easiest for you? Hardest?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/nextsteps

Living Impact: Committed to the Future, Part 4 // Heidi Aspinwall // October 13, 2024 Oct 14, 2024

What does it mean to serve others? For many of us, growing in our ability to serve means learning how to be uncomfortable in situations that stretch our boundaries. It means learning new names, extending ourselves, and focusing on the needs of others instead of our own.
Learning to serve can be a process. Thankfully we have many examples of processes in our day-to-day lives that can model for us what it means to serve.
Reflection Questions:

How do you think serving others can lead to deeper relationships or even friendships in your own life?
How does knowing and taking care of yourself help you serve others better? Have you ever felt too drained to help others?
Why do you think it can be difficult to accept help from others, and how does this challenge your understanding of mutual service?

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Living Impact: Committed to the Future, Part 3 // Rev. Magrey Devega // October 6, 2024 Oct 07, 2024

Giving of our time, talent, and treasure is a central aspect of discipleship, and, for some, is the most difficult one to surrender.
Reflection Questions:
1. When have you had a good experience baking bread, or enjoying bread someone else made?
2. What difference does it make to see yourself as part of the global church of Jesus Christ?
3. How will you see your financial generosity as a way of making a living impact for God and others?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/nextsteps

Living Impact: Committed to the Future, Part 2 // Rev. Clarke Campbell-Evans // September 29, 2024 Sep 30, 2024

Since the early church, Christians have been called to gather (ekklesia, which is translated as both “church” and “gathering.”) When we are present to each other, in worship, small groups, and service, we can experience the presence of God in a powerful way, along with the mutual support and accountability that comes with being together.

Living Impact: Built to Last, Part 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // September 22, 2024 Sep 23, 2024

A natural and important follow-up to our 125th Anniversary Celebration is a season of recommitment to grow deeper as disciples, wider in our reach to others, and united in mission to love God and love all. This five-part series reviews the five-fold membership vow that each member took to become a part of this church. Prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian. It connects us to God, raises our attention to the Holy Spirit, and unites us together.
HydeParkUMC.org/nextsteps
Reflection Questions:
1. Reflect and describe the first time you remember praying.
2. How have you struggled with prayer?
3. How does regular prayer practice strengthen your inner being, root you in love, and help you comprehend God’s grace?

Celebrating 125 Years of Making God's Love Real, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 15, 2024 Sep 16, 2024

Stories from our heritage not only tell us about our past. They remind us of who we are. Such is the story of our church’s beginning, back in 1899, when a small group chose to sing “I Love to Tell the Story” at the site of what would become our church. Their courage and witness, coupled with their choice of song, tells us something about who we are.
HydeParkUMC.org/nextsteps
Reflection Questions:
1. How can you re-prioritize your life, to focus less on being remembered, and more on being part of a story bigger than yourself?
2. How will you remember the “old, old story” of God’s love in your life?
3. How will you live into the story of God’s love through this church?

Beyond the Sermon: What Thread Runs Through Your Life? Sep 09, 2024

This week Mat sits down with former senior pastor of Hyde Park, Jim Harnish, with the topic of discovering and recognizing continuing threads of your life in the both spiritual and historical sense.
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Living Impact: 125 Years of Making God’s Love Real, Part 2 // The Rev. Jim Harnish // September 8, 2024 Sep 09, 2024

The writer of Hebrews scans over the long history of men and women who lived by faith, some of it in gory detail! But then the text looks directly at us to say that God’s story will not be perfect (complete, whole) without us. We have the beautiful stories of how God has been at work through the people of this congregation over the past 125 years, but the story will not be complete until we step into it, i.e. lay aside the things that keep us from moving forward and run the leg of the relay that is before us.
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Beyond the Sermon: The Church's One Foundation Sep 02, 2024

As Hyde Park begins its celebration of 125 years, Magrey and Mat sit down to discuss what it means to have a spiritual legacy.
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Living Impact: 125 Years of Making God’s Love Real, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 1, 2024 Sep 02, 2024

In 1899, a group of 30 people from First Methodist in Tampa crossed the Hillsborough River to begin meeting in a two-room schoolhouse at the corner of Platt and Magnolia. 125 years later, we are living into a legacy that has proclaimed the good news of Jesus and built the kingdom of God for generation. This three-part worship series celebrates the grace of God and the history of our church, and points us toward an exciting future for generations to come.
HydeParkUMC.org/nextsteps
Reflection Questions:
What favorite stories do you know about your ancestors?
What does it mean for you to think of yourself as a simultaneous descendant and ancestor?
How will you live faithfully now to leave a living impact for those to follow?

Beyond the Sermon: Resolving Conflict Aug 26, 2024

This week Magrey sits down with Gary Mason to talk about the current situation with Israel-Palestine and how to find common ground in the mist of intense disagreement and conflict.
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Branching Out, Part 3 // The Rev. Gary Mason // August 25, 2024 Aug 26, 2024

Sharing the gospel with unbelievers is essential. Paul's example in Acts 17 shows how we can bridge the gap by using familiar language and imagery to reveal God's love in Christ.
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Reflection Questions:
1. How have you struggled with questions of meaning and purpose in your life?
2. How do your struggles help you connect with unchurched people with similar experiences?
3. How does putting Christ at the center of our lives help with those struggles?

Beyond the Sermon: Our Relationship With Other Faiths Aug 19, 2024

Sally and Mat sit down this week to discuss how inter-faith relationships can work and how to build those bridges.

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Branching Out, Part 2 // The Rev. Sally Campbell Evans // August 18, 2024 Aug 19, 2024

One of the most common questions we ask of our faith is, “What is Christianity’s relationship with other religions?” What are we to do with the passage from John 14, in which Jesus declares that he is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father but through him? In an age of religious pluralism and religious intolerance (even violence), how can we be charitable and loving toward people of different faiths, while still maintaining the core of our Christian convictions?
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Questions for Reflection:
1. What is your experience with people of different faiths?
2. In what ways are you using your gifts to cross barriers and build connections/relationships with those whose beliefs are different from yours?
3. What is one thing you could do to start a dialog with someone who practices a different faith?

Beyond the Sermon: Our Christian Family Tree Aug 12, 2024

This week, we have started a new sermon series discussing our Christian heritage and how we can relate to people of other faiths. Magrey and Mat sit down to talk about their own personal experiences in exploring and being raised in environments of differing faiths.
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Branching Out, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // August 11, 2024 Aug 12, 2024

John Wesley’s famous sermon “Catholic Spirit” provides guidance on how Christians of different perspectives and traditions can find common ground, just as Jehu and Jehonadab joined hands in the passage in 2 Kings. Despite some significant differences among Protestant denominations, we hold much more in common, and we are called to forge a dynamic and united witness to the good news of Jesus Christ in the world.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. What is the story of your religious journey? What faith traditions shape who you are?
2. What similarities among denominations do you find most meaningful?
3. What is best about being United Methodist to you?

Beyond the Sermon: Mary McLeod Bethune Aug 05, 2024

This week, Sally and Magrey talk about the impact that was the witness of Mary Bethune in education and how all of us can be inspired from it.
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Voices of Inspiration, Part 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // August 4, 2024 Aug 05, 2024

Mary McLeod Bethune was an educator, philanthropist, and civil rights activist, whose work was deeply rooted in her Christian convictions. Bethune-Cookman University stands as an enduring reminder of her legacy, as this states only United Methodist historically black college. Her famous quote “Without faith, nothing is possible; with faith, nothing is impossible” captures her belief in the power of God to transform hearts and communities for the better.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. What Voices of Inspiration in this worship series have been most meaningful to you, and why?
2. What insights and inspiration does Mary McLeod Bethune’s story evoke in you?
3. How will you become a voice of inspiration to others?

Beyond the Sermon: Oscar Romero Jul 29, 2024

This week, Mat and Sally sit down the discuss the witness of Oscar Romero from El Salvador in the 1970s. And how Sally's own experience in El Salvador influenced her call to ministry.

Voices of Inspiration, Part 5 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // July 28, 2024 Jul 29, 2024

Archbishop Oscar Romero was a powerful voice for freedom and liberation for the people of El Salvador, and his untimely death by an assassin’s bullet leaves behind a stirring witness to the power of non-violence in addressing systemic inequities and injustice. His work was a living embodiment of the words of Luke 4, in which Jesus spoke of setting the captives free, recovery of sight to the blind, and the proclamation of the Lord’s favor.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. Did you know much about Oscar Romero before today’s sermon? What surprised you about his life and witness?

2. In what ways are you using your influence to bring Good News to other people?

3. How might God be inviting you to change your heart? How are you evolving, changing, growing in your Christian witness?

Beyond the Sermon: Mahalia Jackson Jul 25, 2024

Mat and Magrey have a discussion about how songs shape us, how they shaped the Bible, and how they continue to bring the biblical text alive today.

Voices of Inspiration, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // July 21, 2024 Jul 22, 2024

Mahalia Jackson was one of the greatest musical artists of her generation, not just for her beautiful music, but also for her inspirational witness. Her most iconic moments were in her singing of “His Eye is On the Sparrow,” based on the teaching of Jesus in Matthew, which inspired comfort and encouragement during the civil rights movement. Her encouragement for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to “tell them about the dream, Martin,” elicited the grand, sweeping conclusion to his famous speech in Washington, D.C.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. What do you think makes singing such a powerful form of individual and communal expression?
2. What songs have been most inspiring to you throughout your life?
3. How familiar are you with the music of Mahalia Jackson? How might you listen to her music over the coming days?

Beyond the Sermon: Howard Thurman Jul 15, 2024

Mat and Justin talk about the legacy of Howard Thurman and how we can direct our beliefs into actions for justice in the community.

Voices of Inspiration, Part 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // July 14, 2024 Jul 15, 2024

Howard Thurman was one of the greatest preachers, writers, and mystics of the 20th century. His book “Jesus and the Disinherited” was a landmark work that invited us to see Jesus on the side of the oppressed, and inspired us to work through non-violent means to bring justice and social change. Every day, Thurman read Psalm 139, as a source of strength and courage, and verses 13-18 capture the intimate relationship he sought to have with God.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. What group or person is it most difficult for you? How might you practice seeing the divine in them?
2. How have you or will you build a relationship with the disinherited?
3. How can you dismantle discrimination? Specifically, what action will you take?

Beyond the Sermon: Mother Teresa Jul 08, 2024

Mat and Magrey dive deeper into Mother Teresa's story, paying particular attention to her own struggles with doubt, faith, and God's perceived absence. We talk about what we can learn from that today and how we can manage our own anxieties and fears.
Resources:
"The Questions Jesus Asked"
Magrey deVega
https://a.co/d/05e3zfA1
"Come Be My Light"
Mother Teresa
https://a.co/d/02AQBil8

Voices of Inspiration, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // July 7, 2024 Jul 08, 2024

Mother Theresa of Calcutta was the greatest charitable force in our lifetimes. She inspired us to give of ourselves humbly and obediently for the sake of the poor and needy, regardless of the cost. Hers was a living embodiment of the psalmist’s words, to “raise the poor out of dust, and the needy out of the ash heap.” Her life and witness is captured in her quote, based on Psalm 113: “Joy is prayer; joy is strength: joy is love; joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.”
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. What is “Your Own Calcutta?” How will you practice and compassion and mercy to others?
2. In what ways can you be more persistent in doing the work Jesus calls you to do?
3. What lessons can you learn from Mother Teresa in how she named and dealt with doubt?

Beyond The Sermon: Dietrich Bonhoeffer Jul 01, 2024

Mat and Magrey sit down to discuss the impact Dietrich Bonhoeffer had on Magrey's calling to ministry and the conflict between our inner and outer selves.

Voices of Inspiration, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 30, 2024 Jul 01, 2024

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of the most significant martyrs of the 20th century, whose courageous stance against the Hitler and Christian Nationalism continues to inspire us. In his famous book “The Cost of Discipleship,” he calls the church to remember that when God calls people to follow him, he “calls them to come and die.”
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. Who have been the significant “voices of inspiration” in your own spiritual journey?
2. What is something new you learned about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer?
3. How will you follow Jesus more closely this week?

Hard to Believe, Part 5 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // June 23, 2024 Jun 24, 2024

Prayer is the lifeblood of the disciple of Jesus. In his final days with the disciples, Mark told the disciples in Mark that their faith would allow them to pray with such conviction and confidence that whatever they asked for would be granted to them by God. But that belief carries an important precaution. Prayer is not a cosmic vending machine, that demands God to act on our own terms. Prayer is an act of vulnerability and obedience, in which we declare our dependence on God, and our willingness to decenter our own needs and desires.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. What is the mountain you’d like to move?
2. How has the power of prayer changed you? The world?
3. Who do you need to forgive?

Hard to Believe, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 16, 2024 Jun 17, 2024

For many, the existence of suffering and evil in the world is the greatest hurdle to full faith and belief in God. It seems irreconcilable that a God who is all-powerful and all-loving could allow the presence of pain and hardship. It is a dilemma that preacher and biblical scholar Tom Long called “the impossible chess match,” in which there is no clear and clean outcome. But faith allows us to trust where there are no easy answers, and follow God when we ask our hardest questions.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. When have you wrestled with God’s relationship to human suffering?
2. What has given you strength during times of hardship? Where do you think God was?
3. How have you experienced God transforming your suffering into something positive?

Hard to Believe, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 9, 2024 Jun 10, 2024

The early church theologian Anselm defined God as “a being than which nothing greater can be conceived.” This central premise led to the classic “omni” qualities of God: Omnipresence (God is everywhere), omnipotence (God is all powerful), and omnipresent (God is all knowing). These qualities have occasionally been problematic for us due to the presence of suffering and evil in the world. By reframing these qualities and incorporating God’s “omnibenevolence” (God’s all-lovingness), we can discover who God is in a deeper, more uplifting way.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. Who are people who have embodied a quality of God for you?
2. Which attribute of God do you have the hardest time understanding or accepting?
3. When have you experienced the omnibenevolence of God?

Hard to Believe, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 2, 2024 Jun 03, 2024

The dual nature of Jesus is central to Christian belief. We believe Jesus was 100% human and 100% divine. It is as difficult to understand this concept empirically (1+1=1) as it is to believe in the trinity (1+1+1=1). But claiming the full humanity and divinity of Jesus allows us to have a full relationship with God, who through Christ is both greater than us and is deeply connected to us.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you tend to have a “high” or “low” image of Jesus?
2. What significance does the full divinity and humanity of Jesus have for you?
3. How will you deepen your love and appreciation for Jesus this week?

Hard to Believe, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 26, 2024 May 27, 2024

The doctrine of the trinity is one of the most essential tenets of the Christian faith. It is also the hardest to explain and understand rationally. By claiming our belief in the triune God, we not only allow for the mystery of God’s nature and activity; we also discover how to fully live a trinitarian life, the way God intends.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps.com
Reflection Questions:
1. What are the hardest questions about the faith that you wrestle with?
2. What is your favorite image of the trinity?
3. How will you live a trinitarian life this week?

Pentecost Sunday // Logan Kijanski // May 19, 2024 May 20, 2024

The arrival of the Holy Spirit not only birthed the church. It also inaugurated a new way of experiencing the power and presence of God, which is the very same way we can experience God today: invisible, but active, and very real.
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Life's Highs & Lows, Part 6 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // May 12, 2024 May 13, 2024

Walking was the most common form of transport in both the Ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman World. Roads were important facets of the landscape; they enhanced travel, promoted safety and commerce, and improved connections between communities. Many biblical references use the image of a road or path as a metaphor for the faithful life. Discipleship is about taking the journey, one step at a time.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. What landscape are you currently in?
2. What does setting God’s ordinances before you look like in your life?
3. How can you choose faithfulness this week?

Life's Highs & Lows, Part 5 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // May 5, 2024 May 06, 2024

Rivers and streams in the Bible symbolize places of refreshment and nourishment. Elijah was fed by a brook. Jesus was baptized in the river. The Israelites found hope when God parted the Jordan for them so they could enter the Promised Land. Psalm 1 describes the law of God, which enables a person to be planted like a tree in water. We all need times of encouragement that can come from meeting God at the river.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. Among the 1000s of decisions you make everyday, can you think of a time where you felt really close to God, certain that you were on the right path with God, and felt deeply connected to the Holy. What was that like?
2. In what ways are you choosing to delight in the God’s instructions?
3. How might God be inviting you to change your thinking, your meditating, and/or the path you’re walking on, so as to bring renewal and refreshment to your life?

