Dear Hyde Park Family,

The world lost a major spiritual voice last Monday when we learned of the death of Frederick Buechner. He was a Presbyterian minister, spiritual teacher and prolific author of 39 books. He is one of the most often quoted writers by preachers today, including me. One of my favorites of his is “Resurrection means that the worst thing is never the last thing.”

Our own Bernie Lieving has said that every time he had to answer the question, “Whom would I most like to meet?” he always answered Frederick Buechner. The publication Christianity Today called him the “Minister’s Minister.” We will miss him, and we are grateful for the enduring impact of his writings and teachings.

Buechner wrote a little story called “The Happy Hypocrite.” It is a about a man who was born with an awful facial deformity and grew up alone and lonely. When reaching adulthood, he decided to move from his town to another to begin a new life. On his way, he discovered a beautiful mask that fit him, making him look handsome. At first, the mask was uncomfortable, and he was afraid that people would find out who he really was, but he continued to wear the mask every day.

In his new hometown, he made many friends and fell in love. But one day a wicked witch from his old home came to his town and discovered this man’s true identity. In front of his friends and fiancé, she forced him to remove his mask. When he took it off, it revealed a handsome face.

His face had conformed to the mask.

Buechner used that story to talk about the work of God’s grace. The Apostle Paul instructed us to “live a life worthy of your calling.” (Ephesians 4:1-16) It means allowing God to take the malformed, unpleasant, and even ugly parts of our lives and slowly conform them to the beauty of God’s call. It means allowing our reality to be shaped into God’s identity.

Paul provided a list. To live a life worthy of your calling, you must be humble, gentle, and patient. And we should bear with one another in love and stay united.

Ask yourself, which of these qualities is hard for you?

• Humility? Is it hard to acknowledge that you may not be as superior as you want others to think you are?
• Gentleness? Is it hard to manage your temptation to lash back and get even?
• Patience? Is it hard to allow the process of growth and maturity to temper your frustrations with others and with yourself?
• Bearing with one another in love? Is it hard to love others who are different from you?
• Preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace? Is it hard to allow the Holy Spirit to remind us that we have a lot more in common than we are different.

Holiness is hard. That’s why Paul reminds us that we can’t do it alone, and we don’t have to. Because of God’s calling on our lives, we are part of a spiritual community that can allow our reality to be shaped into God’s identity. That’s why we place such a high value on every person being in a small group, and you can sign up here to join one starting in September.

As we continue our worship series “The Meaning of Methodist” this Sunday and focus on the value of being connectional, we remember the words of John Wesley: “There is no holiness except social holiness.” The holy life is only possible through the social connections we have with each other. You can’t do it alone.

Rest in peace, Frederick Buechner. Thank you for your wisdom and incomparable wordsmithing. And thanks for the reminder for all of us to live into our calling, by God’s grace.

Magrey

Dear Hyde Park Family,

This week, schools are beginning a new year all across our area. It is a time mixed with anticipation, apprehension and the welcome return of routine. It is also an opportunity for us to pray God’s blessings on our students, teachers, families, staff and administrators, along with our children and youth ministries and Small Blessings preschool. I invite you to join in offering this prayer for the year ahead.

A PRAYER FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR

Gracious and Eternal God,

At this start of a new year of education and ministry, we give thanks for the many ways that you are a loving teacher of us all. Your love reminds us that we are all your children, and students under your tutelage. You guide us toward a life of wholeness and decency, instruct us with the principles of holy living, and correct our missteps with grace and forgiveness. We are grateful for the lessons you teach us, which in turn guide the children who learn from our example.

We pray for our area schools and all our teachers, who have the noble task of educating the most impressionable among us. Grant them patience in the classroom, wisdom in their counsel and endurance for the year ahead. May they receive from us the affirmation they richly deserve but rarely receive.

We pray for school administrators and staff. Lead them through the challenges of underfunding, understaffing, and rapidly changing technology. We pray for the current election of school board members. Guide our leaders in providing the courage, wisdom, and resources our schools need.

