All News
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...
Christmas at Hyde Park
Join us throughout December for special services, activities, and Christmas Eve! Everything you need to know to attend and invite a friend is right here.
Christmas Poinsettias
Christmas Poinsettias will be on sale for $10. This is a great way to celebrate those around you this season or memorialize the loss of a loved one. Order your poinsettia online here or visit the table in the Courtyard on Dec. 10 and 17.
2023 Impact Report
2023 Impact ReportStories of ImpactJohn's Story Elizabeth's StoryLorenzo's StoryJoel's StoryJustice StoryBlake's StoryStudent's StoryYour investment enables the widespread sharing of God's love and the life-giving message of Jesus in Tampa and worldwide. Your...
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...
Honoring 24 Years of Service
The Rev. Vicki Walker was featured in the news! Read about all of the amazing work she has done for our community during her 24 years of service here.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Hope for Anxiety
August 17, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, As the father of 22- and 20-year-old children, I and my daughters have shared frequent conversations about the difficulties their generation has faced during their brief lifetimes. Their generation was born in the aftermath of...
Pray for Pakistan and Hawaii
Pray for the people of Pakistan who are affected by churches being burned and threats of harm. See the message from Bishop Tom Berlin. Please pray for those affected by the terrible fires and destruction in Hawaii from Hurricane Dora. See the message from Bishop Tom...
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...
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...
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Last updated: September 17, 2023 This Privacy Policy describes Our policies and procedures on the collection, use and disclosure of Your information when You use the Service and tells You about Your privacy rights and how the law protects You. We use...
Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary News
Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary (BMTS), our mission partner, is the largest United Methodist seminary in Europe, and serves students from eight countries who study in three languages: Estonian, Russian and English. Their newsletter is titled Prayerchain, it...
Let’s Go Cruisin’!
June 22, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, I am extending an invitation for you to join me on a very special trip next year. I have been asked by Educational Opportunities to be the guest lecturer on a 10-day cruise exploring the Journeys of the Apostle Paul, from September...
Abounding in Hope
June 15, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, Thank you for your prayers for last week’s gathering of the Florida Annual Conference, themed “Abound in Hope.” It was the 26th one I have attended in my ministry, and, by far, it was the most hope-filled, energizing, and forward...
A Time of Comfort and Strength
June 8, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, By the time you read today’s Midweek Message, I will be in Lakeland, Florida for the yearly gathering of the Florida Annual Conference, made up of clergy and lay delegates from every United Methodist congregation in the state. All...
Leading On Purpose
June 1, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, Among my leadership roles beyond the local church is that I serve as the chairperson of the Florida Conference Board of Ordained Ministry for the United Methodist Church. We evaluate and recommend persons to serve as clergy in our...
Pentecost: Visions and Dreams
May 25, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, This Sunday, we join with Christians around the world in celebrating Pentecost Day, the birthday of the church, when the Holy Spirit touched the earth and ushered in a fresh experience of God’s presence and power on earth. On that...
Graduation and Ascension
May 18, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, This Sunday is the convergence of two observances, one civic and one liturgical. First, it is Graduation Sunday, in which we will honor the high school seniors in our worship services with a video and a prayer of blessing. It is...
Why The UMC? Part 3
May 11, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, For this final installment of “Why the UMC?” I offer a few of the many reasons why I continue to be drawn to Wesleyan theology and practice, and why we can be excited to be part of the continuing United Methodist Church. United...
Why The UMC? Part 2
May 4, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, The United Methodist Church rescued me from a crisis of faith. I was fresh out of high school, in my freshman year of college, when the tightly wound and insulated world of my fundamentalist faith began to unravel. At first, it was a...
Why The UMC? Part 1
April 27, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, Last Monday, I filmed an interview with a clergy colleague who is hosting a series of conversations about the United Methodist Church, and a hopeful vision of its future. If you are interested in watching that interview, let me...
Love is Kind
April 20, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, Our journey through 1 Corinthians 13 continues this Sunday with an exploration of the phrase “Love is kind.”The lesson of kindness is one that we learned as children, but is one that we tend to ignore today. But even simple acts...
Encountering Resurrection
April 13, 2023 Dear Hyde Park Family, We continue to bask in the glow of resurrection dawn, celebrating the new life and hope given to us in the risen Christ. Our Holy Week and Easter services were stirring and celebrative, as we welcomed over 2,500 to our various...
On Thy Lonely Way
April 6, 2023 Dear Passion Week Pilgrims, “Lenten Communion” by Katharine Tynan (1861-1931) Rest in a friend’s house, Dear, I pray: The way is long to Good Friday, And very chill and grey the way. No crocus with its shining cup, Nor the gold daffodil is up, –...
Three Timely Prayers
March 30, 2023 Dear Lenten Pilgrims, The events of these past days can be marked by three powerful and timely prayers, which speak to needs of our world and our hope in God. I invite you to consider them prayerfully. PRAYER 1: “LORD, DELIVER US” The first is by Rear...
