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You Remade the World

Dear Lenten Pilgrims,

“For Maundy Thursday”

By Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie

From The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days

 

This is the night that it begins,

the festival of grief and somehow triumph.

The end is near.

 

Jesus, we are beginning to understand that

your grace makes no sense –

grace sits next to betrayers,

grace washes the feet of backstabbers,

grace breaks bread with the disloyal,

grace shares a cup with double-dealers.

 

Jesus, you are undoing every guarantee

that, in loving you, I will not lose.

 

You are losing everything.

 

Bless me now, as I see your sacrifice.

How you are pleading with us to love,

as your friends break your heart.

How you are showing us how to remember,

when we long to forget

that in your undoing, you remade the world.

On behalf of the staff and lay leadership of Hyde Park United Methodist, I wish you and yours a blessed Holy Week and a joyous Easter.

Grace and Peace,

The Rev. Magrey deVega
Senior Pastor, Hyde Park United Methodist
 
 
 

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

Visit our website for the full schedule of online and in-person services on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.

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 honor,

To Thee, Redeemer, King,

To Whom the lips of children

Made sweet hosannas ring.

The entire hymn is a vivid portrayal of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and many churches sing it as children process down the aisles with palm fronds in their hands. What is widely unknown is that Theodulf wrote a sixth verse to the hymn. The reason it is not included in our hymnal will be plain when you read it:

Be Thou, O Lord, the Rider,

And we the little ass,

That to God’s holy city

Together we may pass.

When John Neale translated Theodulf’s original Latin text to English in 1851, he remarked that this sixth verse “was usually sung until the 17th Century, at the quaintness of which we can scarcely avoid a smile.”      

No, we will not be singing that verse this Sunday. But I am intrigued by the implications of Theodulf’s sixth verse. We have many points of entry into the Palm Sunday story.  

  • We might identify with the crowds who shouted “Hosanna!” (“Save us!”) and recognize our own need for Jesus in our lives.
  • We might identify with the citizens of Jerusalem, whose question “Who is this man?” captures the depth of our own spiritual searching.
  • We might identify with the disciples, as we measure the level of our commitment to Jesus in the midst of uncertainty and turmoil.

But rarely do we identify with that donkey.

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus sent two of the disciples on an advance mission to secure a donkey that had been pre-arranged by Jesus. And all three gospels have these three verbs in common.

  • They untied the donkey.
  • They claimed it for Jesus by telling the owner that he needed it.
  • Then they brought it to Jesus for his use.

What would it mean for you to be the donkey on Palm Sunday? It would mean that you would participate in all three actions as part of your own spiritual preparation as we enter this holiest week of the year.

First, be untied.  From what aspects of your life does God wish to free you? What are the bonds that are preventing the free flow of God’s grace in your life, and what are the sins that are masking God’s full image from being revealed in you?

Second, remember that you are claimed.  God has placed a unique calling in your life, for the task of building the kingdom here on earth. Remember that no matter what happens, you belong to God, and you have been chosen for a purpose greater than your self-interest.  

Finally, draw near to Jesus. Be intentional during this upcoming Holy Week to recalibrate yourself toward the disciplines, priorities, and way of Christ. Surrender yourself to the cross you are called to bear, as we follow the One whose cross brought us new life.

I don’t know about you, but I somewhat wish we included Theodulf’s sixth verse in our hymnal. Regardless, we can all work to live out its words, and try to be “a little ass” for Jesus.

(And Neale was right; try reading that without a smile on your face!)

Grace and Peace,

The Rev. Magrey deVega
Senior Pastor, Hyde Park United Methodist
 
 
 

JOIN US FOR HOLY WEEK

Visit our website for all the ways you can observe Holy Week with Hyde Park United Methodist.

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 over to Cherokee, Iowa, to see some old friends from our previous church, and to inter the ashes of our beloved dog Micah, whom we adopted in Iowa and who died last January at the age of 16.

While we were in northwest Iowa, a local high school teacher and friend of mine asked me to speak to her high school assembly about the importance of communication skills in one’s life and career. I offered a 45-minute presentation called “The Power of Your Words,” based on a sermon I preached at Hyde Park several years ago.