Life's Highs & Lows, Part 4 // Mat Hotho // April 28, 2024 Apr 29, 2024

The heavens declare the glory of God, says the Psalmist. Often throughout the Bible, the skies symbolized the promise and hope of God. The skies contained a rainbow that signified an end to the flood. The pillar of fire and cloud in the sky led the Israelites through the exodus. And in 1 Kings, Elijah instructed his servant to look into the skies for a sign of the end of the drought. That cloud, the size of a human hand, was enough to remind people that God’s promise and provision were imminent.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1) Which of the three parts of Psalm 19 do you most resonate with—nature, scripture, or personal reflection?
2) What are ways you have found scripture, particularly the Old Testament, to be life-giving?
3) Where do you need balance in your life today?

Life's Highs & Lows, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 21, 2024 Apr 22, 2024

The wilderness and desert are two of the most common natural landscapes in the Bible. Psalm 107 captures how the desert can be a place of loneliness, stress, and anxiety, which are common experiences for us today. But just as every biblical figure who entered the wilderness discovered, the desert is also a place to experience God’s presence in a new and profound way.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. What are your most vivid memories of being in a desert?
2. Which of the four metaphors in Psalm 107 best describes what you are struggling with?
3. Do you believe that God loves you? What difference does that make for you?

Life's Highs & Lows, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 14, 2024 Apr 15, 2024

Just as there are mountaintops in life, so there are valleys. The most famous reference to a valley in the Bible is in Psalm 23, where it depicts the long shadow of grief and loss. This service invites us to name our grief and loss, and points us toward healthy ways to process that grief and find hope.
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. What valleys are you experiencing right now?
2. How will you shift from talking about God to connecting personally with God?
3. How will you remember that God is with you?

Life's Highs & Lows, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 7, 2024 Apr 08, 2024

Psalms 120-134 are often referred to as the “Psalms of Ascent,” which would have been uttered as the Israelites ascended the Temple Mount to experience the presence of God. The Bible is filled with “mountaintop moments,” when people experienced God personally and intimately. This service invites us to ask when we have had such moments in our lives, whether on a literal mountain or not.
HydeParkUMC/NextSteps
Reflection Questions:
1. What are your most memorable “mountain top” moments?
2. How does an “uphill climb” and a “downhill descent” help you focus on God and slow your pace?
3. How will you let God help you keep your highs from getting too high, and your lows from getting too low?

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

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

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?”
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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

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

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.
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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

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

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.

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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

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.
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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

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.
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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

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?
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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

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.
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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?

You Are Not Alone, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // January 21, 2024 Jan 22, 2024

Even though families are comprised of a variety of types and dynamics, we were all born into one, and we know the kinds of strains, misgivings, and stress that families can bring us. This service will explore biblical insights in strengthening our marriages, our parenting, and our relationships with other family members.
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Reflection Questions:
1. What is the best thing about your family? What is the hardest thing about your family?
2. How will drawing closer to Jesus help each member of your family draw closer to each other?
3. How do you think stronger families can improve your community?

You Are Not Alone, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // January 14, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Baptism is the entry rite into Christian community. Our vows remind us that we are called to be part of the church, which Christ has opened to all people.
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Reflection Questions:
1. What is your favorite memory of a baptism?
2. What do you think God is doing in a baptism?
3. What difference does baptism make for you, in how you think, act, and relate to others?

You Are Not Alone, Part 1 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // January 7, 2024 Jan 08, 2024

In Genesis, we discover that God’s creation of the first human being was incomplete until the creation of companionship. We are intrinsically wired to be in connection with other people. God said it was not good for us to be alone; in fact, we are not.
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Reflection Questions:
1. Who is the person (or the people) in your life that make you feel ‘known’?
2. What is one thing you can do to help alleviate another person’s isolation and make them feel that they are ‘of worth’?
3. Name two things you can do to cultivate or nurture your primary relationships this week?

What God Gave You on Christmas is Jesus // The Rev. Magrey deVega // December 31, 2023 Jan 01, 2024

Just as Anna and Simeon received the baby Jesus and gained new hope for the future, we are to take the gift of Christmas and carry it with us all year round.
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Reflection Questions:
1. How long do you tend to keep your Christmas decorations up in your house?
2. What memories do you have this past Christmas of different generations coming together?
3. How will you be a bridge between generations this upcoming year?

What God Wants for Christmas, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // December 24, 2023 Dec 25, 2023

We are all familiar with the Nativity story. We know of Mary and Joseph, of the shepherds and the angels. But what about the setting? The stable and the manager? We take a closer look at the setting of the Christmas story and what implications it has on our lives.

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Reflection Questions

1. What are your favorite images and scenes in the Christmas story?

2. How will you make room for Jesus to be born anew into your life?

3. How will you allow Jesus to work through you to impact the lives of others?

What God Wants for Christmas, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // December 17, 2023 Dec 18, 2023

Advent is a time of anticipating joy, exemplified in the Magnificat of Mary. Her soul rejoiced at the prospect of the arrival of justice, equality, and liberation for all people. That vision should both encourage us and motivate us to offer joy to others.

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Reflection Questions:

1. When has fear ever blocked your sense of joy?

2. When have you experienced the joy of giving yourself in generosity to others?

3. What is God calling you to do, to move you from fear to joy by serving others?

What God Wants For Christmas, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // December 10, 2023 Dec 11, 2023

Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus, foretold by John the Baptist, who called us to “make his paths straight.” This can serve as a metaphor for peace-building and peace-making, which is at the heart of our Advent preparations. We should strive to be agents of peace, in our relationships with others.
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Reflection Questions:
1. What “potholes” exist in your life that need to be filled by God?
2. How will you build bridges this week with people who are in a broken relationship with you?
3. How will you help remove barriers of injustice and inequity that prevent peace in our society?

What God Wants for Christmas, Part 1 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // December 3, 2023 Dec 04, 2023

Advent is a time of watching and waiting in expectation of the inbreaking of God’s power and love to be among us. We should not lose hope, and we should remain attentive and ready to respond.
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Reflection Questions
- What are you waiting for, longing for, hoping for – deep in your heart – this Advent?
- Where do you see signs of ‘hope’ in the world? And how does that encourage you to share ‘hope’ with others?
- What Advent practices do you observe during this season? Or have you observed in the past?

Christ the King Sunday // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // November 26, 2023 Nov 23, 2023

Calling Jesus Lord is not just a statement we make; it is a life we choose to live. He is the pre-eminent expression of God’s full character and behavior. In him, we discover our truest purpose and meaning in life, and to him, we are called to be obedient and faithful.

Love For All, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // November 19, 2023 Nov 20, 2023

The parable of the mustard seed is one of Jesus’ most famous and familiar parables. It reminds us that small acts of generosity, no matter how insignificant it seems, can be used by God to multiply into wider impact for a wide host of people.
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Reflection Questions:
What new insights have you learned from the parable of the mustard seed?
What does the garden in the parable symbolize for you?
How have you experienced God’s love through the ministries of the church?

Love For All, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // November 12, 2023 Nov 13, 2023

Our faithful generosity is a response to the generosity of God, who calls us to be responsible caretakers of all our resources. By saving, spending, and giving faithfully, we can create a storehouse of treasure that will be a solid foundation for the future of God’s kingdom, and help us “take hold of that which is truly life.”
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Reflection Questions:
- What are your earliest memories related to money?
- When in your life have you felt truly and fully content?
- How will you be more generous in your time, your spirit, and your financial giving to the church?

Love For All, Part 2 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // November 5, 2023 Nov 06, 2023

We have been given an inheritance by God, which is the richness of grace and salvation, passed down through the generations. On this day when we celebrate the saints who have gone before us, we give thanks for their enduring example of faithfulness and generosity, and pledge to live out their legacy in our faithful giving.
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Love For All, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // October 29, 2023 Oct 30, 2023

Our generosity begins with the generosity of God, who calls us to be in a special relationship together, for the benefit of the world. This is the basis of the important biblical concept of covenant, seen most vividly in the call of Abraham. And just as Abraham gave a tenth of his belongings as a response to God’s covenant, we are called to be generous as a response to God’s goodness.

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Reflection Questions:

1. How have you experienced God’s unconditional love for you? In what ways do you struggle with believing that?

2. How have you seen God loving all people through this church?

3. How will you respond with gratitude and generosity to God’s love in your life?

Missions Celebration Sunday // The Rev. Paul Chilcote // Ocotober 22, 2023 Oct 23, 2023

As we recognize and celebrate of missions partners this week, we are reminded of the Great Commission. As followers of Jesus, we are charged with bringing the scriptural truth to all the world.
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Reflection Questions:
1. What comes to mind when you think of the word ‘missions’?
2. In what way is God calling you to be a light that shines for others?

3. What missions partnerships in our church will you learn more about and get involved in?

Good & Faithful, Part 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // October 15, 2023 Oct 16, 2023

Jesus calls us to forgive, no questions asked, or excuses accepted. It is a requirement of all those who would choose to call themselves Christian.
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Reflection Questions:
1. What do you think is the relationship between 1) God’s forgiveness of us, and 2) our forgiveness of others?
2. What for you is the most difficult aspect of forgiveness?
3. What steps will you take to move toward forgiveness between you and someone else?

Good & Faithful, Part 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // October 8, 2023 Oct 09, 2023

Love is the chief distinguishing feature of a follower of Jesus. It is one whom, in Wesley’s words, the “love of God has been shed abroad in their hearts.” The Great Commandment (attested in each of the synoptic gospels) is a vivid expression of this call to love.
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Reflection Questions:
1. How does the way you love a person change as your relationship changes over time?
2. In what way is time more a “pressure” than a “privilege” to you these days?
3. How will you spend more time sharing it in love for God and others?

Good & Faithful, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // October 1, 2023 Oct 02, 2023

God calls us to seek the way of justice, which is a central norm of the Hebrew scriptures and an integral part of Jesus’ vision for the kingdom.
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Reflection Questions:
1. What is your understanding of justice? What new things did you discover about justice that are helpful?
2. How will you live a just life, in the way God intends you to live?
3. How will you help create a just community, helping others to be a full and equal part of it?

Good & Faithful, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 24, 2023 Sep 25, 2023

We are called by God to contribute to the flourishing of all human beings, because every person is of sacred worth.
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Reflection Questions:
1. How do you understand the sacredness of life to be an essential part of Christian character and ethics?
2. When have you ever felt “out of tune” with God’s image in you? When have you felt “in tune”?
3. How will you contribute to the flourishing of those around you?

Good and Faithful, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 17, 2023 Sep 18, 2023

We live in a world where adherence to agreed notions of truth is elusive. We are more prone to seeing deceit, delusion, and distraction rather than truth. Good and faithful Christians claim the truth of God, even if it is uncomfortable and inconvenient.
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Reflection Questions:
1. In what ways do you see a need for more truthfulness in our world today?
2. How do you think truthfulness and trustworthiness are related?
3. What will you do to be a more truthful person?

Good and Faithful, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 10, 2023 Sep 11, 2023

God has made us to be a spectacle “theatron” of the world, so we should model the kind of holy life to which we have been called.

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Reflection Questions:

1. What do you think constitutes good character?

2. Which of the five qualities do you emulate best, and which do you have to work on?

3. What would it mean for you to be a “light of the world” this week?

The Jesus Challenge, Part 3 //The Rev. Dr. Gary Mason // August 27, 2023 Sep 04, 2023

Jesus calls us to love our enemies, those who are hardest to love, despite what they might have done to us.
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Reflection Questions:
1. Who are the enemies in your life?
2. What does Jesus mean when he says, “pray for those who persecute you”?
3. How can you pray for your enemies this week?

The Jesus Challenge, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // August 27, 2023 Aug 28, 2023

Jesus calls us to a selfless love, which regards the dignity and worth of others, regardless of our differences.

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Reflection Questions:

1. Which character(s) in the Good Samaritan story do you most identify with?

2. When have you been helped by a person who is different from you in some way?

3. What next step will you take to love others across our differences?

The Jesus Challenge, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // August 20, 2023 Aug 21, 2023

Jesus calls us to love God with the entirety of our lives: heart, soul, mind, and strength.

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Reflection Questions:

1. What is your experience each day in trying to figure out what to wear?

2. Who in the church has been a spiritual influence in your life?

3. How will you be more actively engaged in worship?

Truth & Love, Part 4 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // August 13, 2023 Aug 14, 2023

There may be many causes of fear in our lives, but in many cases, the greatest and most reliable antidote is the love of God, for “perfect love casts out fear.”
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Reflection Questions:
1. What would your life look like if you more fully abided in God’s love? How would your family, community, co-workers, church, people in the community know?
2. Where do you have fear? How can love enter into it?
3. How might you live love without fear this week?

Truth & Love, Part 3 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // August 6, 2023 Aug 07, 2023

God loved us so much that God gave us Jesus (John 3:16). We are called to love one another, as an expression of the love of God (1 John 3:16)
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Reflection Questions:
1. What does it mean to ‘lay down’ one’s life for a friend? Can you give an example of that?
2. What are some ways you see our church loving ‘in deed and truth?’
3. Where is Jesus standing in front of you, inviting you to boldly show love to a neighbor?

Truth & Love, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // July 30, 2023 Jul 31, 2023

The light of God’s love convicts us of our sins, especially in the ways that we mistreat each other and cause harm.

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https://www.barna.com/research/christians-more-like-jesus-or-pharisees/

Reflection Questions:

1. What do you think it means to be a follower of Jesus?

2. How do your answers to the Barna survey make you more like Jesus? More like the Pharisees?

3. What changes will you make in your life to follow Jesus better?

Truth & Love, Part 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // July 23, 2023 Jul 24, 2023

Just as the sun is the source of life and energy for all creation, so is Jesus the source of love and goodness for all humanity.
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Reflection Questions:
1. What animal terrifies you?
2. What in your life needs the Light? How are you blocking the Light?
3. How do you confess and when was the last time?
4. In what ways will you walk in the Light this week?

Jesus Revealed, Part 7 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // July 16, 2023 Jul 17, 2023

In Christ we are never alone. We are connected to God, to each other, and in ministry to the world.
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Reflection Questions:
1. To stay connected to Jesus who is the vine, what spiritual practices do you observe?
2. In your life, what might the ‘keeper of the vineyard’ need to prune?
3. What does it mean to ‘bear fruit’ in your life?

Jesus Revealed, Part 6 // The Rev. Bernie Lieving // July 9, 2023 Jul 10, 2023

The way of Jesus gives us the clearest, most direct path toward living life as God intends.

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Reflection Questions:
1. Would it make a difference in your life if you heard Jesus’ “Follow Me” as a command rather than an invitation?

2. What trouble is in your heart that you need God to help you deal with?

3. What are you doing to care for creation to honor Jesus as the Co-Creator?

Jesus Revealed, Part 5 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // July 2, 2023 Jul 03, 2023

In Christ, death is never the last word, just as Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
1. What does it mean to follow Jesus, the one who invites us into the fullness of life and death?
2. What tomb are you being invited to exit? To come out of?
3. Where do you see new life in your midst?
4. Imagine Jesus in front of you, asking, ‘do you believe this?’ How would you respond?

Jesus Revealed, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 25, 2023 Jun 26, 2023

Jesus cares for us, preserving and protecting us from the power of sin. We must learn to listen for Jesus’ voice, and follow where he leads us.
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Reflection Questions:
1. In what way are you in need of a “Good Shepherd” today?
2. How do you best hear the voice of Jesus in your life?
3. How will you be less like a cow that needs to be pushed, and more like a sheep that is willing to follow?

Jesus Revealed, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 18, 2023 Jun 19, 2023

Jesus is the means through which we can experience the fullness of God’s presence and enjoy a full relationship with God.
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Reflection Questions:
1. What would you say are the “thieves” in your life?
2. What noises in your life compete with your ability to hear Jesus?
3. How will you learn to better listen to the voice of Jesus?

Jesus Revealed, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 11, 2023 Jun 12, 2023

Jesus meets us in our blindness and gives us the ability to see God’s grace and love, just as he cured the blind man.
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Reflection Questions:
1. In what ways are you like the Pharisees in these stories? How do you need the light of Jesus?

2. How are you like the woman and the man in both stories? How do you need the light of Jesus?

3. How will you shine the light of Jesus to others this week?

Jesus Revealed, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 4, 2023 Jun 05, 2023

Jesus satisfies our deepest hungers, just as he fed the multitudes.
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Reflection Questions:
1. What favorite memory do you have of communion?
2. What difference do anamnesis and prolepsis make in your appreciation of communion?
3. How will you be the body of Christ for people this week?

Pentecost Sunday // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 28, 2023 May 29, 2023

The arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost enables the church to be a community of love that embraces diversity and inclusion.
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Reflection Questions
1. When have you experienced the presence and power of the Holy Spirit with others?
2. How is God calling you to do the work of Tikkun Olam, “repairing the world”?
3. What excites you about being a part of the future of this church?

