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News

Be The Donkey

Be The Donkey

Dear Lenten Pilgrims, One of the oldest hymns in our hymnal was written in the year 818 A.D., by a man named Theodulf, the Bishop of Orleans. He was a noted poet who wrote a refrain that would become part of our standard Palm Sunday celebrations: All glory, laud and...

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Palm Sunday for Children

Sunday, March 24 is Palm Sunday. Children of all ages are invited to participate in worship by waving palm branches at the beginning of the 9:30 and 11 a.m. services. To participate in the 9:30 Harnish Center Service: All preschool and elementary families need to...

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The Power of Your Words

The Power of Your Words

Dear Lenten Pilgrims, I spent the last several days out of town enjoying Spring Break with my daughters Grace and Maddy. We spent most of our time in Chicago, where Grace is in graduate school for Museum Studies. But last Monday and Tuesday, we made a quick road trip...

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Neighborhood Tables – Spring 2024

Neighborhood Tables – Spring 2024

One-time gatherings to help you connect with people from Hyde Park United Methodist in your neighborhood! Gather with each other over food and conversation. Meet others who live nearby.   Looking for Hosts! Right now, if you are interested in hosting a...

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The Collect: A Way to Pray

The Collect: A Way to Pray

Dear Lenten Pilgrims, At the start of the year I began using a book titled Being Here: Prayers for Justice, Curiosity, and Love by Padraig O’Tuama. He is an Irish poet, theologian, and conflict mediator whose writings have been very helpful in my spiritual practices....

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Being and Doing

Being and Doing

Dear Lenten Pilgrims, For the past few days, I have been with my clergy covenant group in Atlanta for one of our bi-annual retreats. It is a gathering I always cherish, connecting with my closest friends in ministry for a time of encouragement, learning, and play....

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Hyde Park United Methodist Scholarships

Hyde Park United Methodist Scholarships

We believe it is important to invest in higher education for eligible high school, college and seminary students. There are currently three Hyde Park United Methodist scholarship opportunities available. The Hyde Park United Methodist scholarships are open to high...

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God Who Pays Attention

God Who Pays Attention

​Dear Lenten Pilgrims, In my journey of living into “savor” as my key word for Lent, I am sharing a prayer I experienced last weekend that I have found to be very meaningful. Last Saturday, I attended an event in Orlando called “Exploration,” which gathered people...

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My Word for Lent

My Word for Lent

Dear Lenten Pilgrims, Last year, I gave up coffee for Lent. It went as you would expect; I found myself longing for Easter resurrection many times. This year, I’ve decided a different approach. It doesn’t involve giving up something as it does focusing on something....

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Defining Moments

Defining Moments

Dear Hyde Park Family,   What are the defining moments of your life? All of us can point to memories that we consider pivotal in shaping who we are today. Perhaps you think of the day you got married, the birth of a child, or the moment you survived a near-death...

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The State of the Church

The State of the Church

Dear Hyde Park Family, Last Sunday night, we had our annual Leadership Gathering of elected committee members and ministry area volunteers. It was a time of connecting with other leaders in the church, learning about our church’s organizational structure, and...

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Amplify Media for Hyde Park

Amplify Media for Hyde Park

We want to help you grow in faith wherever you are!  With Amplify Media, you you will have instant access to thousands of great videos for adults, youth and kids, including many of the Rev. Magrey deVega's video studies. It’s essentially the “Netflix of Video Bible...

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The Treasure of True Friendships

The Treasure of True Friendships

Dear Hyde Park Family, Like many of you, I watched the 80s NBC sitcom “The Golden Girls,” about a group of four elderly women who forged a deep and enduring friendship. You might also remember the opening lines of their theme song: Thank you for being a friend. Travel...

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VBS

VBS

June 24 – 28, 2024! Dive Below the Surface to Build a Strong Faith Registration for church families begins February 25 and for general community begins March 10. Cost: $50 for Preschool - Grade 4 and $75 for Tweens Schedule: Monday – Friday, 9:00AM – 12:00PM. * Note:...

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The Year In Review

The Year In Review

Dear Hyde Park Faithful: As we begin a new year of ministry at the church, we want to say, “Thank you!” Because of your generosity and faithfulness, this church made a profound impact in our community and around the world in 2023. On Christmas Eve, 2,500 worshippers...

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The Time Draws Near

The Time Draws Near

Dear Hyde Park Family, “The Birth of Christ”by Alfred, Lord Tennyson The time draws near the birth of Christ;The moon is hid--the night is still;The Christmas bells from hill to hillAnswer each other in the mist. Four voices of four hamlets round,From far and near, on...

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The Annunciation (in Rhymed Narration)

The Annunciation (in Rhymed Narration)

Dear Hyde Park Family, We are ten days away from that grand, holy nightWhen we’ll gather for carols and warm candlelight To celebrate Christmas, and Jesus Christ’s birthAnd God’s gift of love given to the whole earth But first there’s this Sunday: Advent Week...

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Let’s Get This Straight

Let’s Get This Straight

Dear Advent Pilgrims, This Sunday our attention turns to John the Baptist, a persistent presence every Advent journey. He meets us, whether we are ready for him or not, to echo the challenge by the prophet Isaiah, the original “voice crying from the wilderness:”...