I thought I’d share the highlights from my talk to those high schoolers, which was in the form of The Top Ten Tongue Twister to Help You Tame Your Tongue.

10. If liars lie in lairs of lies, in their lairs lay lots of liars.

This one is about lies and truth telling. In a time when there is so much misinformation on social media, and misleading information being shared to sway people’s opinions, it is important to check where you are getting your facts, verify it with other sources, and do your very best to share the truth.

9. If you attack behind their back, they’ll be back to bite you back.

This one is about gossip, which is conversation about a person’s private life without their knowledge, in a way that is unkind, judgmental, or untrue. Ask yourself these questions before you share that information with others. Does this have to do with a person’s private life, which they don’t want to be made public? Is it unkind, judgmental, or untrue? And most importantly: Has that person give me permission to share this information with others?

8. I need not your needles; they’re needless to me. It need not be needed to be needling me.

Watch the insults. There is no need to cut people down. It is true there might be a distinction between insults and teasing. The latter can be a fun and non-harmful way of connecting with family and friends, based on shared memories and inside jokes. But there is a fine line between teasing and insults. Insults cut deeply into someone’s personhood and can conjure up hard and harmful feelings.

7. An oyster’s noise annoys me, see, When an oyster voices complaints to me.

This one is about grumbling and complaining. Life is meant to be filled with joy, enthusiasm, and hope. Instead, some people choose to live lives full of pessimism, grouchiness, and grumpiness. Now, there are times when it is appropriate to feel dissatisfied, and even angry, about the state of things, like when there is injustice, inequity, or harm being done. It is right to complain then. But to have a general, perpetual state of complaining is not only unhelpful; it can be harmful.

6. Ye have two ears to hear in here, so hear ye with your ears, and don’t pack your yaks like a yakking yak pack packs yaks.

This is a simple reminder to listen more. The book of James says, “Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Yes, it is important to claim your own voice and to speak your truth. But remember that yours is not the only voice, and yours is not the only story. Listen more to others.

5. Classless cusses cause crass clauses across coarse courses.

This one is pretty simple. Cut down on the cursing. Yes, there are certain words of profanity that express meaning in ways that classier words cannot convey. But the better way to speak is to elevate our speech beyond that of the coarse and unrefined. Stay away from the crass; opt for the classy.

4. Love best builds and fills when it’s built and fills your will.

This one is really important. Use your words to encourage people. Paul says, “Bear one another’s burdens … Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Make it a habit of offering at least one word of encouragement every day to someone else. You will be surprised at the impact you can make on other people. And more surprisingly, you will see the impact that it can make on yourself.

3. Patient patients push a penchant for patience in a pinch.

Think before you speak. Let your words be graced with patience. It can be easy to talk impulsively, in the heat of emotion. Sometimes that is unavoidable, and you just need to say something to get it out of your system. But to the degree that you can help it, take a breath before you say something, whether it be in person, via text, or email. When we let our unbridled emotions take over, we often pay the price.

2. Would you bother to bother a brother if you offer one offer but proffer another?

Watch the hypocrisy. Back up your words with actions. One of the fastest and most enduring ways for you to compromise your integrity and gain a bad reputation in the eyes of others is to say you are for something, but then act against it. Or to make a promise, but then not follow through with it. Make sure your word is your bond, and that your actions are consistent with your words.

So now it is time for number one. And this one is so important that I offer it just straight and clear. No gimmicks, and no tongue-twisting.

1. Speak the Truth in Love

This means being willing to say something you don’t want to say but needs to be said. Yes, there are times when we need to keep our mouths shut. But there are times when we need to speak truth to others that they don’t want to hear. Sharing that truth can sometimes hurt. It can be costly and painful. But when we share it in love and genuine concern, in the long run, it can bring hope and healing.

We can all work on our speech. Our words can be destructive and divisive, or they can bring wholeness and life. The choice is ours.

Grace and Peace,

The Rev. Magrey deVega
Senior Pastor, Hyde Park United Methodist
 
 
 

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. Being Here has been a beautiful part of my daily devotionals this year.