Love Conquers All, Part 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 21, 2023 May 22, 2023

Faithful love chooses to see reality through the “long view,” and never loses hope, regardless of how bad things might look now.
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Reflection Questions:
1. What is a part of your childhood that you miss?
2. Who are those who loved you into being?
3. What do you think it means for love to be the greatest thing, greater than faith and hope?

Love Conquers All, Part 5 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // May 14, 2023 May 15, 2023

A love that forgives actively repairs broken relationships by “turning down the temperature” of heated conflict, and seeking to move forward, rather than live in the past.
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Reflection Questions:
1. Is it more difficult to forgive others or yourself?
2. Why do you think Jesus commands forgiveness?
3. How might you love others this week?

Love Conquers All, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 7, 2023 May 08, 2023

A love that is gentle discovers alternatives to unhealthy anger, and seeks common understanding and dialogue.
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Reflection Questions:
1. When do you think it is okay to be angry?
2. What do you think is the difference between unhealthy and healthy anger?
3. What will you do to be less provoked by angry experiences and people?

Love Conquers All, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 30, 2023 May 01, 2023

A love that is humble recognizes the decency and worth of others, and embraces differences as opportunities for learning.
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Reflection Questions:
1. Who has exemplified humility in your life? What have you learned from them?
2. In what ways is it hard for you to be humble?
3. How will you practice a healthy sense of humility each day?

Love Conquers All, Part 2 // Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // April 23, 2023 Apr 24, 2023

A love that is kind reaches across barriers to bring people into the fold. God's nature in the Hebrew Bible is often described with the word "HESED" which roughly translates to "loving-kindness." We know love when someone wants the best for us and invites us into a life of goodness.
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Reflection Questions
1. Love is many things…. But it is especially KIND. Describe how you feel when someone does something kind for you?
2. If love is an action, what is one active way you can share some kindness today?
3. Princess Diana reached across the chasms of uncomfortableness to bring healing through a simple gesture of kindness. Can you think of other examples like that?

Love Conquers All, Part 1 // Nicole Oaks // April 16, 2023 Apr 17, 2023

Paul’s classic passage in 1 Corinthians 13 is a well-known, often quoted exploration of love. The love he describes is not merely sentimental or romantic, despite this passage’s frequent use in wedding ceremonies. The love described in 1 Corinthians 13 is rigorous, strong, and forged in the hardships of life. In other words, this is a love that overcomes and conquers. It endures, it bears, it does not bend to sinful tendencies, and it never ends. This series will explore these fierce and relentless qualities of God’s love, as an encouragement to us as we seek to live the resurrected life.
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Easter Sunday Message // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 9, 2023 Apr 10, 2023

Resurrection is possible in the most unlikely moments, in the most unsuspecting of ways. We can open our eyes to see the presence of Jesus in our midst.
https://hydeparkumc.org/nextsteps/
Reflection Questions:
1. Which of these three prayers have you prayed, or are even praying now?
2. When has it been true that God has been active in your life, without your realizing it?
3. How do you hope to encounter God’s resurrection in your life?

Meeting Jesus at the Table, Part 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 2, 2023 Apr 03, 2023

Jesus invites us into an experience of his life, death, and resurrection, and calls us to remembrance through the bread and the cup.
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Reflection Questions:
1. How do you identify with Judas in this story? How about with Mary?
2. How will you spend your time spiritually preparing for Easter this week?
3. What stories at the table have you found most meaningful this Lenten series?

Meeting Jesus at the Table, Part 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 26, 2023 Mar 27, 2023

We are prone to making too many excuses for not making or following through on our commitment to Jesus. God calls us to give our all, and our very best.

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https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-pasco/community-shows-up-for-3-year-olds-birthday-party-when-no-one-else-did

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever hosted an event where fewer people showed up than you hoped? How did that make you feel?

2. Which of the characters in the parable do you most identify with?

3. Who is someone you know that you can encourage this week? What will you do to encourage them?

Meeting Jesus at the Table, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 19, 2023 Mar 20, 2023

The table of God is expansive and inclusive, and we are called to invite all people to experience God’s grace and love.
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Reflection Questions:
1. What manners did you learn as a child at the dinner table? How do those lessons apply to relating to people today?
2. What do you think is the fine line between hostility and hospitality? When is the line blurry between the two?
3. How will you work to extend the hospitality of God’s love to people who feel excluded?

Meeting Jesus at the Table, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 12, 2023 Mar 13, 2023

We are called to offer our fullest commitment to Jesus, regardless of the cultural pressures that would beckon otherwise.
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Reflection Questions:
1. How do you normally greet someone whom you have invited to your home for dinner?
2. In what ways is your spiritual life “perfunctory”?
3. How will you make repentance and confession a more regular part of your spiritual practices?

Meeting Jesus at the Table, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 5, 2023 Mar 06, 2023

Jesus calls us to love the ones whom society has deemed unredeemable and unworthy.
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Reflection Questions:
1. When did you attend a dinner party and encounter interesting people you weren’t expecting to meet?
2. How is a dinner table a good metaphor for God’s love and generosity?
3. What will you do to help welcome new people and make room for their place at God’s table?

Meeting Jesus at the Table, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // February 26, 2023 Feb 27, 2023

The grace of Jesus Christ is enough to satisfy our deepest hunger, even as we are called to meet the needs of physically hungry people in the world.
Reflection Questions:
1. What are your favorite memories involving meal or a table?
2. When have you had an experience of physical, emotional, or spiritual scarcity?
3. How will you participate in a miracle of abundance for the sake of someone else? What do you need to turn over to Jesus?

Ash Wednesday Message // The Rev. Magrey deVega // February 22, 2023 Feb 23, 2023

Despite the original goodness of God’s creation, human sin has corrupted the world. Our mortality is a reminder of our utter dependence on God.

The Seven, Part 7 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // February 19, 2023 Feb 20, 2023

God models for us the principle of rest and renewal. Creation is incomplete if it does not allow for rebirth and rejuvenation. We should pattern our lives in the same way.
Reflection Questions:

1. What is your preferred way to enjoy Sabbath rest?

2. What makes it hard to carve out time for practicing Sabbath in your life?

3. What would help you be more faithful in your Sabbath practices?

The Seven, Part 6 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // February 12, 2023 Feb 13, 2023

We are made in God’s image, which means we are meant to be in connection and relationship with God and one another. We are therefore called to acts of reconciliation and love.
Reflection Questions:
1. How do you witness human beings’ capacity for goodness? For evil?

2. Where do you need to experience the grace of God in your life?

3. To whom or where can you extend grace this week?

The Seven, Part 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // February 5, 2023 Feb 06, 2023

One of the first commands that God gave to humans was to take dominion of the animals. But what does that mean exactly? St. Francis of Assisi modeled for us a care and concern for all life, especially animals. We should live at peace with all creatures.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
1. What are your favorite memories involving a pet or other animals?
2. What do you think it means for humans to have “dominion” over animals?
3. How will you work to help animals fulfill their potential to add more richness and beauty to the world?

The Seven, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // January 29, 2023 Jan 30, 2023

Looking into the vastness of the universe both humbles us and fills us with awe and reverence for God. The rev. Magrey deVega describes how infinite, intimate, and incarnate space can be when showing us how God is working in both the universe and our lives.
Reflection Questions

1. What is a vivid memory you have involving space?

2. How does thinking about the universe give you a sense of awe and wonder about God?

3. When you remember that everything is created out of the same material, by the same God, how does that change your relationship with creation and other people?

The Seven, Part 3 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // January 22, 2023 Jan 23, 2023

There is a plethora of discourse about how to take care of the Earth these days. The Bible is clear in that we are called to appreciate and preserve the planet, restoring it to the goodness of God’s original intention.
Reflection Questions:
1. Can you remember when you first noticed and were overcome by the beauty of the earth? What was that like?
2. What are you most concerned about with regards to Climate Change?
3. What is one thing you could start doing to help better care for the creation? When will you start?

The Seven, Part 2 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // January 15, 2023 Jan 16, 2023

The Bible tells us that the sky declares the glory of God; their voice ringing out throughout all of the Earth. If you are feeling lost or lonely, look up. Sense God’s presence in the vastness of the sky.
Reflection Questions:
1. What song connects you to the sky?
2. How do you answer Einstein’s question?
3. In what ways will you look for God’s work this week? How will you look for Jesus?

The Seven, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // January 8, 2023 Jan 09, 2023

The creation story is an iconic part of the Bible, yet it is often misunderstood and underappreciated. We don’t have to ascribe to a literal understanding of creation (i.e., a literal seven days of creation) in order to marvel at its living truth. For the ancient Israelites, the creation story was less about explaining how the universe came into being, and more about who did the creating, and how we are to relate to the Creator and all creation.
Reflection Questions:

1. How do you think God is still creating and bringing order out of chaos?

2. What is your favorite or most vivid memory of a baptism?

3. How would you like God to open your eyes and strengthen your faith?

A New Year, A New You - New Years' Day Message // The Rev. Magrey deVega // January 1, 2023 Jan 02, 2023

We all know that nothing spectacular happens when the clock strikes midnight, ushering in the new year. I'm sure many of us would like for that to happen, though. The thing is, God is the only one that can see your life in the broadest sense there is. He has his timing and plans for you already laid out. While we may not see, or even see it coming, God wants us to be faithful to him as he is faithful to us. This new year, God wants to write a new covenant with you on your heart.
Reflection Questions:
1. What is your favorite New Year’s memory?

2. How have you seen God’s transformation and provision in your life, but only in retrospect?

3. How will you recommit your life to Jesus over the coming year?
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Arise! Your Light Has Come, Christmas Day Message // The Rev. Magrey deVega // December 25, 2022 Dec 26, 2022

It has been noted that you life changes significantly about every 5 years. Some of us read that and think that that is a long amount of time for change to occur. It's the same way when we expect something from God. While His plan can change everything rapidly, almost like flipping on a light switch, many of those other times it takes a while. But like how the sun rises gradually each morning, so too will the Light of Christ penetrate the darkness from the world and banish it from out lives.
Reflection Questions:
1. In what areas of your life do you need the light of Jesus today?

2. When have you seen God’s power in your life, but only in retrospect?

3. How will you live out the hope and joy of Christmas moving forward?

Don't Miss It, Christmas Eve Message // The Rev. Magrey deVega // December 24, 2022 Dec 24, 2022

On this Christmas Eve, we are reminded about how grandiose and extravagant the season wants to be. Especially when it comes to presents. However, Rev. Magrey would like to remind us about the smaller, more impactful moments this holiday. Remember to slow down and don't miss how God can work in your life, even in the small things.
Reflection Questions:
1. What is your favorite Christmas memory? What is your most difficult Christmas memory?
2. How will you look more diligently for the blessings of God in your life?
3. How will you look to be a blessing for others in the coming days and weeks?

Songs For the Waiting, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // December 18, 2022 Dec 19, 2022

In the final week of Advent, we explore the unexpected way God came to us as a king. Most stories depict the scene of a returning king with violence and a triumphant, exuberant return to the throne. However, that is not how Jesus came to us. He took the idea of a conquering, warrior-king and flipped it upside down. He did not come to be served, but rather to serve others and to show the world what true love is through justice and self-sacrifice.

Songs For the Waiting, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // December 11, 2022 Dec 12, 2022

In our 3rd week of Advent, we discover something a bit...odd. This weeks' song, along with our scripture reading, have a common theme. God is relaying instructions for how to conduct a celebration for an event that hasn't even happened yet. As with the first set of instructions given to the Israelites for Passover, Advent is a time of preparing and focusing on something that is yet to come: The coming of Jesus into our lives.

Songs For the Waiting, Part 2 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // December 4, 2022 Dec 05, 2022

“But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact pleases You.”

- Thomas Merton
In the 2nd week of our advent series, we discuss the song "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light." How does one exactly become a Child of the Light and what does that mean for us and how we effect those around us? The world we live in is filled with suffering, despair, and darkness. But just as Jesus came to Earth to be a light to the world, so to can we who the love of God to others.

Songs For the Waiting, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // November 27, 2022 Nov 28, 2022

During Advent we are so fixated on the Christmas Carols and texts that we don’t spend a lot of time thinking about Advent Carols and how powerful their meanings can be. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is such a remarkable and classic hymn that dates back over 1000 years. But what you may not know is the hidden meaning placed cleverly amongst the words. This hidden meaning is a wonderful reminder of what the real reason for the season is.

Living With Gratitude, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // November 20, 2022 Nov 21, 2022

Gratitude on a communal level means joining our resources to meet the greatest needs of our community and world. Diana Butler Bass describes this fourth quadrant in this way: “If you emphasize we and ethics, you might define gratitude as social responsibility that demands action through public commitments to charity, stewardship, volunteerism, and social institutions. You believe that gratitude is an essential foundation of civic life, taking pride in doing good."

Living With Gratitude, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // November 13, 2022 Nov 14, 2022

Living with Gratitude means orienting our individual actions toward the benefit of others, including the surrender of our personal finances to God. Gratitude is not just an emotional attenuation of the heart. It has an impact on our actions and ethical choices. Diana Butler Bass called this third quadrant the “Personal/Ethical, and described it in this way: “If you emphasize me and ethics, you might experience gratitude as a moral or ritual response to a favor extended to you. Returning dinner invitations, writing thank-you notes, and repaying personal obligations come naturally. You think of gratitude in terms of individual responsibility and reciprocity.”

Living With Gratitude, Part 2 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // November 6, 2022 Nov 07, 2022

On this Sunday we join with Christians around the world in a public act of corporate, emotional gratitude, as we honor the saints who have gone before us. By honoring them, we see our own place in the grand march of history and the ongoing work of God. That recognition is a humbling motivation for us to turn in our estimates of giving and contribute to the unfolding story of God’s love.
HydeParkUMC.org/EOG
HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Living With Gratitude, Part 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // October 30, 2022 Oct 31, 2022

Living with Gratitude means opening our heart to wonder, awe, and an awareness of God’s blessings in our lives, both great and small. Diana Butler Bass describes this first quadrant of gratitude as Personal/Emotional: “If you emphasize me and emotions, you are probably attuned to the inner dimensions of awe, surprise, and appreciation and have strong feelings when someone helps you, serves you, or gives you a gift. You define gratitude in terms of delight, joy, or surprise.”

The Art of Hearing Gods Voice, Part 7 // The Rev. Dr. Martyn Atkins // October 23, 2022 Oct 24, 2022

Matthew 28 contains the words of the Great Commission, the iconic final command of Jesus to the disciples. His charge to “go into all the world” to make disciples makes it a fitting text for our annual Missions Celebration Sunday. As we celebrate our partnerships with missions agencies locally around the world, this text begs the question: is there more to engaging in missions than simply supporting efforts from a distance? Was Jesus also calling us to make missions a way of being, a way of life? Those are the compelling questions that our guest preacher Rev. Dr. Martyn Atkins will explore with us. He has 40 years of experience in British Methodism and is a leader in the Fresh Expressions movement and the World Methodist Council. He is currently serving Lighthouse UMC in Boca Grande, which was severely impacted by Hurricane Ian. We welcome him this Sunday and are honored by his insights and wisdom.

The Art of Hearing God's Voice, Part 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // October 16, 2022 Oct 17, 2022

Neurologically speaking, our brains do not shut down when we go to sleep, and our subconscious kicks into gear with processing the flurry of information that we wrestle with during our waking hours. Is it possible that God speaks to us through our subconscious? On this Sunday, we’ll look at various scientific and psychological studies about dreaming, and learn how to put our dreams into context. Yes, it is possible that God speaks to us through our dreams, but interpreting them requires intentionality and care, just like everything else related to listening for God’s voice.

The Art of Hearing Gods Voice, Part 5 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // October 9, 2022 Oct 10, 2022

We can all admit that we don’t like to wait. Time moves sometimes like an Arctic glacier. The second hand on the clock seems to tick every five minutes. It’s like someone pressed the giant pause button in the sky. Or even in reverse. We are the cyber-speed, hyper-drive generation. We like our internet connectivity to be fiber optic, our exercise regimen to be done in minutes rather than months, our meals to be ready at a moment’s notice, and our online orders to be delivered when the website promises. We don’t like to wait. For the doctor, for the traffic, for our dinner, for the mail carrier … or for God.

But as part of this series on the art of hearing God’s voice, we should acknowledge and affirm that waiting - as hard as it may be - is an essential part of trusting in and following Jesus. But with that challenge comes good news. The prophet Isaiah promises that waiting on the Lord renews our strength, enabling us to fly like an eagle, and run and walk the journey of life for the long haul.

