Hyde Park United Methodist supports the following church-based missions:

Aldersgate Corner Bookstore & Coffee Shop offers gourmet coffees, beautiful greeting cards and a wide selection of Christian books including pastor recommendations, resources for discussion groups as well as traditional and contemporary Christian releases. Staffed by volunteers, the bookstore is open on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Connect with friends over coffee, enjoy worship services over closed circuit television and find just what you’re looking for on our shelves.

After operating expenses are met, all income from the store supports Hyde Park missions.  Your purchases do make a difference. Even tips for volunteer cashiers and baristas go to the bookstore’s own mission project, the Heifer Project.

Aldersgate Corner Bookstore & Coffee Shop is open Sunday mornings from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Purchases may be made when the store is not open through the church office or by contacting Kim Harcrow. 

For more information about supporting missions while volunteering in the bookstore, please contact Kim Harcrow, email or 813.253.5388, ext. 291.

Boy Scout Troop 22 was founded at Hyde Park United Methodist in Spring 1921 and celebrates its 75th Anniversary in 2010. The discrepancy in anniversary years is due to an administrative error in rechartering the troop in 1935. Over the years, the traditions that were important at the founding of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910 have remained important to this day.

As with all Boy Scout units, Troop 22 is a boy-led organization. Scouts elect their leaders from among their ranks every six months, providing them with an opportunity to learn leadership skills first hand. In addition, they plan their calendar and individual meetings, and guide the troop on outside activities such as campouts and hikes.

One benchmark of the longevity and success of any troop is the number of Scouts who achieve Scouting’s highest honor, the rank of Eagle Scout. From Erskine Jones, Troop 22’s first Eagle recipient in June 1922, to those receiving their award in January 2010, 143 Scouts have earned this honor.

Service projects are another hallmark of Scouting. Troop 22 participates in the annual Scouting for Food program benefiting Metropolitan Ministries. The troop also volunteers to clean up the church property after the annual Gasparilla parade. Lastly, numerous organizations from St. Peter Claver School to the American victory Ship have benefited from Eagle projects created, planned and executed by Scouts working toward their Eagle rank.

Outside activities remain one of the most popular features of Scouting. Over the years, the troop has established many legacy destinations from canoe trips on the Peace and Ocklawaha Rivers and hikes on the Yearling and Florida trails.

For more information contact Jay Gadsby at 813.254.9757 or email.

The Disaster Relief and Recovery Ministry provides an organized effort to respond to the local and regional needs of those affected by natural disasters. We work in conjunction with the United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) and individual county agencies affected by disaster.

The initial response/relief efforts are those of an immediate nature and involve such things as debris removal, clean-up, and damage mitigation (e.g. tarping roofs). Recovery deals with rebuilding the lives of those affected. Most trips are one-day trips; however, opportunities for extended periods of service are available.

The ministry also provides “preparation” services that will assist others in need before a storm may hit. This may include providing transportation, obtaining supplies, securing property, etc.

For more information or to get involved contact Steve and Lisa Rorrer email or Rudy and Meg Fernandez email.

“All creation is the Lord’s and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. God has granted us stewardship of creation.” (paragraph 160, The Book of Discipline, 2008)

It is the purpose of the environmental ministry, the Green Team, to meet these stewardship duties through acts of care and respect for our environment.

The Green Team promotes environmental stewardship through education, organization and action. This includes education through organized courses and special events aimed at providing not only insight into current environmental issues but understanding how each of us can affect environmental stewardship at home and in our community.

For more information or to get invovled contact Patrick Shell at 813.293.6675 or email.

H.O.M.E.S. is Hyde Park’s answer to God’s call to reach out into our city to meet the needs of homeless children and families. H.O.M.E.S. stands for Housing Offering Mentoring, Education and Support. In partnership with Metropolitan Ministries, Hyde Park HOMES volunteers adopt families who have completed the “Uplift U” residential program at Metropolitan Ministries and have moved into transitional housing. As current families move on to independence in permanent homes, new ones take their place in the program.

For more information or to get involved in H.O.M.E.S. contact Vicki Walker email or Jamie Meyer email.

Small Blessings Mission Projects
As part of our curriculum at Small Blessings, we include mission projects to help teach the children about sharing and caring for others. In 2009 we colleced clothes and other supplies to go to Nicaragua with the adult mission group, had a food drive for Good Samaritan Mission, and a toy drive for Jesus’ birthday; the toys were then donated to Metropolitan Ministries at Christmas. We are very grateful to the parents for their generosity and for this valuable lesson for our children.

For more information contact Susan Anderson at 813.259.9688 or email.

