Sermon Archives
Our sermon archives is a resource for you wherever you are in your faith journey.
Grounded in Humility (January 18, 2026)
In this message, Pastor Magrey deVega reflects on Jesus’ teaching that true greatness is found not in status, recognition, or power, but in humble service. Drawing from the story of James and John, and the “drum major instinct,” we’re invited to reexamine why we serve and who we see when we do. As the Grounded series concludes, this sermon calls us to discover the image of God in one another and to live a life rooted in humility, connection, and love expressed through service.
Reflection Questions:
1. To what degree do you exhibit a “Drum Major Instinct?”
2. How can ambition be a healthy thing to have? When does it become unhealthy?
3. How can serving help you see the divine image in others?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Grounded
Go Deeper (January 4, 2026)
In the opening message of our new sermon series Grounded, Pastor Magrey deVega reflects on Jesus’ call to the first disciples in Luke 5, where a long, exhausting night of fishing gives way to an unexpected abundance. Through the image of casting nets into deeper water, this sermon explores what it means to trust God beyond our plans, habits, and assumptions. As we step into a new year filled with both hope and uncertainty, we’re invited to consider where God may be calling us to go deeper — in faith, in service, and in our relationships — trusting that Christ already knows where life and abundance are found.
Reflection Questions:
1. What would it mean for you to make “Deeper” a goal for your spiritual journey this year?
2. How will you grow deeper in your service to others?
3. How will you grow deeper in your relationships with others?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
What's Next? | Beyond the Sermon
In this Week One Grounded conversation, Magrey and Matt reflect on what it really means to begin a new year with intention. From an unexpected video game metaphor to Wesleyan roots, they explore how personal spiritual rhythms, shared faith practices, and a commitment to social holiness shape a grounded life. Along the way, they touch on why Methodist distinctives still matter, how faith moves beyond the self, and what it looks like to step into the year ahead with clarity, purpose, and depth.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Touched by Grace (January 11, 2025)
In this message, Pastor Magrey deVega invites us to return to one of the most foundational moments of the Christian life: baptism. Through personal reflection, Scripture, and the story of Jesus and John the Baptist, we’re reminded that baptism is not just a past event but a daily grounding practice. On long, hard days, remembering our baptism helps us reclaim a clean conscience, renew our courage, and live with integrity. As we reaffirm our baptismal vows to renounce evil, resist injustice, and trust in Christ, we are called to live faithfully, even before belief feels certain, trusting that God’s grace continues to raise us to new life.
Reflection Questions:
1. What is your favorite memory of a baptism?
2. How will remembering your baptism strengthen you during hard days?
3. How will you “behave until you believe, so that you can behave because you believe”?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
What Happens When You’re Baptized? | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Matt and Magrey reflect on Baptism of the Lord Sunday by sharing personal baptism stories and exploring why baptism is more than a single moment in time. They talk about baptism as an intergenerational promise, the role of community and instruction in the Christian tradition, and how remembering our baptism invites imagination, play, and renewal—not just formality. Along the way, they unpack the United Methodist understanding of grace, why God is the primary actor in baptism, and how dying and rising with Christ continues to shape faith across a lifetime.
Reach out to Mat with any questions about YOUR baptism journey at MHotho@hydeparkumc.org
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Grounded: Part 3 // Pastor Magrey deVega // January 18, 2026
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously diagnosed the problem with pride as having a “drum major instinct,” adapting a phrase from the Methodist preacher J. Wallace Hamilton. Indeed, much of the hostility and tension in the world can be addressed if we dig our societal roots deeper into service and humility, just as Jesus taught his disciples in this text from Matthew.
Reflection Questions:
1. To what degree do you exhibit a “Drum Major Instinct?”
2. How can ambition be a healthy thing to have? When does it become unhealthy?
3. How can serving help you see the divine image in others?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
What MLK Knew About Power | Beyond the Sermon
In this Beyond the Sermon conversation, Magrey deVega and Matt Hoto dig into the ideas behind the “drum major instinct” and why the pull toward attention, affirmation, and influence shows up so naturally in our lives. They walk through how Jesus reframes greatness in the Gospels, why the same story appears differently in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and how context and perspective shape the way faith communities grow up and mature. Along the way, they reflect on preaching legacies like J. Wallace Hamilton and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., especially how MLK’s call to humility, justice, and nonviolence still challenges how we lead, speak, and engage the world today.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Draw Near
Draw Near to Wonder (November 30, 2025)
This first week of Advent doesn’t begin with angels or shepherds — it begins with Jesus telling us to stay awake, lift our heads, and look honestly at the world as it really is. In a season of fatigue, fear, and uncertainty, Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans invites us into a deeper spiritual practice: wonder.
Reflection Questions:
1. When you get overwhelmed by the world’s problems, what helps you notice signs of new life in front of you?
2. What signs of wonder are you seeing in the world today?
3. Moments of wonder are often interpreted as "God is with me" moments, revealing a sense of divine presence in everyday life. When was the last time you had one of those moments? What was it like?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Where We Find Hope Now | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Sally Campbell-Evans and Mat Hotho open Advent with an unexpected text—Jesus’ apocalyptic warnings in Luke 21. Instead of forecasting the end of the world, they explore how these passages uncover God’s presence right in the middle of fear, uncertainty, and ordinary life. Together they reflect on why Advent begins with a jolt, how to notice the quiet signs of hope already growing around us, and what it means to “draw near” to God and one another when everything feels unsteady.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
When Silence Speaks (December 7, 2025)
This week, Pastor Magrey explores Zechariah’s nine months of silence — not as punishment, but as the place where he finally learned to notice God’s steady, reliable work. In a world that feels uncertain, his story invites us to slow down, pay attention, and discover how God often speaks through the quiet rhythms of everyday life.