The Art of Hearing God's Voice, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // October 2, 2022 Oct 03, 2022

One of the hardest parts about hearing God’s voice is when we have to confront so much hurt and brokenness in the world. We wonder what God is doing and saying in the face of such suffering around us. The scripture reading for this Sunday is more commonly heard on Ascension Sunday, but its principles apply all year long. God is calling us to be the very hands, feet, and voice of Jesus in a world that is longing to see, hear, and experience God’s presence, activity, and voice. Jesus promised his disciples, and promises us, that the Holy Spirit is with us, empowering us to the task. On this World Communion Sunday, and in the weeks leading up to Missions Celebration Sunday on October 23, we affirm and acknowledge the part we play in making God’s love real around the world. We also remember that the communion liturgy asks God to “make [the elements] the body and blood of Christ, that we might be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.”

The Art of Hearing God's Voice, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 25, 2022 Sep 26, 2022

The author of Proverbs describes the life of faith as acknowledging God, so that God can direct our path (steps). That means trusting that God will reveal the journey ahead of us, one step at a time, so that our main job is to take a step of faith when God is calling us to do so. This does not mean, however, that we simply sit back and let God do the revealing. We have to be intentional about listening, surrendering, and watching for the Spirit, so we can “sing when the Spirit says sing,” in the words of the old spiritual. That is what Proverbs describes as “leaning not unto our own understanding.”

The Art of Hearing God's Voice, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 18, 2022 Sep 19, 2022

It goes without saying, but the first step in hearing God’s voice is having the desire to hear God’s voice. That should go without saying, but there is good news in that reminder. Just like Thomas Merton’s classic prayer says, the desire to please God does itself please God, even amid times of bewilderment. Hearing God’s voice is rooted in prayer, balanced among three dimensions, which can be remembered through the acronym S.O.S.

The Art of Hearing God's Voice, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 11, 2022 Sep 12, 2022

We are hungry for a sense of purpose, direction, and calling in our lives. That’s as basic an ingredient to the human experience as they come. We want to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We want to participate in something that has eternal merit and lasting impact. We do not want to live a shallow, hollow existence. We yearn for deeper meaning, for deeper purpose within our lives. We want to be more than we are.

The Meaning of Methodist, Part 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 4, 2022 Sep 05, 2022

We conclude our worship series “The Meaning of Methodist” this Sunday with one of the chief hallmarks of Methodism. John Wesley observed the concept of the “via media” in developing his practical theology. He would often take the best of two ideological opposites to form a “way in the middle,” a vital third way that enabled people to hold the center together. We’ll explore why that is such a timely and necessary position today and discover how to apply that in our lives.

The Meaning of Methodist, Part 4 // The Rev. Dr. Gary Mason // August 28, 2022 Aug 29, 2022

Rev. Dr. Gary Mason of Rethinking Conflict in Belfast, Northern Ireland will be our guest preacher for the day. He can speak to the global nature of the church and the impact that the United Methodist can make in the work of peace with justice and the alleviation of suffering. Together, we live out the vision of John Wesley to make a difference in the physical, social, and systemic brokenness of the world. For in his words, “There is no holiness apart from social holiness.”

The Meaning of Methodist, Part 3 // The Rev. Clarke Campbell-Evans // August 21, 2022 Aug 22, 2022

In the Exodus reading, Moses discovered that the task of leading the people and advancing the mission of God among the Israelites was too great for one person to handle. That’s why he created a connectional system of governance, administration, and support. Likewise, the idea of connectionalism is at the heart of being United Methodist. Each congregation is part of an interconnected whole of people and congregations around the world, joined by districts, conferences, jurisdictions, and central/regional conferences. We are ultimately connected by a General Conference. Likewise, no one person in the local church has all the power. We have staff and lay people serving on various committees that each share a vital part of leading the whole of the church. We all play a part in making ministry happen and advancing the mission of God.

The Meaning of Methodist, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // August 14, 2022 Aug 15, 2022

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, believed that works of devotion, service, and love are necessary. Not to earn our salvation, but to mature our salvation. And just like a tree that does not bear fruit, or a bird that has no song, or a star that produces no light, salvation without works is pointless. Even though we don’t earn our salvation by our works, we can’t use our salvation without works. The phrase that Wesley coined here is that we must “work out our salvation.” We need to prove it, express it, and exercise it with our deeds. And this lies at the heart of what it means to be called “Methodist.”

The Meaning of Methodist, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // August 7, 2022 Aug 08, 2022

One of the hallmarks of United Methodism is the nuanced way that John Wesley both embraced human free will and God's grace. Both God's power and human will are necessary for salvation. Yes, we get to choose. But only because God's power makes our choice possible. Before we even knew there was a choice to make, eve as soon as we were born, God was hard at work drawing, luring us, convincing us to choose faith in Jesus.

Hyde Park At The Movies, Part 6 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // July 31, 2022 Aug 01, 2022

In Top Gun: Maverick, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell confronts his regrets about his past and the consequences of his action and inaction. It's not unlike the disciple Peter confronting his denial and betrayal of Jesus.

Hyde Park At The Movies, Part 5 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // July 24, 2022 Jul 25, 2022

In Paul’s classic metaphor of the church as the body of Christ, he reminds believers that each of them are responsible to one another for building each other up. When one suffers, all suffer with them. When one rejoices, all rejoice with them. Often, our society encourages us to think of ourselves individually, with our own uniqueness and special qualities that distinguish us from one another. But even in Paul’s description of spiritual gifts, he reminds us that those gifts are useful only in the context of community, when each person does their part. Encanto is a film about a family who, on the surface, seems remarkable because of the enchanting qualities of each of its members. But deep down, we discover that they are as dysfunctional as the rest of our families are, with their own secrets and skeletons. In the end, they discover that mutual love for each other, not outwardly remarkable abilities, is what makes them special.

Hyde Park At The Movies, Part 4 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // July 17, 2022 Jul 18, 2022

The book of Ephesians is Paul’s clearest and greatest appeal to unity in Christ, despite all the forces that would otherwise tear us apart. Ever since the Tower of Babel, human beings have been proliferating in their diversity, and gathering in camps and tribes that often become at odds with each other. The Christians of Ephesus were tempted to allow their differences with one another compromise their unity and their common witness to the world. The prevalent use of the word “one” in this scripture passage underscores Paul’s call for Christians to be one together.

Hyde Park At The Movies, Part 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // July 10, 2022 Jul 11, 2022

The classic comic book character Batman embodies the spirit of vengeance and retribution. He is deemed a vigilante by the general public, and during the most recent film “The Batman,” declares, “I am vengeance.” In many ways, Batman represents our base instincts to seek revenge on others, which must be tempered by a commitment to love, and to a justice that is forged by peace and forgiveness.

Hyde Park At The Movies, Part 2 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // July 3, 2022 Jul 04, 2022

The early church gained in notoriety and vitality by becoming a community with hospitality and generosity. They welcomed new persons into the fellowship and ultimately, in Acts 15, extended the reach of God’s love to people who would otherwise be excluded. This spirit of expansive welcome is rendered beautifully in the production Come From Away, based on the true story of a small town of Gander, Newfoundland, who welcomed frightened, weary travelers in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

Hyde Park At The Movies, Part 1 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // June 26, 2022 Jun 27, 2022

The film "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" demonstrates the healing power of love and forgiveness. The acclaimed Fred Rogers serves as the conduit of that grace, as he interacts with Lloyd Vogel, a reporter who has been struggling with how to forgive his father and be reconciled with his family. Through the course of the film, and because of the kind, thoughtful, enduring wisdom of Mr. Rogers, Lloyd discovers how to experience a new kind of love, and a fuller relationship with others.

The Parable of the Sower // The Rev. Emily Hotho // June 19, 2022 Jun 20, 2022

Our Disctrict Superintendent, the Rev. Emily Hotho joins us with a message about Jesus' parable of the sower. What might Jesus' lesson about seeds and good soils have to teach us about our faith and our perspective on the world?

Trinity Sunday // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 12, 2022 Jun 13, 2022

The early church was not defined by the forms and structures that mark today’s modern church. It was marked by mission and purpose: to come together to worship, to sing and pray, to fellowship, and to serve and give to those in need. Each church ought to aspire to live up to, and into, a balance of those four purposes.

Pentecost Sunday // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 5, 2022 Jun 06, 2022

Pentecost (Greek for 50th) is the holy day celebrated 50 days after Easter. It is the moment that the Holy Spirit descended on the early disciples and sent them out into the world. It's a message of expansion and inclusion. And it calls us to widen our reach—to be carriers—of love and inclusion to all.

Rise, Part 6 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // May 29, 2022 May 30, 2022

The 12 Steps have helped people overcome hurts, habits, and hang-ups. These steps help us do the work of self-examination that leads to a deeper relationship with God and with others. In many ways it is a form of discipleship where we grow and are changed through practices.
This week we conclude our series with Steps 10, 11, and 12. How can we abide in Christ by practicing perseverance, integrity, and service?

Rise, Part 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 22, 2022 May 23, 2022

The 12 Steps have helped people overcome hurts, habits, and hang-ups. These steps help us do the work of self-examination that leads to a deeper relationship with God and with others. In many ways it is a form of discipleship where we grow and are changed through practices.
This week we explore Steps 8 and 9. How can integrity and restitution lead us toward identifying and forgiving those we've harmed?

Rise, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 15, 2022 May 16, 2022

The 12 Steps have helped people overcome hurts, habits, and hang-ups. These steps help us do the work of self-examination that leads to a deeper relationship with God and with others. In many ways it is a form of discipleship where we grow and are changed through practices.
This week we explore Steps 6 and 7. How can willingness and humility help us begin breaking old patterns?

Rise, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 8, 2022 May 09, 2022

The 12 Steps have helped people overcome hurts, habits, and hang-ups. These steps help us do the work of self-examination that leads to a deeper relationship with God and with others. In many ways it is a form of discipleship where we grow and are changed through practices.
This week we explore Steps 4 and 5. How can honesty and courage combat our resentments?

Rise, Part 2 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // May 1, 2022 May 02, 2022

The 12 Steps have helped people overcome hurts, habits, and hang-ups. These steps help us do the work of self-examination that leads to a deeper relationship with God and with others. In many ways it is a form of discipleship where we grow and are changed through practices.
This week we explore Steps 2 and 3. Together with Step 1, we get the movement of faith—I can't; God can; I think I'll let him.

Rise, Part 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // April 24, 2022 Apr 25, 2022

The 12 Steps have helped people overcome hurts, habits, and hang-ups. These steps help us do the work of self-examination that leads to a deeper relationship with God and with others. In many ways it is a form of discipleship where we grow and are changed through practices.
Discover how the first step—admitting you are powerless—resonates with the story of God and Jesus found in the Bible and in the life of an early Christ follower named Paul.

Easter // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 17, 2022 Apr 18, 2022

According to Luke, Peter was "amazed" at what had happened at the empty tomb on Easter morning. What can we learn from Peter's amazement? Where in our lives do we need to see God at work and lean in closer? And how did Peter's experience transform him?

Overflowing, Part 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 10, 2022 Apr 04, 2022

As Jesus enters Jerusalem, the multitude of disciples begins to joyfully shout with praise. The Pharisees try to silence them, but Jesus responds: “I tell you, even if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” All of creation cries out with praise—that message rises above the noise, even if the oppressive powers want to silence it. As we begin our walk through Holy Week, let us ask: What can’t be silenced? What must be said? What things can we not stay quiet about? What is bubbling up that we need to give voice to—faith questions, apologies, issues of justice, truth-telling? As we go deeper into the story, the truth will soon be set free.

Overflowing, Part 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 3, 2022 Apr 04, 2022

God is brazen in turning tears into joy. Not so long after their brother, Lazarus, dies and is raised from the dead, Mary and Martha joyfully welcome Jesus into their home. Mary pours out the fragrant perfume (perhaps originally intended to anoint her brother’s body after death) and it fills the whole room. This is a brazen act of beauty. Beauty is resistance to death; beauty is an act of love. Her anointing of Jesus’ feet is also a public act of worship. Her faith does not hide; it is not frugal. It is embodied, broken open, and poured out. This isn’t a frugal faith—it is an abundant, extravagant faith. Mary’s act is also risky—she puts her full body into it, sort of like a protest. She exhibits a shameless and brazen faith.

Overflowing, Part 4 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // March 27, 2022 Mar 28, 2022

The word “prodigal” is commonly used to describe the son who squanders his inheritance. Yet, this parable invites us to consider how God’s grace is also prodigal—extravagant, lavish, illogical. This parable disrupts and expands our definitions of grace. Once again, grace is not earned. After wasting his resources, the younger son becomes destitute and returns home to his father, saying, “I am no longer worthy.” His father, instead, greets him with a celebration and the fatted calf. The older son, in contrast, has done everything “right”—he’s tried to perform, work hard, check all the boxes—but he forgets how to celebrate. How might you receive and extend prodigal grace?

Overflowing, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 20, 2022 Mar 21, 2022

Like the fig tree, you are worthy. You’re not a lost cause. You’re not a waste of resources. You deserve to be nurtured. Your fruit will come. Like the gardener, you are invited to see others with audacious hope and budding potential. The lesson of the fig tree invites us to unpack the source of our worth in a system and society that often measures worthiness by commerce, production, output, success, status, achievement, ethnicity, and/or gender identity. We might ask, “Can the fig tree have worth even if it never produces any figs?” What does that mean for us if the answer is “yes”?

Overflowing, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 13, 2022 Mar 14, 2022

God is our refuge. There is nothing that can separate you from God, or could keep God from gathering you in, protecting you fiercely. Jesus’ lament for Jerusalem is surprising given how he is treated by Jerusalem. And yet, no matter how much we try to separate ourselves from God, God will run to protect us. God’s love for us is fuller than we can imagine.

Overflowing, Part 1 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // March 6, 2022 Mar 07, 2022

Even in the desert, Jesus expands our definitions of a full life. It’s not the life the Tempter presents: a life defined by excess power, control, or reign. Excess is not abundance, but there is more. There is a fuller life we are called to live. Even in the midst of struggle, oppressive forces, hardship, and grief—God’s promises spill over, like the bounty of the first fruits from the ground. Even in the desert, you are called to the riverside to be washed by grace.

Resiliency, Part 5 // Diana Butler Bass // February 27, 2022 Feb 28, 2022

As we bring our series on Nehemiah to a close, we are honored to have award-winning author and expert in religious studies, Diana Butler Bass join us. Diana reflects on resiliency through the lens of gratitude—her latest book is “Grateful: The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks”—and how gratitude can flow out of a resilient life.

Resiliency, Part 4 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // February 20, 2022 Feb 21, 2022

In the pivotal eighth chapter of Nehemiah, we come to realize that the rebuilding of the bricks and mortar of the wall was not the only renovation project God intended for the people. In fact, it was not the most important one. God was more interested in a rebuilding of the hearts of the people, and a renewed commitment to faithfulness and integrity. The reformer Ezra stood at the WaterGate and began to read to the people the law of Moses, the sacred scripture of their ancestors, and called them to repentance.
We cannot have a resilient faith without a diligent and daily reading of the scriptures. Nor is it good enough to just read the scriptures for our own comfort. We also need to open ourselves up to the potential of the scriptures to convict us, to correct us, and to reorient us toward God’s purposes.

Resiliency, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // February 13, 2022 Feb 14, 2022

The third chapter of Nehemiah is tempting to gloss over and read quickly. On the surface, it reads like a trivial listing of random names who contributed various parts to rebuilding the wall. But the list also underscores a crucial principle in developing and maintaining resilience: none of us can do it alone. We need the companionship and partnership of others in the journey. In modern terms of spiritual practices, we need to be part of a supportive, faithful small group of Christians with whom we can learn, pray, study, and do life together. And when each of us do our part and remain committed in small groups, the body of Christ can accomplish far more than we can as individuals.

Resiliency, Part 2 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // February 6, 2022 Feb 07, 2022

Few characters in the Bible fit the role of antagonist quite like Sanballat and Tobiah. Shortly after Nehemiah and the people began construction on the wall, these two showed up to mock, criticize, and undermine their work. They ramped up their criticism in chapter 4, leading Nehemiah to double-down on his determination to inspire the people and get the job done. He offered this prayer to God in 4:4-5: “Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.”

When we are committed to doing what is right and living lives of integrity, opposition is bound to rise up. But God can help that criticism become fuel for us to remain steadfast and even more determined to stay true to God.

Resiliency, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // January 30, 2022 Jan 31, 2022

Much of Nehemiah’s prayer constitutes much of what one would expect: petition, confession, praise. But then there is this. At the end of the prayer, something happens to Nehemiah. God does something within his heart and his spirit to give him the courage to do something about the situation. The result of the prayer is that Nehemiah heard this message from God: “You, Nehemiah, are the answer to your own prayer.” God will give you the opportunity and the courage, and even the words to do something about your prayer concern.

Prayer can not only give us comfort and help us stand firm amid crisis. God can also use our prayers to prepare us to be part of the solution, and make a difference for others.