Children’s Ministries Mission Projects
During VBS 2009 children collected nickels during the week for the Kids Café program at America’s Second Harvest of Tampa Bay. By the Friday of VBS, we were able to send $776.00 which purchased over 4000 pounds of food for the children who are served at Kids Café. In addition to this, several Sunday school classes use their weekly offering for the Heifer International program. Last year classes were able to purchase several animals that went to needy communities throughout the world.

For more information contact Erick Ashley at 813.253.533 or email.

Jesus Christ spoke of manna, revealing its true significance: “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘he gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” (John 6:31-33)

The goal of Hyde Park’s Manna Ministry is to help our church accomplish its mission of Making God’s Love Real in the community. By equipping servant volunteers with a Zip-lock bag filled with a short scripture, information on community resources, healthy snacks, sunscreen and a pair of socks, we hope to help impoverished
individuals feel the love of Christ.

Manna bags are available to purchase in the courtyard the last Sunday of the month for $5.00.
 
If you would like to volunteer to help assemble “manna bags” or want more information on this new ministry, contact Colleen Jones, 251.1764, email or Debbie Gordon, 727.572.8660, email.

On Sunday mornings, Hyde Park’s Open Arms Ministry provides a nourishing meal and an invitation to the homeless to worship with the congregation. Open Arms also collects toiletries and clothing on a regular basis and distributes these on the first Sunday of the month.

Click here for the Homeless Coalition Street Survival Guide.

Open Arms was established in 2004 to Make God’s Love Real to disenfranchised and marginalized men and women in the Hyde Park area. The goal is to see all people as children of God and to treat them with dignity and respect.

To learn more contact Pam Carpenter, church liaison, by email, or click here.

Second Saturday is an outreach program in which volunteers meet to do yard work, clean, paint, and do minor home repairs in an effort to help elderly and disabled people get their homes and yards in compliance with City of Tampa codes. The Second Saturday team works with the City of Tampa Code Enforcement office to obtain names and addresses of eligible residents in need. Second Saturday service projects are planned on an as needed basis and do not occur each month. The team looks for those who have no family support or funds with which to make the required improvements, and has also assisted elderly and disabled persons recommended by church members. New volunteers are always welcome!

For more information or to get involved contact Steve Rorrer email or phone 813.839.2827

Hyde Park United Methodist is in its 13th year offering free tutoring for elementary students who are reading at least one year below grade level, have been recommended by their elementary school teacher, and have parents who are economically unable to provide private tutoring. Tutors meet weekly with their students to help them improve their reading while building relationships and self-esteem.

The volunteer tutors are adult members of the church who have been trained to help children develop their reading skills. All tutors have been screened in regard to child safety.

For more information or to get involved contact Sherry Holcomb, church liaison, email.

GET REAL Involved! engages youth in service within the Tampa Bay community.

This group was formed based on the idea that getting students involved in service early and often will change the world. Students prefer to spend time with their peers &  friends, so we organize events that allow them to do just that while they serve their community.

All trips are fully chaperoned with background-checked and child-safety-trained adults. All service sites have been screened. We’ve done all the work; all you have to do is fill out some forms and show up!

This group is supported in full by the Youth Ministry of Hyde Park United Methodist, which has been organizing monthly youth service under the GET REAL banner since 2006.

See www.hydeparkumc.org/get-connected/youth/service for the most recent information and schedule of events.

High School Mission Trip: Copperhill, TN, July 24 to 30, 2011
Whitewater Camp in Copperhill, TN, will be the home base for the High School Mission Trip. Many businesses in the area have closed and left people in need of help. Our group will reach out to this community through partnering with local ministries to serve the homeless, the elderly and children and assist the city with house painting and renovation projects. Many need our time and attention. During the days, we will partner with support organizations. We may be at one specific site, or numerous sites on a rotational basis. Afternoon activities will provide our group the chance to have some high adventure fun, and evening worship services will bond our group together!

Middle School Mission Trip: Coastal Carolina, July 10 to 15, 2011
We’re journeying to the Coastal Carolina region to continue building our relationships there! The Coastal Carolina region is a Southern gem, filled with a unique history and character. Our group can reach out to this community through partnering with local ministries to serve the homeless, the elderly and children and assist the city with house painting projects. Many need our time and attention. The goal of a Team Effort mission is to meet the needs of the residents with existing ministry programs, as well as support volunteers of existing social service organizations. During the days, we will partner with support organizations to serve children, the elderly and/or the homeless. We may be at one specific site, or numerous sites on a rotational basis. Evening activities will give us insight into the lives of local residents and the culture of the area. We’ll have the chance to worship together and have a lot of fun!
More information is available at www.teameffort.org.

For more information or to get involved contact Emily Felgenhauer, Director of Youth Ministry, at 813.253.5388 ext. 301 or email.