He begins with an introduction to a form of prayer called the collect (pronounced CAH-lect, rather than cuh-LECT), which is one of the most common types of prayer in Christian worship.

Here is a famous one, called “The Collect for Purity:”

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secretes are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name: through Christ our Lord. Amen.

O’Tuama says there is a basic five-fold structure to the collect.

A. Name the one you’re praying to

B. Unfold the name of the one you’re praying to

C. Name one desire

D. Unfold the desire you’ve named

E. End

 

You can see those five elements in the Collect for Purity:

A.  Almighty God,

B.  unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secretes are hid:

C.  cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit,

D.  that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name:

E.  through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

To put it in even more basic terms, O’Tuama says the structure is:

A. Address

B. Say more

C. Ask one thing

D. Say more

E. Bird of Praise

 

I love his phrase “Bird of Praise.” It’s his way of describing the way we seal and offer the prayer up to God, releasing it by the power of the Holy Spirit for God’s use in us and throughout the world.

Here is another example. It is the Collect for Lent in our United Methodist Hymnal. See if you can identify the five elements:

O God our deliverer, you led your people of old through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide now the people of your church, that, following our Savior, we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

As part of your Lenten journey, I invite you to write a collect that is meaningful to you. Here is a simple one that I wrote:

God,                                                                                                                         

I know that you love me.                                                                                   

Help me to love myself,                                                                                     

That I may love others.                                                                                      

In Jesus name, Amen.

I led the staff in this exercise back in January, and invited them to write one. They each did a wonderful job. Here is a sample of what they came up with:

The One who summoned me, 

You are who laid out all the plans for my life 

Help me follow that plan, seeking You in every step at your pace and at your direction. 

Looking not at the landscape or the problems that loom, but only your face. 

I bless your Holy Name in this moment and forever.  

O holy God, who loves all without condition. 

Enable me to have patience at home and focus with work, so that I may better love my family and use my unique gifts to equip others. 

In the power and name of Jesus I pray, Amen. 

Creator of Hope,  

Source of light and security,  

Open my eyes to how much you love me:  

Help me to see where you are working in my life that I may be at peace to release my anxiety of all that is happening.  

In your steadfast strength, Amen 

I hope you find the form and beauty of the collect a helpful addition to your prayer practices.

And I would love to read any collects that you write!

 

Grace and Peace,

The Rev. Magrey deVega
Senior Pastor, Hyde Park United Methodist
 
 
 

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.

Yesterday, we were at the Candler School of Theology, the seminary of Emory University, where our covenant brother Dr. Brett Opalinski serves as the Assistant Dean of Methodist Studies. He invited us to meet with the first-year students in his Discipleship Seminar, to share with them about how our own spiritual practices shape our life and ministry, and how we lead others in deepening their discipleship.

Brett began our panel discussion reminding us that following Jesus involves both being and doing. It is both a conscious orientation toward the way of Jesus, and a faithful effort to practice that way. And as my friend Scott Smith said, many of us are good at being, but not at doing.

But both are necessary. Discipleship requires clarity about what Jesus wants us to become, as well as clarity about what Jesus is asking us to do. 

A LESSON FOR JOHN WESLEY

After John Wesley’s ill-fated missionary trip to Georgia, in which he not only failed to bring new people to Jesus but also feared for his life from a near-shipwreck, Wesley returned to England with a badly shaken faith.

He confessed to a German Moravian bishop named Peter Boehler how much he was struggling with his faith and his doubts. He was set to preach the next day and told Boehler that he was “clearly convinced of unbelief,” and was tempted to not preach. He wondered in his journal how he could “preach to others when he had not faith himself?”

He asked Boehler whether he should not preach, but Boehler said he should.

Wesley asked him, “But what can I preach?” Boehler replied, “Preach faith till you have it, and then, because you have it, you will preach faith.”

To put Boehler’s advice in broader terms of discipleship, practice the faith until you have faith. Then because you have it, you will practice faith. That nugget of insight reminded Wesley of the real importance of spiritual practices. We don’t do them in order to be saved. We do spiritual practices because we are saved. And then we do spiritual practices to be strengthened in our faith.