Joy, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // January 23, 2022 Jan 24, 2022

Perhaps the most famous verse in Philippians is from 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” The broader context is important to remember. Paul is not talking about doing something superhuman or in the realm of comic book superheroes. He is talking about living a faithful life despite the pressures and adversity of life. It begins with contentment, an acknowledgement that God has already and will always supply him with everything he needs. And just like God has demonstrated numerous times in the Bible, God gives us just enough to take one more step and go one more day, even when we feel like we can’t. No adversity is greater than God’s ability to provide for us.

Joy, Part 3 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // January 16, 2022 Jan 17, 2022

Paul’s most vivid and encouraging word in Philippians is in verses 13 and 14: “Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus.” The Bible sometimes uses the metaphor of a race to depict the spiritual life (Hebrews 12), but none is more vibrant than this one. We can imagine the spiritual life as a marathon, replete with hills and potholes and inclement conditions. But Paul calls us to “press on” and not give up. The source of that endurance comes from an “upward call,” which is to say that we should keep our head up and our eyes fixed on Jesus, who enables us to move on, one step at a time.

Joy, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // January 9, 2022 Jan 10, 2022

In this famous Christ hymn of the early church, Paul encourages us to have the mind of Jesus Christ. It is in the kenosis (self-emptying) of Jesus that he shows us that the way to true life is not through selfish ambition and rising to greatness, but through service, humility, and obedience. That can be a gateway to joy, as we are liberated from the needs of self and freed to love God and others. (thus fulfilling the great commandment). The central part of this text is verses 3 and 4. They are both necessary. It begins with the mindset of being selfless; it is expressed by assuming the best in others.

Joy, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // January 2, 2022 Jan 03, 2022

Paul begins with this encouragement in verse 6: “the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus.” For Paul, joy comes from the acknowledgment that since the beginning, God has been working in our lives, and will be relentless and reliable in working in us through every challenge of life. God is not only with us along the way, but is ahead of us at the finish line to see us through to the end.

Regifting—A Bad Rap/Wrap // Jeff Morton // December 26, 2021 Dec 27, 2021

Jeff Morton (Seminary Student and Chaplain at Tampa General Hospital) considers what our lives would look like if we re-gifted more often in our lives—specifically regifting forgiveness, encouragement, kindness, and presence.

Christmas Is Just The Beginning // The Rev. Magrey deVega // December 24, 2021 Dec 25, 2021

Everything has a beginning. And returning to explore those beginnings can help us understand what we are meant to be doing in the present. Tonight, we return to the beginning of the Christian story—the birth of Jesus—and discovered what it means to be full of grace and truth.

All The Good, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // December 19, 2021 Dec 20, 2021

In one wonderful, glory-filled instant, the shepherds went from lowly, overlooked citizens to ambassadors of good news and great joy. The Christmas story from Luke 2 reminds us that God sees more in us than we might see in ourselves, and empowers us to make a big difference for the kingdom. How might we as a church communicate the good news of Jesus? How might we reach out in invitation and love to those we know, to experience the love of God born at Christmas?

All The Good, Part 3 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // December 12, 2021 Dec 13, 2021

Step into Mary's story through this dramatic reflection on the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus. From the appearance of the angel Gabriel to sitting alone after Jesus' death and resurrection, reflect with us on the meaning of Jesus' life through the eyes of his mother's love.

All The Good, Part 2 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // December 5, 2021 Dec 06, 2021

The story of Zechariah—and his song in Luke 1:67-80—pray for a coming time of peace, when God will send a savior to the Israelites. This Christmas season it can be hard to feel at peace with all the to-dos and the busyness that comes with the season. Find out ways to discover peace this season.

All The Good, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // November 28, 2021 Nov 29, 2021

John the Baptist arrives in the Christmas story as one of the most unexpected guests. He's a nomad—a wandering prophet—telling people to repent and to straighten out their paths. It's bizarre! But what might this have to teach us about how to structure our preparation for the birth of Jesus this Advent? What can we learn from John about confession and about repentance? And how can that make Christmas more meaningful?

All In Together, Part 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // November 21, 2021 Nov 22, 2021

The opening of Paul’s letter to the church in Collossae offers a grand, sweeping vision of the majesty and supremacy of Jesus Christ. It is a comprehensive view of Christ’s lordship, encompassing not just the personal, but the communal and cosmic as well. On this Christ the King Sunday, we acknowledge that Jesus seeks to be lord of more than just our individual lives, but also seeks to right the systemic injustices of our community, heal the broken divisions within the body of Christ, and offer salvation and grace to the whole world. The title of the sermon “Christ at the Center” echoes the first and foremost core value of our church, and reminds us that if Christ is not at the center of our lives, then nothing else matters.

All In Together, Part 4 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // November 14, 2021 Nov 15, 2021

We know these are tough times for a lot of people. Many families are living with economic uncertainty. Affordable housing is hard to come by, and the “poor we have always among us,” as Jesus said. But such times are not new to the people of God, who throughout history have been called to focus less on their own needs and more on making an impact through their generosity and love.

This Sunday is Commitment Sunday, in which we give in gratitude for God’s goodness and in celebration of the impact of this church. But most importantly, it is a commitment to living beyond focusing on our own needs, so that we can be the hope that God is calling us to give to the world.

All In Together, Part 3 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // November 7, 2021 Nov 08, 2021

This is All Saints’ Sunday, traditionally the first Sunday of November, in which we join with Christians around the world in remembering the life, legacy, and impact of the saints who have gone before us. This text from Ephesians comes from the lectionary, and Paul reminds us of the blessed privilege it is to be a follower of Jesus. In Christ, we have been given a glorious inheritance of God’s love and grace, which has been handed down to us from our spiritual ancestors. It is now our turn to exhibit that same faithfulness, so that we can both experience and share the hope of God with the world.

All In Together, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // October 31, 2021 Nov 01, 2021

In this moving passage from 1 Chronicles, David leads the Israelites through the power of his own generous example. God called the people to gather together the materials necessary for the building of the grand Temple, which David’s son Solomon would be entrusted to construct. The lavish, ornate materials necessary to build the Temple would come from the Israelites themselves. In other words, the Israelites already had all that was necessary to build the Temple; they just needed to surrender it over to God in an act of generosity.
God is calling our church to do amazing and mighty things in the future. What is amazing is that God has already given this church the means to accomplish our calling. It is simply in the wallets and hands of our people, awaiting an obedient and generous offering of our resources over to God. We have everything we need. We just need to give it to God.

All In Together, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // October 24, 2021 Oct 25, 2021

Paul’s letter to the Galatians offered practical guidance on how to live in peace and harmony despite the cultural forces that would pull the apart. The instructions build to the fifth and final chapter, in which Paul boldly and plainly asserts that each Christian can play a role in building the kingdom simply by watching their own behavior: avoid the desires of the flesh, and live out the fruit of the spirit.

We remember that whenever the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the New Testament, it is never solely for the benefit of an individual; it is always for the benefit of the community. The fruit of the spirit – and specifically, generosity – is always for the purpose of building each other up and extending the reach of God’s love to more people.

Missions Celebration, Go . . . Again // Derrick Scott III // October 17, 2021 Oct 18, 2021

The work of missions is tiring, difficult work at times. You may feel exhausted and worn out, in need of encouragement. Or maybe you are wondering what God has called you to do in the world. Derrick Scott from Campus City to Wesley in Jacksonville, FL encourages us to embody the Holy Spirit, practice repentance, and live into our ordination as people called to serve God.

All In, Part 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // October 10, 2021 Oct 11, 2021

This is simultaneously the easiest and hardest of the Great Commandment. It is one thing to love God, which we can render easier in our minds as simpler to do. But to love someone we can see, with consequences that we can more readily experience, that can be harder. Especially if that person is, in our minds, harder to love. But there is a reason that this is the ultimate conclusion of the Great Commandment. Loving others as ourselves is not only easier, but possible, when we love God with our whole being. It is the fruit that we can bear when our heart, soul, mind, and strength are right with God.

All In, Part 4 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // October 3, 2021 Oct 04, 2021

Paul’s letter to the Philippians tells us that whatever we do, we should do it for the glory of God. Every action, every moment of rest, every initiative we take, ought to be done through the filter of loving God and others. To do otherwise is to miss the mark, and it might even mean sin. The beauty of the Great Commandment is that it understands that none of these four aspects of our being (heart, soul, mind, and strength) can be offered to God in isolation. To give God our whole activity, it requires a matter of the will (mind) and purpose (soul) and passion (heart). God really requires (and deserves) everything we’ve got.

All In, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 26, 2021 Sep 27, 2021

Faith and reason are not contradictory. Religion and science, long considered opposites, are actually complementary. As Christians in the Wesleyan tradition, we believe that “reason” is one of three primary ways we interact with and understand the authority of scripture. Loving God with our minds also means allowing room for doubt and questions. Our minds, after all, have a finite capacity in terms of understanding an infinite God. So embracing mystery can be a worshipful acknowledgement of the grandeur and majesty of God.

All In, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 19, 2021 Sep 20, 2021

We often think about soul as something separate from our bodies, but what if is more than that? Explore how to fully reflect the breath of God in the way we live, finding alignment with the way and will of God.

All In, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 12, 2021 Sep 13, 2021

When the Bible refers to a person’s heart, it is not just talking about the muscular organ in our bodies that pumps blood. Kardia is the Greek word for heart and refers to a person’s whole being. In a biblical sense, giving God our heart means allowing God to work in the most private and protected areas of our lives. It also means surrendering to God our honest and raw emotions, both the positive and negative feelings, but also the deeper ones like passion and longing. Ultimately, to trust God with our innermost emotions is to give God the whole of our being.

Questions Jesus Asked, Week 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 5, 2021 Sep 06, 2021

We conclude our series “Questions Jesus Asked” with the very first question Jesus asked in the gospel of John. In this passage, some followers of John the Baptist expressed an interest in learning more about Jesus, whose ministry John had been preparing the world to receive. The disciples of John approached Jesus with curiosity, humility, and openness, and discovered that Jesus was ready to meet them right where they were.

Likewise, God is honored by our earnest seeking, and we can approach the faith wherever we are, without having to have it all figured out. We can have our questions, doubts, and hurts from past faith experiences healed and transformed by the grace of God.

Questions Jesus Asked, Week 5 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // August 29, 2021 Aug 29, 2021

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you… are you kidding me, Jesus? But the truth, Jesus is not kidding. Indeed, he is prescribing an ethic of generosity for Christians living in a hostile world. Hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we ponder the question: Who will you love?

Questions Jesus Asked, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // August 22, 2021 Aug 22, 2021

This was one of Jesus’ most famous and most important questions: What does it profit a person to gain the whole world but lose their soul? The answer, of course, is that nothing is worth compromising one’s faith, integrity, or conviction. God desires nothing less of us than the full and complete surrender to God’s will. Anything we hold onto for ourselves will not last. But everything we yield over to God will make an eternal impact in the countless lives who come after us. And who doesn’t want to touch eternity in this way?

Questions Jesus Asked, Week 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // August 15, 2021 Aug 15, 2021

In Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount, he offers the same teaching as that in Matthew: Do not worry. God’s got this. If God is able to care for the flowers and the birds, who do not worry one day to the next about their provision and security, “how much more” does God care about us? It is the promise within that famous equivocation that we often take for granted. Flowers and birds might not worry because they are not conscious of the choice they have to make not to worry. We, however, have a choice. And rather than choose to worry, we can surrender ourselves to God and know that God is always by our side, providing for our every need.

Questions Jesus Asked, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // August 8, 2021 Aug 08, 2021

This passage is Matthew’s version of Jesus calming the storm. As the disciples were cowering in fear over the wind and the waves, Jesus seemingly rebukes them for their lack of faith. If we are honest, we would have very much the same reaction that the disciples did. We evaluate with our senses the conditions of the world, and come to a reasonable conclusion about the threats that are present around us. But Jesus calls us to extend our faith past our senses, and take heart in the presence of God. Trusting in God’s presence and power enables us to overcome our fears and alleviate our anxieties.

Questions Jesus Asked, Week 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // August 1, 2021 Aug 01, 2021

The Transfiguration of Jesus serves as the hinge or pivot point in Mark’s gospel. There are the teachings and miracles of Jesus that take place before then, followed by the predictions of Jesus’ death and promise of resurrection that take place after. Directly preceding the Transfiguration is an important conversation between Jesus and the disciples, whom Jesus asks about public opinion. Only Peter appears to answer the question correctly: “You are the Messiah.” That response is the key in Mark to understanding fully what Jesus came to earth to do, and is the gateway to eternal life. It is also the most important question we have to answer in our own lives.

The Boy Who Would Be King, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // July 25, 2021 Jul 25, 2021

David is nearing the end of his life, and he recognizes that because of his warlike nature, God has forbidden him from building the Temple. His final words therefore not only seal his achievements and summarize his life, they also serve as a transition to Solomon and his reign. More significantly, in the next chapter, David decides to build an altar of praise and confession to God, praying for an end to the plague. That act of contrition cements that location as the very place where the plague would stop and where the Temple would eventually be built. This story reminds us that God always has the bigger picture in mind. Where we see defeat and despair, God sees resurrection. Where we see an end, God sees a transition into a bright future. Where we see only the limits of our existence, God sees the enduring legacy that we can leave behind.

The Boy Who Would Be King, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // July 18, 2021 Jul 18, 2021

The very first thing we learn about David is that he is a worshiper. From his days out in the field to his final years on the throne, he worshiped God. Worship should be a whole-life expression for us, too. Many of the Psalms are attributed to him, and in them we see the intersection between human pathos (the breadth of the human experience) and divine pathos (the purpose and will of God). In 2 Samuel 6, we see David’s actions in relation to the entrance of the ark of the covenant. He exhibited a free-spirited, wholehearted praise of God, caring little of what people thought of him. His primary focus was on pleasing and thanking God. That can be a model for how we come to worship and express our praise to God.

The Boy Who Would Be King, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // July 11, 2021 Jul 11, 2021

David’s hubris and his inability to practice self-control led to his greatest downfall. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah. But his downfall began even before these events occurred. It began with his arrogance, his delusional belief that he was the source of his accomplishments and could therefore acquire and achieve anything he desired. He was so blinded by his delusion that Nathan’s indictment of him caught him completely off guard. Sin is like that. It convinces us that we are better than we are, and lures us away from vigilance and trust in God.

The Boy Who Would Be King, Week 1 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // July 4, 2021 Jul 04, 2021

Every quintessential hero story has a “rite of passage” moment, in which the hero explodes onto the scene with a captivating, high-profile achievement. This is what the story of David and Goliath is. It is a story of good vs. evil, underdog vs. oppressor, hope vs. despair. David was able to conquer Goliath because of God’s presence and power. But even before that, he exhibited bravery based on his remembrance of what God had done for and through him in the past. We can learn how to conquer all that threatens us, by trusting in the same God who saw us through in the past.

Comeback: Faith to Move Forward, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 27, 2021 Jun 27, 2021

Peter is one of the more notable figures in the New Testament, in part because he represents us so well. Like him, we are impatient, ambitious, and think more highly of ourselves than we ought. It often got him into trouble. John’s gospel ends with a powerful, private conversation between Jesus and Peter, in which Peter gets a second chance. As a result, he preached the sermon of his life and became a pivotal figure in the birth and development of the church.

Comeback: Faith to Move Forward, Week 3 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // June 20, 2021 Jun 20, 2021

No person had it worse in the Bible than Job. His story does not fit cleanly into the chronology of the Bible. He is a kind of helpless pawn between God and the forces of evil, maybe in a way that we sometimes feel so helpless. But even though Job’s world fell apart, God’s presence and power became more real to him in the middle of his suffering. Job teaches us how to trust in God.

Comeback: Faith to Move Forward, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 13, 2021 Jun 13, 2021

Since birth, Moses was fighting against the odds. He narrowly escaped murder by Pharaoh because of the sacrifice of his family. He lived a life of privilege but had to suppress his ethnic heritage. After committing murder, he was a lost soul on the run. But God found him, called him, and believed in him. The story of Moses is a reminder that each of us are part of God’s grand design. All we have to do is trust that God will help us do our part.

Comeback: Faith to Move Forward, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 6, 2021 Jun 06, 2021

Few people had it worse in the Bible than Joseph. He was despised by his brothers because of his father’s favoritism. He was cast from the family into slavery, framed by a high official’s wife, cast into prison, and long forgotten by his family. But Joseph not only persevered; he maintained his faith and integrity. He is a model to us of how to keep going, no matter what hardship we are facing.