We pray for the families of our community. Call them to a deeper level of involvement in the education of their kids and in support of their schools. Help them find a balance between busyness and family time. We pray for those facing financial hardship during these unsteady economic times, especially those experiencing poverty. Guide this church in ministering to them.

We pray that all our school campuses will be secure and healthy. Stem the tide of gun violence and reduce the presence of bullying. Surround our children with role models that encourage decent behavior and healthy choices. May our children flourish in an environment that is safe, fun, and intellectually energizing.

We pray for the ministries to children and youth in our church. Thank you for the faithful work of our ministry staff and volunteers, and grant them the wisdom and love that will make a deep and lasting impact. We pray for all our children and youth, including the preschoolers of Small Blessings, that they would each find their truest identity in the grand, ongoing story of your love.

God, you have placed a sense of eternity in our hearts, that we cannot fully see all that you have done from the beginning to the end. Help us rise to the great responsibility of being faithful stewards of our children. May they forge ahead into the bright future you have envisioned for them.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Rabbi, teacher, and Lord,

Amen.

Grace and Peace,

Magrey

THIS SUNDAY: THE MEANING OF METHODIST – ONE WHO PRACTICES DAILY

Join us this Sunday as we continue our worship series on the beauty and joy of being United Methodist. We will focus on how even the word Methodist calls us to put our faith into practice, especially during times of doubt and disbelief. If you know of someone who would love to learn more about our Methodist heritage, belief, and practice, invite them to join us in person or online, or share our past sermons and worship services on our YouTube page. 

SIGN UP FOR A SMALL GROUP THIS FALL

One of the best ways for us to grow in our faith is to join a group of fellow Christians on the journey. Sign-ups are happening right now for a number of exciting groups to choose from, including those studying a book titled “Called” as part of our fall worship series. Register on campus this Sunday or on our website.

Dear Hyde Park Family,

I returned to the office this week, having relished the gift of a study and renewal leave. My daughters and I shared some wonderful experiences, the insights from which I am eager to share with you over the weeks and months ahead. For now, I am grateful to all of you for continuing to grow in your faith and your support of the ministries of the church throughout this summer. I am also grateful to the staff and volunteers who made God’s love real in remarkable ways in the areas of worship, children and youth ministries, missions and discipleship.

I look forward to being in worship with you again this Sunday, as we kick off a new worship series. I’ll share more about that with you at the end of today’s Midweek Message.

MY FAVORITES FROM THIS SUMMER

The staff held a potluck lunch on Tuesday for us to reconnect after my return, and I shared with them the following list of “favorites” from my renewal leave. Perhaps you will enjoy them as well:

Favorite Film: “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.” It’s a real charmer of a film: original, creative, life-affirming storytelling. I saw it in the Tampa Theater last week, and it’s now showing in most of the area movie theaters. Go see it if you can!

Favorite TV show: “Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street.” HBO and HBO Max. A documentary about the development of a TV series that was so foundational to me and many of you. It explores the themes of creativity, equality, and opportunity that were in the heart of its creators.

Favorite Video: “12 Truths I Learned from Life and Writing” by Anne Lamott. She’s one of my favorite writers, and this TED Talk is jam packed with nuggets of insight and humor.

Favorite Song: “Thank You” by Ben Rector. I love all of Ben’s music, and his latest album, “The Joy of Music” is wonderful. It is as spirited and lively as his other recordings, while also more self-reflective.

Favorite Non-Fiction Book: “How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question” by Michael Schur. It’s an absolutely hilarious and utterly insightful exploration of different ways to make moral, ethical choices. The author has produced some of the greatest comedies of the last twenty years (The Office, Parks and Rec, The Good Place.) Bonus points if you get the audiobook, as it is voiced by the cast of The Good Place.

Favorite Fiction Book: “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin. I adored her “Storied Life of A.J. Fikry,” so when I saw that she released this latest book a few weeks ago, I had to read it. My girls and I agree it’s one of the best novels we’ve ever read. I have never cared for main characters like I cared for the ones in this book.