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An Exciting Year Ahead

An Exciting Year Ahead

Dear Hyde Park Family, With Advent starting this Sunday, it is the official start of the new Christian liturgical year. We look forward to a fresh arrival of Jesus Christ in our lives, and anticipate all that God will be doing in and through this church throughout the...

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Echo Cereal Drive

Echo Cereal Drive

Cereal is luxury for struggling families. It is nutritious, fast and easy. This holiday season we have partnered with Echo, a non-profit organization that is working to bridge the gap between crisis and stability for families in the Tampa Bay area by offering...

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The Portico on Thanksgiving

The Portico on Thanksgiving

A trendy cafe in downtown Tampa, Florida serves up delicious foods, sweets, and all the proceeds go to those in needs. The Portico Cafe also offers people transitioning out of homelessness, addiction and incarceration opportunities for job training, employment and...

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A Thanksgiving Blessing

A Thanksgiving Blessing

Dear Hyde Park Family: Rejoice always. Pray continually.Give thanks in every situationbecause this is God’s willfor you in Christ Jesus.(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) As we enter these days of giving thanks with loved ones and friends, consider these words from John...

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An Enneagram Thanksgiving

An Enneagram Thanksgiving

November 16, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, Over the past three Wednesday nights, I have had the fun of teaching a class on the Enneagram, a personality type indicator that guides self-discovery, offers awareness of one’s strengths and shadows, and enhances relationships...

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A Penny For a Memory

A Penny For a Memory

November 9, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, Years ago, Grace asked me to describe my happiest memories. I told her about the time she and her sister were born, about the day I married their mother, and about the night I was ordained a minister. She agreed that those were...

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Something God Alone Can See

Something God Alone Can See

November 2, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, This Sunday will be an especially poignant All Saints’ worship service for me. Over the past year, several influential people in my life have died, people who were formative to my Christian journey and my ministerial calling....

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Passion and Compassion

Passion and Compassion

October 19, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, Near the start of my ministry 25 years ago, I attended a clergy gathering at the Life Enrichment Center in Leesburg, Florida. The featured speaker was Dr. Paul Chilcote, a professor of Wesley Studies. In that lecture, he spoke...

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Mission Smiles Dental Clinic, Oct. 8

Mission Smiles Dental Clinic, Oct. 8

Mission Smiles partners with local churches and ministries to provide free dental clinics in various neighborhoods throughout Tampa Bay, bringing the hands of Jesus to those in need. They provided this report of their visit on Oct. 8, 2023: "The hands and feet of...

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Living Sabbath

Living Sabbath

October 5th, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, How noisy is your life?  Bernie Krause is a noted “soundscape artist,” producing albums of sounds found in nature. He has said that in 1968, in order to get one hour of natural sound - no cars, planes, or machines of any kind -...

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God’s Remedy For a Broken World

God’s Remedy For a Broken World

September 28, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, But let justice roll down like water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:24) Years ago, I had a seminary instructor say that no prospective minister should graduate from seminary without being able to fully...

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Exchanging Burdens

Exchanging Burdens

September 21, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, Today is the feast day of St. Matthew, the person traditionally credited as the author of the first gospel. Born into the Hebrew tribe of Levi, Matthew was a tax collector who met Jesus, became his disciple, and wrote an...

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Good and Faithful

Good and Faithful

September 14, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, In case you missed worship last Sunday, we introduced our current fall series “Good and Faithful: Life Well Done.” It is a series that explores Christian character, based on a book by Dr. David Gushee titled: Introducing...

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Living Theater

Living Theater

September 7, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts." (Shakespeare’s As You Like It) One of the most joyful parts of living in...

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Good And Faithful Series Resources

Good And Faithful Series Resources

Join us as we explore Christian Ethics with musical theatre as our conversation partner. Below you'll find resources referenced each week.Introducing Christian Ethicsby David GusheeThe book upon which this series is based. An exploration of Christian ethics by a...

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Waffle Day!

Waffle Day!

August 24, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, Well, here’s an opening to a Midweek Message that I never thought I’d write: “Happy National Waffle Day!” I normally overlook these kinds of special recognitions, likely manufactured by restaurant and food industries to promote...

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Remaining United Methodist at Hyde Park

Remaining United Methodist at Hyde Park

You are welcome here. Are you leaving a church that is disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church. Here are answers to some questions you might have: “I want to remain in the United Methodist Church. Can you help me do that?” Yes, you are welcome at Hyde Park...

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Thank you, Vicki!

Thank you, Vicki!

August 10, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, It is with a sad, but grateful heart that I share the bittersweet news that Rev. Vicki Walker has announced her departure from serving on staff here at Hyde Park United Methodist. As she shares below, she has discerned a new way...

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News from Missionaries Dave and Julie Eberhard

Hyde Park's mission partners, Dave and Julie Eberhard serve as missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Read an excerpt from their latest newsletter: Dear family and friends, Our last letter mentioned all the travel that I (Dave) would be doing. This letter is to...

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