Trinity Sunday // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 30, 2021 May 30, 2021

The Sunday after Pentecost is traditionally known as Trinity Sunday, the only holy day of the year named after a doctrine of the church, rather than a biblical event. The Holy Spirit which touched the earth on Pentecost is still active in our lives and throughout the world today. But for many, the Holy Spirit is the most mysterious member of the Trinity, one we often overlook when it comes to thinking about God. We will discover together new understandings and appreciation of the Holy Spirit based on John 16, in which Jesus describes how the Spirit “guides us into truth” and prompts us to “glorify Jesus Christ."

A New Creation, Pentecost Sunday // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 23, 2021 May 23, 2021

When the Holy Spirit touched down 2,000 years ago, it sparked a brush fire of energy and excitement that continues to draw people to follow Jesus from all over the world. The new creation that God is doing is nothing less than the entire redemption of this whole creation back to its originally intended order. And when we live into the vision of Hyde Park United Methodist, we participate in the work that God is doing all around the world.

A New Creation, Week 6 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // May 16, 2021 May 16, 2021

Because we are connected to God, we can be connected to each other. In a time when we feel pulled apart from each other due to divisions and disagreements, we are called to lean into our connection. Together, we can be an interdependent, interconnected community of people, strengthening and encouraging each other.

A New Creation, Week 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 9, 2021 May 09, 2021

John says that belief in Jesus brings us everlasting life. It is a kind of life that isn’t relegated to the time after we die. It is something we can begin living here and now. We can live out the abundant, everlasting life now, because of the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. How might we be open to God’s grace, which fashions us to be more like Jesus every day.

A New Creation, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 2, 2021 May 02, 2021

We do not face life alone. No matter what we go through, we are connected to God just as a branch is connected to the vine. We only have to be open to the work of God in our lives, and participate in the disciplines that strengthen and nourish our relationship with God. Doing so enables us to bear the fruit of goodness and beauty that the world needs.

A New Creation, Week 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // April 25, 2021 Apr 25, 2021

Despite all that grips us with fear and grief, we can take solace in Jesus, who serves as our “Good Shepherd.” Together, we’ll learn how to hear his voice and lean into his comfort and protection to face all that threatens us.

A New Creation, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 18, 2021 Apr 18, 2021

The epistle of 1 John emphasizes right behavior, which complements the gospel of John’s emphasis on belief. Together, we get a well-rounded view of the kind of life that God wants us to live. Today, we will be looking at 1 John 3, in which we hear the importance of love as the center of our being. And we’ll discover the significance of what it means to be a child of God.

A New Creation, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 11, 2021 Apr 11, 2021

After the miracle of Easter, there were still some of the disciples who did not believe that Jesus was really resurrected. They needed more proof.

Maybe you do too.

Cultivating Hope in the Garden // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 4, 2021 Apr 04, 2021

After six weeks of cultivating Christian character qualities and letting go of obstacles to faith, we join this Sunday in the celebration of the resurrection. Easter reminds us that in Christ, sin and death are not the last word, as God has conquered the grave and raised Jesus from the dead. Join us in remembering the Easter story, to make it a living reality in our lives today.

Cultivating & Letting Go, Week 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 28, 2021 Mar 28, 2021

At the Last Supper, in the Upper Room, Jesus modeled servanthood for his disciples. Discover how cultivating servanthood and letting go of ourselves can bring us joy.

Cultivating & Letting Go, Week 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 21, 2021 Mar 21, 2021

Mary’s act of was one of such complete self-abandonment that it would mark her in the community for the rest of her life. They would never mention her name again without a reference—by story, by gesture, or by innuendo—to this day. Mary’s gift of perfume was large, but not to be compared with the gift of herself.

Cultivating & Letting Go, Week 4 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // March 14, 2021 Mar 14, 2021

The reality is that both brothers live inside of us, the responsible one and the prodigal one. It is an uneasy coexistence made worse by the reality that neither is perfect, and that both make real mistakes. The good news is that we also get to hear the truth: God is waiting to come running down the road and welcome us back. Dutiful son, prodigal son, or a little bit of both … God knows us already, and God can’t wait for us to come home.

Cultivating & Letting Go, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 7, 2021 Mar 07, 2021

We think we have all the answers. But what do we do when unexplained suffering becomes part of our story. How do we respond and how do we let go of the uncertainty suffering brings?

Cultivating & Letting Go, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Feb. 28, 2021 Feb 28, 2021

The antidote to fear is hope. Discover how Jesus teaches us to be hope-filled people of faith.

Cultivating & Letting Go, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Feb. 21, 2021 Feb 21, 2021

The Scripture for this Sunday contains the story of Jesus’ temptation by the devil. Jesus essentially endures a season of Lent in his 40 days in the wilderness. How does this time prepare him for his ministry? How might we, too, be shaped and emboldened in this Lenten season?

The Greatest Sermon Ever, Week 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Feb. 14, 2021 Feb 14, 2021

Jesus gives us the keys to living the wise life, rather than the foolish one. It begins with being non-judgmental, and concludes with building our lives on Jesus.

The Greatest Sermon Ever, Week 5 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Feb. 7, 2021 Feb 07, 2021

We are consumed with worry about things that, in light of eternity, really do not matter. Once we release our priorities to God, we are more easily able to release our worries to God. Therein likes the power of something like the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer, which puts into proper perspective who we are, to whom we belong, and all that we have.

The Greatest Sermon Ever, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Jan. 31, 2021 Jan 31, 2021

The Lord’s Prayer as we know it today is drawn from a few different gospels, and has variations among different faith traditions. Praying the Lord’s Prayer draws us together in communion with God and community with each other. It properly sets the framework of prayer as being first an act of praise to God before it is an act of petition. It acknowledges our faults and confesses our sins, and notes the impact that our behavior has on others. And it ends with a claim on hope, and the certainty of God’s abiding presence with us. The Lord’s Prayer gives us guidance on how to make balanced, holistic prayer a way of life, not just a thing to recite.

The Greatest Sermon Ever, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Jan. 24, 2021 Jan 24, 2021

Jesus calls out those who flaunt their charity and their piety in front of others. They need to be governed by an inner motivation that is right with God, a “hidden holiness” that is sourced from a pure heart. Our external behavior needs to be consistent with our inner motivation.

The Greatest Sermon Ever, Week 2 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // Jan. 17, 2021 Jan 17, 2021

These verses contain some of the most unsettling and radical ideas in the entire Sermon on the Mount. Jesus takes Old Testament commandments about murder, adultery, divorce, oath-keeping, and revenge and takes them one step further. It is not enough, according to Jesus, to simply keep the letter of the law. That is just the starting point. To truly fulfill the law, we need to pay attention to what is in our hearts, our motivations, and be governed by a spirit of love.

The Greatest Sermon Ever, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Jan. 10, 2021 Jan 10, 2021

Few passages in the gospels are as iconic as the Beatitudes, the opening verses of the Sermon on the Mount. The key, repeating word is “Blessed.”. These are also radical inversions of contemporary wisdom, in which we are unsettled (and even disturbed) by what Jesus is calling us to. This Sunday, we will go through each of the beatitudes, and discover their power in and through us.

“It’s a New Year! Thank God!” // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Jan. 3, 2021 Jan 03, 2021

As we celebrate the new year, help us grieve all we have lost and left behind in 2020, anticipate the year ahead, and guide us in recommitting our hearts to God.

“Amen, Hallelujah!” // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Dec. 27, 2020 Dec 27, 2020

As we draw the year to a close, we also conclude our amazing, year-long journey through the Bible. The book of Revelation reminds us that by looking back and looking forward, we can gain the hope, courage, and resilience to live fully in the present.

Living Christmas, Christmas Eve // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Dec. 24, 2020 Dec 26, 2020

Christmas is the incarnation of a paradox—Jesus—fully human and fully divine. Two seemingly incompatible ideas held together in one person. Jesus models a way of being that embraces the tensions and messiness of our lives.

Living Christmas, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Dec. 20, 2020 Dec 20, 2020

Living with Love means sharing the gift of God’s love, through faith in Jesus Christ. We love God and others because of the truth of God’s love revealed to us in Jesus Christ. Failure to believe in Jesus will lead to a lesser expression of love, even hatred and division. And loving God means taking the truth of our faith and making it impactful on the lives of others.

Drive-Thru Nativity Narration - Dec. 18 & 19, 2020 Dec 17, 2020

Join us from 6p - 8p on Friday, Dec 18 and Saturday, Dec. 19 at our Hyde Park campus (500 W Platt Street, Tampa, FL 33606) for a drive-thru nativity featuring our youth and children's ministries.
Be sure to pause and play the narration as you drive through each scene.

Living Christmas, Week 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Dec. 13, 2020 Dec 13, 2020

Living with joy means seeing suffering and tribulation as opportunities, not simply as challenges. Hardship happens to all of us. What should distinguish us as followers of Jesus is our response to that suffering, and James offers some surprising advice: consider suffering as an opportunity for joy. How? Because hardship can make us stronger.

Living Christmas, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Dec. 6, 2020 Dec 06, 2020

Living with peace does not mean avoiding conflict, but holding one’s truth lovingly. The two key points in this passage are to pray for everyone and live in God’s truth. Paul was writing to Timothy in a time when there were many false teachers, and such heresy, blasphemy, and idolatry were a significant threat to new Christians and leaders in the church.

Living Christmas, Week 1 // The Rev. Dr. Sally Campbell-Evans // Nov. 29, 2020 Nov 29, 2020

The practical message here comes from verses 16-19: “Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Don’t suppress the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians is one of the earliest epistles from Paul, and therefore one of the first New Testament books written. It emerged relatively soon after the birth of the church, when the first Christians were living in hope and expectation of the imminent return of Jesus.

Step Into This Story, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Nov. 22, 2020 Nov 22, 2020

In his letter, Paul reminds members of the church in Ephesus to be characterized by unity, because there is unity in the Godhead. It also reminds us that even today, we can be part of the great unfolding story of God’s love. On this Commitment Sunday, we will be sharing our Estimate of Giving Cards as a tangible and practical way for us to “each do our part.” Regardless of the size of our estimate, know that together, in unity, God can use us to make a profound impact on the world.

Step Into This Story, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Nov. 15, 2020 Nov 15, 2020

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians addressed the significant issues of conflict that plagued that early congregation. It was part of a wider, cosmopolitan community marked by a melting pot of ideologies and perspectives. In his letter, Paul continually returned to the quality of love, which to him was central to the character of the Christian. We remember that because of God’s love, we can respond in generosity and self-sacrifice for the world. And one of the ways that we can grow deeper in our commitment to God is by giving our money to God out of a sense of love and gratitude.

Step Into This Story, Week 1 // The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Weems // Nov. 8, 2020 Nov 08, 2020

Ancestry, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Nov. 1, 2020 Nov 01, 2020

This Sunday, we will remember those in our congregation who passed away in the past year. This year, we remember them in the scriptural context of Acts 15. The new church had reached a crossroads of identity, in which it had to decide whether to adhere strictly to Jewish custom and practice, or make allowance for Gentiles to follow Jesus without becoming cultural Jews. As we remember the saints of the church, we see in them reminders of how they modeled such love and grace, and remind us that we can be the same.

Ancestry, Week 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Oct. 25, 2020 Oct 25, 2020

The Jesus Story, Week 8 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Oct. 18, 2020 Oct 18, 2020

The Jesus Story, Week 7 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Oct. 11, 2020 Oct 11, 2020

The Jesus Story, Week 6 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // Oct. 4, 2020 Oct 04, 2020

The Jesus Story, Week 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 27, 2020 Sep 27, 2020

The Jesus Story, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 20, 2020 Sep 20, 2020

The Jesus Story, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 13, 2020 Sep 13, 2020

The Jesus Story, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 6, 2020 Sep 06, 2020

The Jesus Story, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Aug. 30, 2020 Aug 30, 2020

Faith When It Counts, Week 4 // The Rev. Dr. Gary Mason // Aug. 23, 2020 Aug 23, 2020

Faith When It Counts, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Aug. 16, 2020 Aug 16, 2020

Faith When It Counts, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Aug. 9, 2020 Aug 09, 2020

Faith When It Counts, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Aug. 2, 2020 Aug 02, 2020

Hope for Hard Times, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // July 26, 2020 Jul 26, 2020

Hope for Hard Times, Week 3 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // July 19, 2020 Jul 19, 2020

Hope for Hard Times, Week 2 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // July 12, 2020 Jul 12, 2020

Hope for Hard Times, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // July 5, 2020 Jul 05, 2020

The Wise Life, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 28, 2020 Jun 28, 2020

The Wise Life, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 21, 2020 Jun 22, 2020

The Wise Life, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 14, 2020 Jun 15, 2020

The Wise Life, Week 1 // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // June 7, 2020 Jun 07, 2020

God's Favorite Playlist, Week 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 31, 2020 May 31, 2020

God's Favorite Playlist, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 24, 2020 May 24, 2020

God's Favorite Playlist, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 17, 2020 May 17, 2020

God's Favorite Playlist, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 10, 2020 May 10, 2020

God's Favorite Playlist, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 3, 2020 May 03, 2020

A Spiritual Makeover, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 26, 2020 Apr 26, 2020

A Spiritual Makeover, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 19, 2020 Apr 19, 2020

Easter Has Not Been Cancelled // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 12, 2020 Apr 12, 2020

Cross Your Heart, Week 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 5, 2020 Apr 05, 2020

Cross Your Heart, Week 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Mar. 29, 2020 Mar 29, 2020

Cross Your Heart, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Mar. 22, 2020 Mar 23, 2020

Cross Your Heart, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Mar. 15, 2020 Mar 15, 2020

Cross Your Heart, Week 2 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Mar. 8, 2020 Mar 08, 2020

Cross Your Heart, Week 2 // Ryan Hobson // Mar. 8, 2020 Mar 08, 2020

Cross Your Heart, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Mar. 1, 2020 Mar 01, 2020

Cross Your Heart, Week 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Mar. 1, 2020 Mar 01, 2020

Road Rules, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Feb. 23, 2020 Feb 23, 2020

Road Rules, Week 4 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // Feb. 23, 2020 Feb 23, 2020

Road Rules, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Feb. 16, 2020 Feb 16, 2020

Road Rules, Week 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Feb. 16, 2020 Feb 16, 2020

Road Rules, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Feb. 9, 2020 Feb 09, 2020

Road Rules, Week 2 // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // Feb. 9, 2020 Feb 09, 2020

Road Rules, Week 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Feb. 2, 2020 Feb 02, 2020

Road Rules, Week 1 // Nicki Taylor // Feb. 2, 2020 Feb 02, 2020

The Story Begins, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Jan. 26, 2020 Jan 26, 2020

The Story Begins, Week 4 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Jan. 26, 2020 Jan 26, 2020

The Story Begins, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Jan 19, 2020 Jan 20, 2020

The Story Begins, Week 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Jan 19, 2020 Jan 20, 2020

The Story Begins, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Jan. 12, 2020 Jan 13, 2020

The Story Begins, Week 2 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Jan. 12, 2020 Jan 13, 2020

The Story Begins, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Jan. 5, 2020 Jan 06, 2020

The Story Begins, Week 1 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // Jan. 5, 2020 Jan 06, 2020

Almost Christmas // The Rev. Jennifer Potter Buff // Dec. 29, 2019 Dec 30, 2019

Almost Christmas // The Rev. Amy Greene // Dec. 29, 2019 Dec 30, 2019

Altogether Christmas // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Dec. 24, 2019 Dec 27, 2019

Altogether Christmas // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Dec. 24, 2019 Dec 27, 2019

Almost Christmas, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Dec. 22, 2019 Dec 23, 2019

Almost Christmas, Week 4 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // Dec. 22, 2019 Dec 23, 2019

Almost Christmas, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Dec. 15, 2019 Dec 15, 2019

Almost Christmas, Week 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Dec. 15, 2019 Dec 15, 2019

Almost Christmas, Week 2 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // Dec. 8, 2019 Dec 09, 2019

Almost Christmas, Week 2 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Dec. 8, 2019 Dec 09, 2019

Almost Christmas, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Dec. 1, 2019 Dec 02, 2019

Almost Christmas, Week 1 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // Dec. 1, 2019 Dec 01, 2019

Christ the King Sunday // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // Nov. 24, 2019 Nov 25, 2019

Christ the King Sunday // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Nov. 24, 2019 Nov 25, 2019

Great Things, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Nov. 17, 2019 Nov 18, 2019

Great Things, Week 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Nov. 17, 2019 Nov 17, 2019

Great Things, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Nov. 10, 2019 Nov 12, 2019

Great Things, Week 2 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Nov. 10, 2019 Nov 10, 2019

Great Things, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Nov. 3, 2019 Nov 04, 2019

Great Things, Week 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Nov. 3, 2019 Nov 04, 2019

Missions Celebration // Pat & Melenda Edmiston // Oct. 27, 2019 Oct 28, 2019

Missions Celebration // The Rev. Clarke Campbell-Evans // Oct. 27, 2019 Oct 28, 2019