If you are in a place in your life where you feel like your faith is weak, or you are unsteadied by doubts or disbelief, then practice the faith until your faith is strong. And then then you can practice the faith because your faith is strong.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES AT HYDE PARK

In this congregation, we talk about the Discipleship Pathway, which describes the seven spiritual practices that help us grow in our faith. There are three corporate practices that we do in community (Worship, Small Groups, Service) and four private practices that can be remembered with the acronym G.R.I.P.: (Give generously, Read Scripture, Invite Others, Pray.) You can learn more about these practices and find resources for how to develop them here.

You can also view last week’s sermon, where we explore these practices in the context of Jesus’ call to Peter to take up our cross and follow him.

During these days of Lent, and every day, may your life be enriched by attentiveness to the Holy Spirit and the daily diligence of spiritual practices. May you discover the reward of practicing the faith until you have it, and the joy of practicing the faith because you have it.

Grace and Peace,

The Rev. Magrey deVega
Senior Pastor, Hyde Park United Methodist
 
 
 

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 from around the country who are exploring a call into ministry. It was incredibly inspiring in its hopeful vision of the future of the United Methodist Church.

In one of the opening worship services, my colleague and friend Rev. Debbie Allen offered this guided prayer, which was published by the spiritual resource Enfleshed.

It is a prayer meant to be prayed slowly and meditatively to allow the Holy Spirit to move in and between the phrases. You might simply choose to read the prayer to yourself silently, pausing along the way. You might be creative, audio recording yourself on your phone or other device, so that you can close your eyes as you receive the prayer in your own voice. Or you might have someone else do the same for you, as you experience the prayer together.

However you offer it to God, may this prayer be a blessing to you as it was to me.

God Who Pays Attention

By M. Jade Keiser

God who feels,

God who pays attention,

God who formed webs of life entangled,

Help me to notice today…

To notice my body – what it’s telling me it needs and wants.

To notice my neighbors – who they are and how they are.

To notice the creatures and creations around me – each as a valuable life of their own.

You know my limitations – what is enough or too much

To be aware of at once.

To connect with.

To feel. To hold.

Do not allow me to rush pass what needs or deserves my attention.

Neither let me be overwhelmed by trying to bear more than my share.

Just help me to be alive to what is,

alive to you within and around.

Amen. 

The Rev. Magrey deVega
Senior Pastor, Hyde Park United Methodist
 
 
 

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. It is captured in a word that I’m claiming as a guide over the next forty days.

Savor.

I’m going to focus as much attention as I can on savoring every aspect of being alive.

  • Savoring each conversation.
  • Savoring each bite.
  • Savoring each breath.
  • Savoring each punchline.
  • Savoring each sunset.
  • Savoring each beautiful day.
  • Savoring each ugly day.
  • Savoring every sensation of being alive.

Other traditions might call this mindfulness. It is a focus on the present that counters grief (which pulls us into the past) and fear (which pulls us into the future.) Savoring is a spiritual companion to gratitude, since one cannot be thankful without pausing, and pausing is an invitation to savoring.

In a way, I guess I am giving up something for Lent after all.

  • Giving up hurriedness.
  • Giving up envy.
  • Giving up shame.
  • Giving up boredom.
  • Giving up excess.
  • Giving up selfishness.
  • Giving up distractions.
  • Giving up life as usual, to gain life as God intends.

I’ll see how it goes. And yes, I’ll be savoring every sip of coffee.

Grace and Peace,

The Rev. Magrey deVega
Senior Pastor, Hyde Park United Methodist
 
 
 

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 episode. These moments change you, leaving an indelible imprint.

For Jesus, the transfiguration was a defining moment in his life. On a mountaintop with his three closest friends, Jesus appeared glowing white, accompanied by Elijah and Moses. And he heard a voice from heaven: “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

The synoptic gospel writers tell this story about halfway in their gospels, to suggest that the transfiguration was not just important to the life of Jesus, it was important to the salvation story of all humanity. The presence of Elijah and Moses, the words heard at Christ’s baptism, and the allusion to mountaintop experiences throughout the Bible all point to the grand sweep of salvation history.

