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News

Cold Weather Shelter

Cold Weather Shelter

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...

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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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Christmas at Hyde Park

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.

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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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Christmas Poinsettias

Christmas Poinsettias

Starting Dec. 5. 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 poinsettias online here or visit the table in the Courtyard on Dec. 10 and 17.

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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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2023 Impact Report

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...

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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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Honoring 24 Years of Service

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.

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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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Hope for Anxiety

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...

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Pray for Pakistan and Hawaii

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...

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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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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...

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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...

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Let’s Go Cruisin’!

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...

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Abounding in Hope

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...

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A Time of Comfort and Strength

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...

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Leading On Purpose

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...

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Pentecost: Visions and Dreams

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...

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Graduation and Ascension

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...

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Why The UMC? Part 3

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...

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Why The UMC? Part 2

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...

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Why The UMC? Part 1

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...

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Love is Kind

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...

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Encountering Resurrection

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...

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On Thy Lonely Way

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, –...

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Three Timely Prayers

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...

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