The Bright Side, Week 3 // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // Oct. 20, 2019 Oct 20, 2019

The Bright Side, Week 3 // Dr. John Dormois // Oct. 20, 2019 Oct 20, 2019

The Bright Side, Week 2 // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // Oct. 13, 2019 Oct 13, 2019

The Bright Side, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Oct. 13, 2019 Oct 13, 2019

The Bright Side, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Oct. 6, 2019 Oct 08, 2019

The Bright Side, Week 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Oct. 6, 2019 Oct 08, 2019

Get a GRIP, Week 4 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Sept. 29, 2019 Sep 30, 2019

Get a GRIP, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 29, 2019 Sep 30, 2019

Get a GRIP, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 22, 2019 Sep 22, 2019

Get a GRIP, Week 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Sept. 22, 2019 Sep 22, 2019

Get a GRIP, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 15, 2019 Sep 15, 2019

Get a GRIP, Week 2 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Sept. 15, 2019 Sep 15, 2019

Get a GRIP, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 8, 2019 Sep 08, 2019

Get a GRIP, Week 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Sept. 8, 2019 Sep 08, 2019

Hall of Faith: Surrounded by the Faithful // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 1, 2019 Sep 01, 2019

Hall of Faith: Surrounded by the Faithful // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // Sept. 1, 2019 Sep 01, 2019

Hall of Faith: Moses // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Aug. 25, 2019 Aug 25, 2019

Hall of Faith: Moses // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // Aug. 25, 2019 Aug 25, 2019

Hall of Faith: Abraham // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Aug. 18, 2019 Aug 18, 2019

Hall of Faith: Abraham // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // Aug. 18, 2019 Aug 18, 2019

Hall of Faith: Noah // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Aug. 11, 2019 Aug 11, 2019

Faith at the Movies, Black Panther // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Aug. 4, 2019 Aug 04, 2019

Black Panther

Faith at the Movies, Won't You be my Neighbor? // The Rev. Magrey deVega // July 28, 2019 Jul 28, 2019

Faith at the Movies, Won't You be my Neighbor? // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // July 28, 2019 Jul 28, 2019

Faith at the Movies, Mary Poppins Returns // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // July 21, 2019 Jul 21, 2019

Faith at the Movies, Mary Poppins Returns// The Rev. Magrey deVega // July 21, 2019 Jul 21, 2019

Faith at the Movies, The Little Prince // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // July 14, 2019 Jul 14, 2019

Faith at the Movies, The Little Prince // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // July 14, 2019 Jul 14, 2019

That's Not in the Bible, Week 4 // the Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // July 7, 2019 Jul 08, 2019

That's Not in the Bible, Week 4 // the Rev. Magrey deVega // July 7, 2019 Jul 08, 2019

That's Not in the Bible, Week 3 // the Rev. Justin LaRosa // June 30, 2019 Jul 01, 2019

That's Not in the Bible, Week 3 // the Rev. Magrey deVega // June 30, 2019 Jul 01, 2019

That's Not in the Bible, Week 3 // Nicki Taylor // June 30, 2019 Jul 01, 2019

That's Not in the Bible, Week 2 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // June 23, 2019 Jun 23, 2019

That's Not in the Bible, Week 2 // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // June 23, 2019 Jun 23, 2019

That's Not in the Bible, Week 1 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // June 16, 2019 Jun 16, 2019

That's Not in the Bible, Week 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // June 16, 2019 Jun 16, 2019

Surprise! Week 7 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // June 9, 2019 Jun 09, 2019

Surprise! Week 7 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 9, 2019 Jun 09, 2019

Surprise! Week 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 2, 2019 Jun 02, 2019

Surprise! Week 6 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // June 2, 2019 Jun 02, 2019

Surprise! Week 5 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // May 26, 2019 May 26, 2019

Surprise! Week 5 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // May 26, 2019 May 26, 2019

Surprise! Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 19, 2019 May 20, 2019

Surprise! Week 4 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // May 19, 2019 May 19, 2019

Surprise! Week 4 // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // May 19, 2019 May 19, 2019

Surprise! Week 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // May 12, 2019 May 14, 2019

Surprise! Week 3 // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // May 12, 2019 May 14, 2019

Surprise! Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 5, 2019 May 06, 2019

Surprise! Week 2 // Nicki Taylor // May 5, 2019 May 06, 2019

Surprise! Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 28, 2019 Apr 28, 2019

Surprise! Week 1 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // April 28, 2019 Apr 28, 2019

Easter Sunday // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 21, 2019 Apr 21, 2019

Easter Sunday // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // April 21, 2019 Apr 21, 2019

Easter Sunday // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // April 21, 2019 Apr 21, 2019

Get Unstuck, Week 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 14, 2019 Apr 16, 2019

Get Unstuck, Week 6 // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // April 14, 2019 Apr 16, 2019

Get Unstuck, Week 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 7, 2019 Apr 08, 2019

Get Unstuck, Week 5 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // April 7, 2019 Apr 08, 2019

Get Unstuck, Week 4 // Rev. Justin LaRosa // March 31, 2019 Apr 01, 2019

Get Unstuck, Week 4 // Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // March 31, 2019 Apr 01, 2019

Get Unstuck, Week 3 // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // March 24, 2019 Mar 26, 2019

Get Unstuck, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 24, 2019 Mar 26, 2019

Get Unstuck, Week 2 // Nicki Taylor // March 17, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

Get Unstuck, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 17, 2019 Mar 18, 2019

Get Unstuck, Week 1 // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // March 10, 2019 Mar 13, 2019

Get Unstuck, Week 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // March 10, 2019 Mar 13, 2019

Get Unstuck, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 10, 2019 Mar 13, 2019

No More Excuses // Jack Morantes // March 3, 2019 Mar 04, 2019

Forward Together, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Feb. 24, 2019 Feb 25, 2019

Forward Together, Week 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Feb. 17, 2019 Feb 18, 2019

Forward Together, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Feb. 17, 2019 Feb 18, 2019

Widen // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Feb. 10, 2019 Feb 11, 2019

Widen // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // Feb. 10, 2019 Feb 11, 2019

Widen // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Feb. 10, 2019 Feb 11, 2019

Deepen // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Feb. 3, 2019 Feb 04, 2019

Deepen // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Feb. 3, 2019 Feb 04, 2019

Love Your Enemies? Really? // Nicki Taylor // Jan. 27, 2019 Jan 28, 2019

Love Your Enemies? Really? // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Jan. 27, 2019 Jan 28, 2019

Love Your Enemies? Really? // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Jan. 27, 2019 Jan 28, 2019

Blessed to Be a Blessing // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Jan 20, 2019 Jan 20, 2019

“Blessed to Be a Blessing“ Luke 6:17-26

Called and Sent // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // Jan. 13, 2019 Jan 13, 2019

Called and Sent // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Jan. 13, 2019 Jan 13, 2019

Called and Sent // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Jan. 13, 2019 Jan 13, 2019

“Called and Sent” Luke 5:1-11

The Hometown Boy // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Jan. 6, 2019 Jan 06, 2019

“The Hometown Boy” Luke 4:14-30

What Light Looks Like // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Dec. 30, 2018 Dec 30, 2018

Christmas Eve // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Dec 24. 2018 Dec 24, 2018

This is Love, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Dec. 23, 2018 Dec 23, 2018

What Love Looks Like

This Is Love, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Dec 16, 2018 Dec 16, 2018

“What Peace Looks Like” John 14:27-31

This Is Love, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Dec 9, 2018 Dec 09, 2018

“What Hope Looks Like” Romans 5:1-5

This Is Love, Week 1 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // Dec. 2, 2018 Dec 02, 2018

“You Are God’s Love” 1 John 4:7-12

Remarkable, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Nov. 25, 2018 Nov 25, 2018

“God’s Remarkable Kingdom” John 18:33-37

Remarkable, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Nov. 18, 2018 Nov 18, 2018

"Remarkable Gratitude" John 18:33-37

Remarkable, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Nov. 11, 2018 Nov 13, 2018

“Remarkable Generosity” Mark 12:38-44

Remarkable, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Nov. 4, 2018 Nov 04, 2018

The Upside-Down Life, Week 5 // The Rev. Joe McColligan // Oct. 28, 2018 Oct 28, 2018

The Upside Down Life, Week 5 // The Rev. Pam Carter // Oct. 28, 2018 Oct 28, 2018

Matthew 25:31-46 Missions Sunday

The Upside-Down Life, Week 4 // The Rev. Kim Uchimura // Oct. 21, 2018 Oct 21, 2018

“Where the Blind Can See” Mark 10:46-52

The Upside-Down Life , Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Oct. 14, 2018 Oct 14, 2018

“Where the Least are Greatest” Mark 10:35-45

The Upside-Down Life, Week 2 // The Rev. Kim Uchimura // Oct. 7, 2018 Oct 07, 2018

The Upside-Down Life, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Oct. 7, 2018 Oct 07, 2018

Where the Last are First
Mark 10:17-31

The Upside-Down Life, Week 1 // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // Sept. 30, 2018 Sep 30, 2018

The Upside-Down Life, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 30, 2018 Sep 30, 2018

“Where the Children are Blessed” Mark 10:13-16

Everyday Faith, Week 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 23, 2018 Sep 23, 2018

Everyday Faith, Week 5 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Sept. 23, 2018 [Magnolia] Sep 23, 2018

Everyday Faith, Week 4 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Sept. 16, 2018 Sep 16, 2018

“The Good Life” James 3:13-4:3

Everyday Faith, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 16, 2018 Sep 16, 2018

“The Good Life” James 3:13-4:3

Everyday Faith, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 9, 2018 Sep 11, 2018

“My Big Fat Mouth” James 3:1-12

Everyday Faith, Week 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Sept. 9, 2018 Sep 11, 2018

“My Big Fat Mouth” James 3:1-12

Everyday Faith, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Sept. 2, 2018 Sep 02, 2018

“Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement” James 2:1-17

Everyday Faith, Week 2 // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // Sept. 2, 2018 Sep 02, 2018

“Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement” James 2:1-17

Everyday Faith, Week 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Aug. 26, 2018 (Chapel) Aug 26, 2018

Everyday Faith, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Aug. 26, 2018 Aug 26, 2018

“Just Do It” James 1:17-27

No Longer Strangers, Week 6 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // Aug. 19, 2018 Aug 19, 2018

“Known By Light” Ephesians 5:6-14

No Longer Strangers, Week 5 // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // Aug. 12, 2018 (Chapel) Aug 12, 2018

No Longer Strangers, Week 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Aug. 12, 2018 Aug 12, 2018

“Live in Love” Ephesians 4:25-5:2

No Longer Strangers, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // Aug. 5, 2018 Aug 05, 2018

“Bound Together” Ephesians 4:1-6 | Ephesians 4:11-16

No Longer Strangers, Week 3 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // July 29, 2018 (Chapel) Jul 29, 2018

No Longer Strangers, Week 3 // Rev. Magrey deVega // July 29, 2018 Jul 29, 2018

“God’s Powerful Love” Ephesians 3:14-21

No Longer Strangers, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // July 22, 2018 Jul 23, 2018

“Strangers Brought Near” Ephesians 2:11-22

No Longer Strangers, Week 2 // Nicki Taylor // July 22, 2018 (Chapel) Jul 22, 2018

No Longer Strangers, Week 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // July 15, 2018 (Magnolia) Jul 17, 2018

No Longer Strangers, Week 1 // The Rev. Kim Uchimura // July 15, 2018 (Sanctuary) Jul 15, 2018

“The Family“ Ephesians 1:3-14

Dream On // The Rev. Roger Scholtz // July 8, 2018 (The Portico) Jul 11, 2018

When Hearing is Hard // The Rev. Roger Scholtz // July 8, 2018 (Sanctuary) Jul 08, 2018

We Believe, Week 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // July 1, 2018 (Sanctuary) Jul 02, 2018

“I Believe in Forgiveness and Communion” 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

We Believe, Week 5 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // July 1, 2018 (Magnolia) Jul 02, 2018

“I Believe in Forgiveness and Communion” 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

We Believe, Week 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 24, 2018 (Sanctuary) Jun 26, 2018

“Church: Forgiven, Free and Never Alone“ Ephesians 4:1-4 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

We Believe, Week 4 // The Rev. Debbie Casanzio // June 24, 2018 (Chapel) Jun 26, 2018

We Believe in the Church: Why Be a Part of It? Ephesians 4:1-4

We Believe, Week 4 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // June 24, 2018 (Magnolia) Jun 26, 2018

We Believe in the Church: Why Be a Part of It? Ephesians 4:1-4

We Believe, Week 3 // the Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // June 17, 2018 (Sanctuary) Jun 19, 2018

“We Believe in the Holy Spirit: The Comforter and Challenger” John 14:15-17

We Believe, Week 3 // the Rev. Magrey deVega // June 17, 2018 (Magnolia) Jun 19, 2018

“We Believe in the Holy Spirit: The Comforter and Challenger” John 14:15-17

We Believe, Week 2 // Rev. Magrey deVega // June 10, 2018 (Sanctuary) Jun 11, 2018

“Jesus Christ: God With Us” Philippians 2:1-11

We Believe, Week 2 // the Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // June 10, 2018 (Magnolia) Jun 11, 2018

“We Believe in Jesus: God with Us” Philippians 2:1-11

We Believe, Week 2 // Rev. Magrey deVega // June 10, 2018 Jun 10, 2018

“Jesus Christ: God With Us” Philippians 2:1-11

We Believe, Week 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 3, 2018 (Sanctuary) Jun 07, 2018

“A Friend in High Places” Genesis 1:1-5 | Revelation 4:11

We Believe, Week 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // June 3, 2018 (Magnolia) Jun 06, 2018

“I Believe in God: A Friend in High Places” Genesis 1:1-5, Revelation 4:11

We Believe, Week 1 // The Rev. Kim Uchimura // June 3, 2018 (Chapel) Jun 06, 2018

“I Believe in God: A Friend in High Places” Genesis 1:1-5, Revelation 4:11

Big Moments, Week 3 // The Rev. Kim Uchimura // May 27, 2018 May 29, 2018

"The Commencement Day of the Church" Acts 2:1-13

Big Moments, Week 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // May 27, 2018 May 29, 2018

"The Commencement Day of the Church” Acts 2:1-13

Big Moments, Week 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 27, 2018 May 27, 2018

"Strengthening Ties" Romans 5:1-5

Big Moments, Week 2 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // May 20, 2018 May 21, 2018

Big Moments, Week 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 20, 2018 May 20, 2018

Big Moments, Week 1 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // May 13, 2018 May 14, 2018

"Ascension"

Big Moments, Week 1 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // May 13, 2018 May 13, 2018

"Ascension" Luke 24:44-53

Make A Difference: In the End, It’s All About Love May 06, 2018

Pastor Magrey deVega preaches from 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Make A Difference: Into the Broken Places (Suzanna Cronyn) Apr 29, 2018

Susanna Cronyn preaches from Psalm 34:1-10

We are a Difference-Making People (Rev. Magrey deVega and Rev. Dr. James Harnish) Apr 15, 2018

The Rev. Magrey deVega and special guest preacher, the Rev. Dr. James Harnish (Matthew 4:18-22)

Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One (Rev. Magrey deVega) Apr 08, 2018

Pastor Magrey deVega preaches from Luke 24:1-12.

Holy Humor Sunday (Rev. Justin LaRosa) Apr 08, 2018

The Rev. Justin LaRosa preaches from Luke 24: 1-12.

When God Calls You By Name (Rev. Magrey deVega) Apr 01, 2018

Embracing the Uncertain: Obedience (Rev. Magrey deVega) Mar 25, 2018

The Rev. Magrey deVega preaches from Matthew 26:36-46.

Embracing the Uncertain: Surrender (Rev. Magrey deVega) Mar 18, 2018

The Rev. Magrey deVega preaches from Luke 19:1-10

Embracing the Uncertain: Mortality (Rev. Magrey deVega) Mar 11, 2018

The Rev. Magrey deVega preaches from John 11:1-44

Embracing the Uncertain: Worry (Rev. Magrey deVega) Mar 04, 2018

The Rev. Magrey deVega preaches from Luke 12:22-34.

Embracing the Uncertain: Forgiveness (Rev. Magrey deVega) Feb 25, 2018

The Rev. Magrey deVega preaches from Matthew 18:21-35

Embracing the Uncertain: Doubt (Rev. Debbie Casanzio) Feb 20, 2018

The Rev. Debbie Cazanzio preaches from Mark 9:14-24.