The transfiguration story is therefore a defining moment for all those who walk the life of faith. Will we choose to stay on the mountaintop, as Peter, James, and John preferred, or will we enter a life of self-sacrifice, commitment, and surrender to God?

Wesleyan Christians refer to the daily decisions to follow Jesus as the process of sanctification. It is the grace-empowered journey of slowly being conformed to the image of Christ in every aspect of our lives. Catherine Livingston was a nineteenth-century Methodist married to the preacher Freeborn Garretson. In an entry in her personal diary, she reflected on the defining moment in her life, when she chose to identify with Christ, in his death and resurrection:

I find myself more than ever engaged for sanctification. I desire to rest in nothing short of this great privilege. I want to serve my God with a perfect heart and willing mind. I have long seen a great beauty in this doctrine, and long to bear witness to the truth of it. I last night dreamed I was crucified. Be it so, Lord Jesus! Let me die that I may live, and that my life may be hid with you. Such a day of heaviness and travail of soul I have not experienced in a long time. (Garretson Family papers, UMC Archives, Drew University)

 
This Sunday, we celebrate Transfiguration Sunday, the final Sunday before the season of Lent. Join us for this important last step of preparation before we begin our journey to the cross.

In the words of Peter on the mountain, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.”

Grace and Peace,

The Rev. Magrey deVega
Senior Pastor, Hyde Park United Methodist
 
 
 

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 anticipating the year ahead.

Our guest was our Bishop Tom Berlin, who offered insights into leadership in a large church, the hopeful future of our denomination, and reflections on the resurrection based on his book, The Third Day: Living the Resurrection, which we gave as a gift to all our leaders.

It also included my annual “State of the Church” address, in which I observed the many reasons to be grateful for over the past year, and offered the opportunities and challenges for us in the year ahead.

So, in lieu of a longer Midweek Message, I encourage you to watch my address here.

Thank you to our amazing collection of leaders and volunteers, as we embark on an exciting year ahead.

Grace and Peace,

The Rev. Magrey deVega
Senior Pastor, Hyde Park United Methodist
 
 
 

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 down the road and back again.

Your heart is true, you’re a pal and a confidant.

Many of our most popular television shows explored the beauty of true friendships, from “Cheers” (“Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name”) to “Friends” (“I’ll be there for you / When the rain starts to fall”) and even as far back as Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood (“Won’t you be my neighbor?”)

We all grew up knowing the value of having a close group of friends to be by our side, to help us face the highs and lows of life.

So, what’s gone wrong?

Many studies over recent years have chronicled our current “Friendship Recession.” The American Perspectives Survey, conducted by the Survey Center of American Life, (American Enterprise Institute, 2021) found that Americans have fewer closer friendships than they did in 1990, talk to their friends less often, and rely less on friends for personal support.

Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic is a factor, but there are other explanations for this downward trend, including the fact that Americans are working longer hours and traveling more for work than before, diminishing time to make and maintain solid friendships. (American Enterprise Institute, 2021)

THIS SUNDAY: STRONGER FRIENDSHIPS

We will explore the value of friendships this Sunday as part of our current worship series “You are Not Alone.” We will gain insight from passages from the Bible’s wisdom literature – Ecclesiastes and Proverbs – including these famous verses: “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil.” (Ecclesiastes 5:9) and “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” (Proverbs 27:9)

We will also learn from the great C.S. Lewis, who wrote an essay on friendship in his book, “The Four Loves:”

“Friendship arises out of mere Companionship when two or more of the companions discover that they have in common some insight or interest or even taste which the others do not share and which, till that moment, each believed to be his own unique treasure (or burden). The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, “What? You too? I thought I was the only one … It is when two such persons discover one another, when, whether with immense difficulties and semi-articulate fumblings or with what would seem to us amazing and elliptical speed, they share their vision – it is then that Friendship is born. And instantly they stand together in an immense solitude.” (C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves)

See you Sunday, as we rediscover the power of friendship, and learn ways to strengthen them.

Grace and Peace,

The Rev. Magrey deVega
Senior Pastor, Hyde Park United Methodist