If you are interested in purchasing either of these books, we invite you to check out our church’s Amazon page, which contains a list of staff recommendations. Proceeds from purchases from that website support the ministries of Hyde Park United Methodist.

THIS SUNDAY: THE MEANING OF METHODIST

I am eager to join you in a new worship series that explores the unique and meaningful distinctives about being a United Methodist. It is a series that will give you greater appreciation for our Wesleyan heritage, not at the expense of other Christian traditions, but to strengthen your commitment to Jesus and enthusiasm for the Christian life. The series will cover the following topics:

The Meaning of Methodist

August 7

“One Who Lives in Grace”

(United Methodist Belief)

Ephesians 2:1-10

August 14

“One Who Practices Daily”

(United Methodist Disciplines)

Psalm 119:97-112

August 21

“One Who Connects with Others”

(The United Methodist Church)

Exodus 18:13-27

August 28

“One Who Impacts the World”

(United Methodist Mission)

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

September 4

“One Who Moves to the Center”

(United Methodists Together)

Galatians 3:19-29

It’s good to be back! See you Sunday!

Magrey

Dear Hyde Park Family,

We are now in graduation season here in the Tampa Bay area, as we celebrate high school seniors embarking on an exciting and unfolding future. We will be honoring our seniors this Sunday in worship, as well as praying for graduating students at every level of education.

Yesterday I re-read a passage from Jeremiah that I have often turned to in times of transition and unsettledness in my life, which I also commended to Grace and Madelyn during their own recent graduations from high school:

“The Lord proclaims: Stop at the crossroads and look around; ask for the ancient paths. Where is the good way? Then walk in it and find a resting place for yourselves.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

Addressing the Israelite exiles, who were at a significant crossroads of change and uncertainty, Jeremiah called them to look for the “ancient paths” and the “good way.” He encouraged them to lean into the values and principles that formed them and were imparted by their ancestors.

In that spirit, I offer these words of guidance to our graduates:

• Look for the ancient paths. Remember the way integrity and obedience to God. Follow the path charted by all those who entrusted the faith to you, and you will always find “a resting place for yourselves.”

• Cultivate the qualities of empathy, curiosity, and humility. These three will serve you well as you meet new people, navigate new challenges, and become a better human being.

• Orient your life toward generosity and compassion toward others and toward yourself. Remember how the most important adults in your life demonstrated those qualities for you.

• Enjoy the discovery of who you are, and who you are not.

• Know that a life of independence will mean you can make many of your own choices, which means dealing with your own consequences.

• Remember that sometimes the most important lessons will only be learned in the hardest of ways. You will succeed at times, and sometimes you will fail. You will gain great knowledge, as well as learn the limits of your understanding. You will sometimes come up short, even if you do all the right things.

• Remember that you will never be alone. Your family and friends will cheer you on. You have a church that will be praying for you over the months to come and will always be a spiritual home that will welcome you back.

• Recognize that your parents will be changing, too. They will be navigating a new kind of parenthood, shifting toward becoming more of your mentor, coach, and adviser. Give them grace, as they do the best they can.

• Most of all, hold on to your faith. God began a good work in you from the moment you were born. As you stay faithful to your spiritual roots, you will discover God’s fruit born in and through you in ways you cannot imagine.

Friends, our future is bright because of these rising generations of young people. Born in the shadow of 9/11, raised during a major recession, educated during a global pandemic, and joining in the great social and political challenges of our day, their resilience and determination can give us hope. We pray for them and give thanks for the difference they will make in the world.

Happy Graduation!

Magrey

RISE: STEPS 8 AND 9

Join us this Sunday as we near the conclusion of our worship series Rise: 12 Steps with Jesus. Many of you have shared what a meaningful and helpful series this has been. This Sunday, we will explore Steps 8 and 9, which call us to make amends with others. Download the Rise workbook  and catch up on any services that you missed on our YouTube page.