Jesus our Lord (Rev. Magrey deVega) Feb 11, 2018

The Rev. Magrey deVega preaches from Mark 8:27-29 | Mark 9:2-9

Jesus the Healer (Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans) Feb 04, 2018

The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans preaches from Matthew 8:14-17

Jesus The Preacher (Rev. Justin LaRosa) Jan 21, 2018

The Rev. Justin LaRosa preaches from Luke 4:14-21

Begin with Love (Rev. Magrey deVega) Jan 14, 2018

The Rev. Magrey deVega preaches from Mark 1:4-11

Begin with God (Rev. Magrey deVega) Jan 07, 2018

The Rev. Magrey deVega preaches from Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Colossians 3:1-14.

Coming Out of the Dark Dec 31, 2017

Miranda Harrison-Quillen preaches from John 1:1-18

The Wonder of Christmas Dec 24, 2017

Pastor Magrey deVega preaches from Luke 2:1-20 and Psalms 8:1-9

The Wonder of Joy Dec 17, 2017

Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans preaches from Psalm 63:1-8, Luke 1:46-55

The Wonder of Peace Dec 10, 2017

Pastor Magrey deVega preaches from John 14:27-28, Micah 6:8, Isaiah 11:6-9

The Wonder of Hope Dec 03, 2017

Pastor Magrey deVega preaches from Isaiah 9:1-6

Hope Nov 26, 2017

Magrey deVega preaches from Revelation 21:1-7

Courage (The Rev. Justin LaRosa) Nov 19, 2017

The Rev. Justin LaRosa preaches from Revelation 5:1-14

Conviction Nov 12, 2017

The Rev. Debbie Casanzio preaches from Revelation 3:14-22

Blessings in Memoriam Nov 05, 2017

The Rev. Magrey daVega preaches from Matthew 5:1-12

Stories From Tomorrow Oct 29, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega preaches from Galatians 6:1-10

Stories Today Oct 22, 2017

Pastor Kim Uchimura preaches from Isaiah 43:15-21

Stories from the Past Oct 08, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega preaches from Joshua 4:19-24

A Vision of the Kingdom Oct 08, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

The Global Kingdom Oct 01, 2017

The Rev. Dr. Candace Lewis (District Superintendent) preaches from Ephesians 4:1-6

The Kingdom of God is Like... Sep 24, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

When the Great Storm is Over Sep 18, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Calm Amid the Storm Sep 10, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Sowing The Seeds of Faith Sep 03, 2017

The Rev. Debbie Casanzio

New Takes on Old Favorites Do Unto Others Aug 27, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

The Lords Prayer Aug 20, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

John 316 and Virginia Aug 13, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Psalm 23 Aug 06, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Jeremiah, Part 4 Claiming Hope Jul 30, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Jeremiah, Part 3 Return and Realign Jul 23, 2017

Rev. Dr. Sharon Austin

Jeremiah, Part 2 What Makes a Prophet Jul 16, 2017

The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans

Jeremiah, Part 1 - What Do You See Jul 09, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Joy Shared Jul 02, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

A Life of Joy Today Jun 25, 2017

The Rev. Dr. Sally Campbell Evans

Joy Received and Lived Jun 18, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Live Worthy of the Gospel Jun 11, 2017

The Rev. Michelle Schrader,

Living the Beginning Jun 04, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Between Before and After May 28, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

All Together Now May 21, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Improve Your Serve May 14, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

How God Sees You May 07, 2017

The Rev. Debbie Casanzio

Have No Fear, Apr 30, 2017

Kyle Holcomb

Holy Humor Sunday Apr 23, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Christus Victor Victory at the Grave Apr 16, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Reconciliation to Make Up a Break Up Apr 09, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Moral Example To Show Us How to Live Apr 02, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Appeasement To Save Us from Wrath Mar 26, 2017

The Rev. Kim Uchimura

Expiation To Cleanse Us from Sin Mar 19, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Ransom To Release Us from Captivity Mar 12, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Substitution To Take Our Place Mar 05, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Life of the Party Feb 26, 2017

Childrens Musical

Jesus Heals Feb 19, 2017

The Rev. Dr. Gary Mason

The Surrender of Self-Reliance Feb 12, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Jesus Calms Our Fears Feb 05, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Love Your Enemies Jan 29, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Making Worship Work Jan 22, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

The How, What, and Why of Worship Jan 15, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

What is Baptism Jan 08, 2017

The Rev. Dr. Sally Campbell Evans

Communion Jan 01, 2017

The Rev. Magrey deVega

The Day Is Here Dec 25, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Christmas Eve Sermon 2016 Dec 24, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Walk Dec 20, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Wonder Dec 11, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Watch - First Sunday of Advent Dec 04, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Wait - First Sunday of Advent Nov 27, 2016

The Rev. Kim Uchimura

What on Earth Do We Mean by Heaven Nov 20, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Women in the Ditch Nov 13, 2016

John Dormois

For All The Saints Nov 06, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Free to Give Oct 30, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Free To Live Oct 23, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

We Are Connection Committed Oct 16, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

We Are Open Minded Oct 09, 2016

The Rev. Justin LaRosa

We Are Mission Directed Oct 02, 2016

Elio Muller

We Are Warm Hearted Sep 25, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

We Are Biblically Rooted Sep 18, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

We Are Christ Centered Sep 11, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Connecting to God Sep 04, 2016

The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans "Life With" Series

Life Together Aug 28, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Connecting to Our Community Aug 22, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega preaches during our 'Life With' series

The Now Generation Aug 14, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Life with Families Aug 07, 2016

The Rev. Dr. Sally Campbell Evans

The Peanuts Movie Jul 31, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Creed Jul 24, 2016

The Rev. Justin LaRosa

The Martian Jul 17, 2016

The Rev. Kim Uchimura

Inside Out Jul 10, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Star Wars-The Force Awakens Jul 03, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

The Case of the Incurable Commander Jun 26, 2016

The Rev. Debbie Casanzio

The Case of the Fiery Chariot Jun 19, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

The Case of the Exhausted Agent Jun 12, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

The Case of the Fiery Face-Off Jun 05, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

The Case of the Amazing Abundance May 29, 2016

The Rev. Justin J. LaRosa

Youth Sunday: Idol Worship May 22, 2016

Where You Go, I Will Go May 08, 2016

The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans

Say Yes to God May 01, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Saying Yes to Serving in Children and Youth Apr 24, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

What if Everyone Said No Apr 18, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Saying Yes to Servanthood (deVega) Apr 10, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Saying Yes to Servanthood (Shrader) Apr 10, 2016

The Rev. Michelle Shrader

Saying Yes Despite Our Doubts Apr 03, 2016

The Rev. Debbie Casanzio

Easter-New Life Starts Here Mar 27, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

From Palms to Passion Mar 20, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

We Love Others Mar 13, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

We Pray Constantly Mar 06, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

We Give Thanks Mar 02, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

We Rejoice in God Feb 21, 2016

Rev. Dr. Steve Harper

We Love God Feb 14, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Who Is Jesus Feb 07, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Why is There Evil and Suffering in the World? Jan 31, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

How is the Bible true? Jan 24, 2016

The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans

What Does it Mean to be a Methodist? Jan 17, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega preaches in 11 Magnolia. Romans 5:1-5

Short Answers to Big Questions: What Does Baptism Mean? Jan 10, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Who is God? Jan 03, 2016

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Seminary Sunday Dec 27, 2015

Tanner white

Christmas Eve 2015 - Rhyming Sermon Dec 24, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Is There Room for God's Peace? Dec 20, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Is There Room for a Servant’s Song? Dec 13, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Is There Room to Restore Us from Fear? Dec 06, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Is There Room for Silence? (deVega) Nov 29, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Is There Room for Silence? (Campbell Evans) Nov 29, 2015

The Rev. Dr. Sally Campbell Evans

The Widow with Two Coins Nov 22, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Negotiating the Fine Lines Nov 15, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Elephant in the Room Part 1 - The Power of Testimony Nov 08, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

All Saints’ Sunday Nov 01, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Our Mars Hill Moment (Sanctuary) Oct 18, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Our Mars Hill Moment (Magnolia - LaRosa) Oct 18, 2015

The Rev. Justin J. LaRosa

From My to Thy Oct 11, 2015

The Rev. Danny Bennett

One in Ministry to All the World Oct 04, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

What Falls Down Will Rise Up Sep 27, 2015

The Rev. Justin J. LaRosa

Us For Them Sep 20, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

I am no longer my own, but Thine Sep 13, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Motivation for Multiplication Sep 06, 2015

The Rev. Dr. Sally Campbell-Evans

Installation Sermon Aug 30, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Returning To The Kingdom Aug 23, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Returning in Gratitude Aug 16, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

The Unusual, Unconditional Love of God Aug 09, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

The Fully Aligned Life Aug 02, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

God > Odds Jul 26, 2015

The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans

No Matter What... God is in This Jul 19, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

Returning With Joy Jul 12, 2015

The Rev. Magrey deVega

A Gift to All Jul 05, 2015

The Rev. Danny Bennett

Climb Every Mountain Jun 28, 2015

The Rev. Debbie Casanizo

Hambani Kahle Jun 21, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

Sawubona Jun 14, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

The Fruit of the Spirit (Bennett) Jun 07, 2015

The Rev. Danny Bennett

The Fruit of the Spirit (Campbell-Evans) Jun 07, 2015

Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans

Faith Under Fire (Scholtz) May 31, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

The Work of The Spirit (Casanzio) May 31, 2015

The Rev. Debbie Casanzio

Pentecost May 24, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

Sent (Bennett) May 17, 2015

The Rev. Danny Bennett

Sent (LaRosa) May 17, 2015

The Rev. Justin LaRosa

Second Chances May 10, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

The Open Road (Walker) May 03, 2015

The Rev. Vicki R. Walker

The Open Road (Scholtz) May 03, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

Touching the Scars Apr 26, 2015

The Rev. Debbie Casanzio

Unlocking the Doors Apr 12, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

Easter Sunday 9:30 Sanctuary Apr 05, 2015

The Rev. Dr. Sally Campbell-Evans

Easter Sunday 8am Sanctuary Apr 05, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

The Crossroads of Blindness and Truth (Hotho) Mar 31, 2015

Mat Hotho, Dir. of Adult Discipleship

The Crossroads of Blindness and Truth (Scholtz) Mar 29, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

The Crossroads of Anxiety and Abundance Mar 22, 2015

The Rev. Debbie Casanizo

The Crossroads of Distraction and Presence Mar 15, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

The Crossroads of Pride and Grace Mar 08, 2015

The Rev. Dr. Sally Campbell-Evans

The Crossroads of Isolation and Community Mar 01, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

The Crossroads of Convenience and Integrity Feb 22, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

Covenant Sunday & Renewal of Baptism Feb 15, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

Baggage [Youth Sunday - Felgenhauer] Feb 08, 2015

Emily Felgenhauer

Baggage [Youth Sunday - Peric] Feb 08, 2015

Natalie Peric

Open to Mercy Feb 01, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

Open to Interpretation (LaRosa) Jan 25, 2015

Justin LaRosa

Open to Interpretation Jan 25, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

Open to Reason (Bennett) Jan 18, 2015

The Rev. Danny Bennett

Open to Reason (Scholtz) Jan 18, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

Open to Doubt Jan 11, 2015

The Rev. Justin LaRosa

Open to All Jan 04, 2015

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

Redemption Song Dec 28, 2014

Tanner White

Christmas Eve 2014 Dec 24, 2014

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

Love in a World of Brokenness - Advent 2014 [Scholtz] Dec 21, 2014

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

Love in a World of Brokenness - Advent 2014 [Greene] Dec 21, 2014

Amy Greene

Joy in a World of Inequality - Advent 2014 Dec 14, 2014

The Rev. Roger Scholtz

Peace in a World of Violence - Advent 2014 Dec 07, 2014

The Rev. Dr. Sally Campbell-Evans

Nov. 30, 2014 - 9:30 Contemporary - "Hope in a World of Disease" - Rev. Roger Scholtz Nov 30, 2014

Nov. 23, 2014- 11:00 Traditional- "The Shepherd King" - Rev. Roger Scholtz Nov 23, 2014

Nov.16,2014 - 11:00 Traditional - "The Great Risk" - Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans Nov 16, 2014

Nov.16-2014 - 9:30 Contemporary - "The Great Risk" - Rev. Roger Scholtz Nov 16, 2014

Nov. 9, 2014 - 9:30 Contemporary - "Ready to Serve" - Rev. Roger Scholtz Nov 09, 2014

Nov. 9, 2014 - 11:00 Traditional - "Ready to Serve" - Rev. Roger Scholtz Nov 09, 2014

Nov. 2, 2014 - 11:00 Traditional - "All Saints' Day" - Rev. Roger Scholtz Nov 02, 2014

Oct. 26, 2014 - 9:30 Contemporary - "United in Commitment" - Rev. Roger Scholtz Oct 26, 2014

Oct. 19, 2014 - 9:30 Contemporary - "United in Devotion" - Rev. Debbie Casanzio Oct 19, 2014

Oct. 12, 2014 - 11:00 Traditional - "United in Evangelism" - Rev. Roger Scholtz Oct 12, 2014

Oct. 5.,-2014 - 9:30 Contemporary - "United in Mission" - Rev. Roger Scholtz Oct 05, 2014

September 28th "UNITED in Worship" - The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans Sep 29, 2014

September 21st "UNITED in worship " - The Rev. Roger Scholtz Sep 21, 2014

September 14th "Sawbona! part 2" - The Rev. Roger Scholtz Sep 14, 2014

September 7th "Sawbona" - The Rev. Roger Scholtz Sep 07, 2014

August 31st David - "Conviction" The Rev. Debbie Casanzio Aug 31, 2014

August 24th 11Magnoila: David - "Compassion: A King's Invitation" Rev. Danny Bennett Aug 24, 2014

August 24th David - "Compassion" - Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans Aug 24, 2014

August 17th 11Magnolia - David "When You've Been Hit" Rev. Danny Bennett Aug 17, 2014

August 17th David - "Conviction" Rev. Justin LaRosa Aug 17, 2014

August 10th David - Courage to Face Our Fears, Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans Aug 10, 2014

August 3rd David- "Calling" - Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans Aug 04, 2014

July 27th Faith at the Movies "King's Speech" - Rev. Clarke Campbell-Evans Jul 27, 2014

July 20th Faith at the Movies "Invictus" - Rev. Clarke Campbell-Evans Jul 20, 2014

July 13 Faith at the Movies "Love One Another" (Warm Bodies) - Bennett Jul 13, 2014

July 6th Faith at the Movies "The Book That Guides" (Indiana Jones) - Campbell-Evans Jul 06, 2014

June 29th Faith at the Movies "Open Minded" (Frozen) - Casanzio Jun 29, 2014

June 22nd "Les Miserables: Touched by God's Mercy and Grace" Campbell-Evans Jun 22, 2014

June 15th "Sent Forth With God's Blessing" - Campbell-Evans Jun 15, 2014

June 8th "I Commend You to God" - Harnish Jun 08, 2014

June 1 “All the Way to Heaven” – Harnish Jun 01, 2014

May 25 11Magnoila "A Community of Love and Service" - Greene May 25, 2014

May 25th "To Serve the Present Age" - Harnish May 25, 2014

May 18th The Refiner's Fire - Harnish May 18, 2014

May 11th "What Does It Mean to Be 'Saved'?" - Harnish May 11, 2014

May 4th 11 Magnolia "Practice Makes Perfect" - Harnish May 04, 2014

April 27 "Alive with Love and Grace" - Harnish Apr 27, 2014

April 13 Palm Sunday "The Way To The Cross" - Harnish Apr 13, 2014

April 13 11Magnoila: Palm Sunday - "Jerusalem" Campbell-Evans Apr 13, 2014

April 6 Youth Sunday- "Sinners, Outcasts and The Poor" - Ennis Apr 06, 2014

March 30 "The Way Through the Storm" - Harnish Mar 30, 2014

March 23 The Mountains - Harnish Mar 23, 2014

11 Magnolia "The Mountains" - Bennett Mar 23, 2014

115th Anniversary - Bishop J. Lawrence McCleskey Mar 16, 2014

March 9 The Wilderness - Harnish Mar 09, 2014

March 2nd "Holy Ground" - Campbell-Evans Mar 02, 2014

February 23 “Crossing the River- Why Us? Why Now? - LaRosa Feb 23, 2014

February 16 “Choose to Live” – Harnish Feb 16, 2014

February 9 “Repairers of the Breach: A Biblical Basis for Social Justice” Harnish Feb 09, 2014

February 2 “Divine Foolishness” – Harnish Feb 02, 2014

January 26 Guest Preacher Roger Sholtz from South Africa Jan 26, 2014

January 19 11Magnoila "Balance & the Plimsoll Line" - LaRosa Jan 19, 2014

January 19 "Balance" - Bennett Jan 19, 2014

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