Gifts for Good
Consider carving out a portion of your gift budget for Gifts For Good – gifts that impact those in need in honor of those you love. Make a Donation: A Gift For Good Download our printable Gifts For Good order form or place your order online. These unique gifts...
A Prayer for International Women’s Day
Dear Hyde Park Family, Yesterday was International Women’s Day, which has been commemorated by the United Nations since 1975 and endorsed by our denomination’s United Methodist Women (recently renamed United Women in Faith.) It is a global celebration of women and an...
Open Arms Back In The Harnish Center
Open Arms Homecoming Thanks to everyone who helped make the Open Arms homecoming back into the Harnish Center such a wonderful success. Thanks to all of you who jumped in to help move a chair or a table, serve coffee and food, and provide a warm welcome to all who...
The Table Will Be Wide
Dear Lenten Pilgrims, My friend Rev. Jan Richardson is one of the coolest clergy colleagues I know. She is a United Methodist minister, an internationally regarded artist, and the director of The Wellspring Studio, LLC, in Winter Park, Florida. Her artwork has been...
10 Tampa Bay reports on Ashes to Ashes Ceremony
A soil ceremony was held on Ash Wednesday at The Portico. The ceremony honors those lynched between 1892-1934 within the Tampa community. This was the second ceremony held at The Portico. This year the church honored Lewis Jackson. See the full story here.
A Reflection of the Year Ahead
Dear Hyde Park Family, For my Midweek Message today, I invite you to click this link [Here] to view my address to the elected leadership of the church last Monday night at our annual Leadership Gathering. (The cover photo is of our elected laity, whom we thank for...
Open Arms Returns to the Harnish Center
Open Arms (OA) moves back to the Harnish Center The Trustees were tasked with possible renovations to the De Leon property by the Ministry Leadership Council (MLC) in early 2022. As the team did their research, they met two major barriers: cost and zoning. These...
UMCOR Responds to Earthquakes
Dear Hyde Park Family, We are a week away from Thanksgiving, and I pray your days ahead will be filled with moments of joy, reflection, and connecting with loved ones. As the season suggests, may there also be occasions for you to give deep thanks to God and to each...
The Blessing of the Animals
Dear Hyde Park Family, My first pet was a turtle. I was young when I received one as a gift from a friend. It was a small box turtle that I kept it in a green plastic bowl shaped around a fake island and topped with a plastic palm tree. I thought about naming it after...
Our Cosmic Voyage
Dear Hyde Park Family, This Sunday I’ll be preaching on the fourth day of creation, when God created the planets, stars, sun, and moon. Prior to Sunday, I would love for you to take 30-minutes to watch a short documentary film titled Cosmic Voyage. I originally saw it...
What is Your Thin Place?
Dear Hyde Park Family, In Celtic spirituality there is a term called “thin places,” where a person experiences the God’s presence more readily than in any other place. Travel writer Eric Weiner describes them as “those rare locales where the distance between heaven...
Gasparilla Parking
Buy your Gasparilla Children's Parade (Jan. 21) parking tickets here. All proceeds support our youth missions.Buy your Gasparilla Pirate's Fest Parade (Jan. 28) parking tickets here. All proceeds support our PrimeTimers ministry.
Thank You for Providing Shelter: Julie Watkinson
Good day, I wanted to reach out and thank all our community partners and ask you to please extend my gratitude to your staff and many, many volunteers. You opened your hearts and shelters to provide our most vulnerable population, a hot meal, and a warm place to...
Cold Weather Jan 2023
Hyde Park United Methodist is part of a network of shelters that provide warm, secure space for those experiencing homelessness. The program is administered by Hillsborough County government, which monitors weather conditions and issues an alert when the weather...
The Fragrance of Gratitude
Dear Hyde Park Family, Are there certain fragrances that evoke strong memories for you? I was surprised to learn recently that the same part of our brain that processes our sense of smell is the same as where we store our memories. Your olfactory bulb is connected to...
Living with Gratitude
Dear Hyde Park Family, This Sunday we begin a new worship series titled “Living with Gratitude.” It is a continuation of the leadership theme with which we started the year, based on Diana Butler Bass’ book Grateful: The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks. Each...
Therefore… “Go?”
Thirty years ago, I was in a small group Bible study in college, in which the leader was talking about Matthew 28:18-20, our scripture reading for this Sunday’s Missions Celebration. Jesus utters these iconic words to his disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of...
A Gift for Yourself
Dear Hyde Park Family, It is a condition that affects about one in 1 in 5 adults in the United States each year. One in 6 American youth experience this challenge, and it is the most common cause of hospitalizations of people under the age of 45. It is the leading...
Hurricane Ian Relief Update
Dear Hyde Park Family, Thank you for the amazing response to the urgent plea for water last weekend for residents of Florida impacted by Hurricane Ian. In less than 24 hours, you donated about 4.5 tons of water, the equivalent of over 1,200 gallons. That water has...