Dear Hyde Park Family,

In preparation for this Sunday, when we celebrate and honor the mothers and mother figures in our lives, here is a reprise of a prayer for Mother’s Day that I first offered years ago. May it guide us into a deeper appreciation for these special persons, and reflect on the character of God, who is like a mother to us all.

A MOTHER’S DAY PRAYER

God of Provision and Unconditional Love,

On this day when we acknowledge the importance of motherhood among us, we first give thanks that you are a loving parent to us all. From your being all life was born, and from your bosom all creation is nurtured. You have formed us in your image as your children, and gathered us together as a brood under your wing. You have united us as kindred members of one human family, and we celebrate how your love is reflected in human expressions of motherhood.

We give you thanks for the mothers among us, and ask that you strengthen them in their daily tasks. Grant them wisdom in the lessons they teach, both by word and example. Give them patience in the discipline they provide, and persistence in their daily labors. May they be given the honor and thanks they deserve but often do not receive.

We thank you for all mother figures: grandmothers, aunts, sisters, wives, step-mothers, foster mothers, guardians, babysitters, teachers, neighbors, and friends, who practice self-sacrifice and compassion to all within their influence. Grant them vigor and satisfaction in their work.  

We acknowledge, God, that even amid our grateful celebration, many of us come with restless spirits, reluctant to name the difficulties of this day.

For some, this day brings the sorrowful awareness of their own inability to conceive biological children. Draw your spirit near their feelings of self-betrayal and grief, and remind them that those who struggle with infertility have always shared a special place in your heart. We pray for those who have suffered miscarriages, those fatigued by fertility treatments, and those struggling through the process of adoption. May they remember that in your power and through your church, they can still leave a lasting legacy beyond themselves.

For some, this day is marked by loneliness and grief, as they spend this first Mother’s Day as a widower, an orphan, or a parent who has lost a child. To those who live in the wake of the death of a loved one, grant glimpses of the resurrection. Bring to them a steady restoration of their broken hearts, allow them to live into their future with hope, and empower them to carry out the legacy of lessons instilled within them.

For some, this is a day that surfaces ongoing tensions that exist within our own families. We ask for healing from the wounds of our past, a path of forgiveness for wrongs both experienced and committed, and the rebuilding of trust forged in honesty, authenticity, and love.

We give you thanks for the wide spectrum of motherhood represented among us today: new mothers and young mothers whose children are in their most tender years; mothers of grown children who transition into empty nests and a new chapter of self-discovery; mothers and grandmothers of advanced years, whose twilight of life is marked by frailty of body but a potency of spirit. Theirs is a cumulative reminder that though our lives are marked by transition and change, your nurture and affection for all your children remains the same.

God, remind us to live with a child-like faith, curious to every wondrous mystery, attentive to your every instruction, obedient to your every command, and willing to share with every one of your children. We give you thanks, O God, who is a loving Mother and Father to us all, and in whose name we pray,

Amen.

Dear Hyde Park Family,

There is a legend that someone once asked Ernest Hemingway to write a story using only six words. His response? “For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.” Since then, the idea of a “Six-Word Story” has grown in popularity. One article defines it as “a short narrative that can have all of the emotional themes of longer stories—from funny to dramatic, sad to scary …. They have a subject and verb that give the reader a sense of what’s happened and a bit of conflict.”

Scan the internet for examples, and you’ll find lots of gems, from the funny (“Won food fight. Used canned vegetables.”) to the sorrowful (“The smallest coffins are the heaviest.”) to the poignant. (“He died happy, knowing he lived.”)

But did you know that the original six-word story, the most important in history, first coined two-thousand years ago, is in the Bible?

It is a simple, clear narrative that appears fourteen times in the gospels, in Acts, and in Paul’s letters:

“God raised Jesus from the dead.”

That’s it. That was Christianity in a nutshell over the first centuries of the church. When the first Christians gathered in house churches to worship, this was their creed. The resurrection was the central feature of the faith, and this six-word story reminded them that just as Jesus died a real death, he was brought back to real life.

And the most important part of that story is this: Jesus did not raise himself.

To put this six-word story in grammatical terms, Jesus was the direct object, not the subject. God did the raising; Jesus did the receiving. Of course, we can split theological hairs remembering that God the Father and God the Son are one in the same, so that technically, God did in fact rise from the dead.

But let’s not miss this important point: We cannot raise ourselves, either. God does the resurrecting, not us. We cannot rise on our own; we need the power of God to raise us to new life.

See you Sunday!

Magrey

Dear Hyde Park Pilgrims,

Don’t finish what you can’t start.

That’s a twist on the classic cliché, but it is sage advice for our tendency to jump quickly to Easter without moving through the Passion. Our stores are stocked with plastic grass and chocolate bunnies, yet you’d be hard-pressed to find a Maundy Thursday gift basket or a Good Friday greeting card.

It’s emblematic of a culture that wants the reward without the discipline, the quick fix without the sacrifice, the finish, without the start.

That’s why Palm Sunday is so important. It offers a formal invitation into a week of discipline and darkness that we would rather ignore. But such avoidance turns the empty tomb into an empty victory. As my seminary theology professor frequently asked: “If Jesus is the answer, then what was the question?”

If Easter is a day of victory, then what has been defeated?

The gospel’s answer to that question is found in the stories of Holy Week. After Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem:

• He cursed a fig tree for not being fruitful.
• He emptied the temple of self-serving moneychangers.
• He confronted religious leaders who questioned his authority.
• He challenged notions of financial stewardship by praising a poor widow.
• He warned his followers of imminent persecution and called them to vigilance.

And that’s before we even get to Maundy Thursday, before we enter the upper room. If we have any inclination to jump ahead to Easter morning, the Bible proclaims, “Not so fast. You’re not ready. There is much you need to hear.”

It’s captured in the words of Medieval mystic Thomas a Kempis:

“There will always be many who love Christ’s heavenly Kingdom, but few who will bear his cross. Jesus has many who desire consolation, but few who care for adversity. He finds many to share his table, but few who will join him in fasting. Many are eager to be happy with him; few wish to suffer anything for him. Many will follow him as far as the breaking of bread, but few will remain to drink from his passion. Many are awed by his miracles, few accept the shame of his cross.

If you want to experience a truly powerful, meaningful Easter finish, then start the journey this Sunday with humility, repentance, and obedience to God. Remember your membership vows and use Holy Week as a time for spiritual renewal.

• Offer God your Prayers of praise, confession, gratitude, and intercession for others.
• Worship God with your Presence, with less a need to be entertained and more a desire to glorify God.
• Present God your Gifts, not for your own benefit, but for the work of God’s Kingdom.
• Pledge to God your Service, knowing that your only reward may be a cross.
• Honor God with your Witness to others, inviting them to experience God’s love with you.

At the very least, I invite you to join us for all of Holy Week, not just for Easter morning. Allow the services of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday to stir your conscience and call you to discipleship. For the full schedule of Holy Week, click here. Be sure to sign up to serve in hospitality on Easter morning. And invite others to join you in services all week long.

Through scripture, sacrament, and solemn ritual, let’s experience the drama, passion, and power of the week that turned the world upside-down.

See you at the starting line!

Magrey

Dear Hyde Park Family,

Last Sunday morning, I spent the 9:30 hour with about thirty of our seventh-grade confirmation students, to walk them through a rehearsal for our Confirmation Service on April 24. I also spent time with the entire youth group, for a special Pastor’s Q&A with our teens.

You would be amazed by the earnest and deeply reflective questions our youth are asking about Jesus, the Bible, and the Christian faith. I knew of a few of their questions in advance:

• Why do bad things happen to good people?
• What is it going to be like when I die?
• I understand God, I understand Jesus, but I do not understand the Holy Spirit. Can you help me understand it more?

And then there were the questions that they asked spontaneously, in real time, straight from their hearts:

• What do we do with all the violence in the Bible?
• What do we do with all the contradictions within the Bible?
• How can we make sure we don’t use the Bible to justify hate?

I walked away from my time with the youth group full of gratitude for the faithful way our kids ask hard questions about the faith. I am also grateful to be serving a church which creates an environment where our children feel safe to ask those questions, without fear of being judged or shunned. The great 20th century missionary Elisabeth Elliot said, “Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.”

I give thanks for the amazing adult confirmation facilitators, youth group volunteers, and staffers Katherine Cosmas and John Barolo for reminding our youth each week that in this church, our faith can handle the questions that they carry with them.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!

And then, throughout the morning, I watched as our children’s ministry staff and volunteers were joyfully promoting our upcoming Vacation Bible School, taking place June 27-30, 9 a.m. to noon. Registration is now open to members of our church, and to the general public next Monday.

More importantly, I encourage you to consider volunteering for Vacation Bible School this year. There is an open volunteer slot for VBS with your name on it, just waiting for you to say yes! Even if you have never volunteered for VBS before, and even if you never thought you could do children’s ministry, you can be trained and resourced with all that you need to make a huge difference in the life of a child. Click here to inquire about ways to serve.

Together, let us continue to provide a safe, warm, and joyful place for our children and youth to grow, learn, and most importantly, ask questions without fear.

Grace and Peace,

Magrey

Dear Lenten Pilgrims,

In March 2010, during a family trip to Paris, we visited the Rodin Museum, featuring the work of the great sculptor Auguste Rodin. We saw his most famous sculpture, The Thinker, along with many other amazing works.

In contrast to the smooth finish and polished marble of the Greco-Roman statues we saw at the Louvre, Rodin’s pieces are raw and rough, with the appearance of weight and gravitas that portray his view of the human condition. To be human, for Rodin, was not to be light and perfect, but to be encumbered by frailty and struggle.

The most moving example of this quality is his sculpture of The Prodigal Son, whose story is our scripture passage in worship this Sunday:

Notice dark and heavy it appears, much like the story itself. The man is on his knees, his body anchored into the ground, weighted down by life, unable to move. Yet he still reaches upward, his arms extended in a sweeping, soaring arc of repentance and desperation, hoping and longing for some way – and some one – to get him out of his mess. His right hand is open, begging, pleading for a blessing and a second chance. But the other hand is clenched, a fistful of anger and bitterness at his lot in life.

PRAYING AS THE PRODIGAL

Over the next few days, I invite you to prayerfully prepare for worship by pondering how you are like the prodigal right now. In what ways are you both open-handed and clench-fisted? How are we both beggars for a blessing, while also bitter at life? Longing for mercy, while angry at our situation? How do you feel stuck, yet still able to reach up and reach out for the love and mercy of God?

As part of your prayerful meditation, consider this beautiful poem by the great nineteenth century poet Christina Rosetti, told from the perspective of the prodigal at the lowest point of his despair:

A Prodigal Son

by Christina Rossetti

Does that lamp still burn in my Father’s house,

Which he kindled the night I went away?

I turned once beneath the cedar boughs,

And marked it gleam with a golden ray;

Did he think to light me home some day?

Hungry here with the crunching swine,

Hungry harvest have I to reap;

In a dream I count my Father’s kine,

I hear the tinkling bells of his sheep,

I watch his lambs that browse and leap.

There is plenty of bread at home,

His servants have bread enough and to spare;

The purple wine-fat froths with foam,

Oil and spices make sweet the air,

While I perish hungry and bare.

Rich and blessed those servants, rather

Than I who see not my Father’s face!

I will arise and go to my Father:–

“Fallen from sonship, beggared of grace,

Grant me, Father, a servant’s place.”

Join us Sunday as we explore the beauty and power of this important parable, and experience the grace, love, and forgiveness of God, freely given to you.

Grace and Peace,

Magrey