If you’re longing for grounding this Advent, you’re not alone. We’d love to walk that journey with you.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps.
Reflection Questions:
1. How often do you watch the sunrise? What feelings does it elicit for you?
2. What are you most longing for right now?
3. What difference does it make to see time less linearly, and more cyclically?
The Rhythm Beneath Our Hope | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Mat and Magrey dive into Luke 1 with a surprisingly “Wicked” twist (some of us just can’t help ourselves). What starts as a chat about Zechariah’s song turns into a reflection on stability, spiritual practice, and why Luke’s Gospel sometimes feels like a Broadway musical. Along the way they explore Benedictine rhythms, the gift of repetition, and how ancient songs still shape our hope today.
The Canticle of the Turning:
https://youtu.be/F9QeTmRCpW4?si=mHFOinxdFICTDvri
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Preparing the Way for Justice (December 14, 2025)
In week three of our Advent series Draw Near, Pastor Justin LaRosa turns to John the Baptist’s unsettling call to repentance — not as shame or fear, but as a pathway toward justice.
Through Luke’s Gospel, Justin explores what it means to “bear fruit worthy of repentance,” moving beyond belief or ritual into concrete, everyday practices of generosity, integrity, and respect. From ancient deserts to modern trains, this message challenges us to notice who we leave behind, and how preparing the way for Christ always draws us closer to the margins.
Questions:
1. What jumped out at you from the text?
2. John says to bear fruit worthy of repentance. How do you understand repentance?
3. What obstacles do you see in your life? Community’s and world’s? Name some ways you have repented in your life that have resulted in fruit.
4. How does John’s understanding of repentance draw you and our church near to justice?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
The Other Side of Repentance | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Justin LaRosa and Mat Hotho revisit John the Baptist’s call to repentance as a turning toward something better, exploring it as a shared, lived practice that reaches beyond individual behavior and into the systems, relationships, and habits that shape our common life. Their conversation reflects on how repentance takes form through generosity, integrity, and respect for all people, and how proximity, presence, and community can change both us and the world around us. Drawing from the work of The Portico and the witness of the wider church, this episode considers what it looks like to prepare the way for God’s kingdom in real, tangible ways.
Find out more and connect with us at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Discover how The Portico is building community and how you can be part of it at ThePortico.org
Made to Carry Love (December 21, 2025)
In this Advent sermon, Pastor Magrey deVega explores how God has always chosen to draw near through people. From the Tabernacle in the wilderness to Mary’s “yes” at the Annunciation, Scripture reveals a God who fills, overshadows, and dwells among those willing to bear love for others. This message invites us to consider how we, too, are called to become living signs of God’s presence for a world marked by loneliness, fear, and longing — especially in this season of hope.
Reflection Questions:
1. What would it mean for you to be a “Tabernacle” for God?
2. What would it mean for you to be a “Doula” for God?
3. How will you prepare for the fresh arrival of Jesus in and through your life?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
The Presence We Carry | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho reflect on Mary’s role in the Christmas story by placing it within the much longer arc of Israel’s history—from tabernacle and temple to incarnation and church. They explore how Luke connects past, present, and future to show a God who is both mobile and faithful, present in the wilderness and rooted in real history. As Christmas Eve approaches, the conversation invites us to notice where God is already near, and how we might carry that presence into the lives of others.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Is This All There Is To Christmas? (December 24, 2025)
On Christmas Eve, Pastor Magrey deVega reflects on the quiet question many of us carry into the season — Is this all? — naming the tension between the hope we sing about and the very real pain we carry. Rather than asking us to escape the world or deny its struggles, this message invites us to meet a God who draws near right in the middle of it all. Through the story of the shepherds and the sign of the Christ child, we are reminded that love meets us where we are and gently reorients our lives toward something deeper.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Today Is the Day (December 28, 2025)
In this message, Rev. Bernie Lieving reflects on Jesus’ first sermon in Luke 4, where he declares that Isaiah’s words are fulfilled today, not someday, not eventually, but now. As we move from Advent into the new year, this sermon invites us to pause, breathe, and consider what it looks like to carry the light of Christ forward into everyday life. Drawing on Scripture, the meaning of Jubilee, and the shared light of Christmas Eve, we are reminded that faith is not just something we celebrate, but something we live today and every day.
Reflection Questions:
1. In 2025 have you felt God giving you a mission and, if so, how did you respond.
2. How should Jesus's Spirit-filled mission, as prophesied by Isaiah, impact how we live as His followers today?
3. In 2026 how will you carry the light of Christ in your words and actions into the darkness of the world in which we live?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Christ At The Center
The Methodist "Via Media" (October 5, 2025)
This Sunday, Pastor Magrey deVega opens our new series Christ at the Center, exploring how followers of Jesus can find unity in an increasingly divided world. Drawing from Paul’s words to the Corinthians and the Methodist heritage of the “via media” — the way through the center — we’re reminded that faith invites us beyond extremes and toward love, balance, and shared purpose.
Reflection Questions:
1. In what ways are you concerned about polarization today?
2. What value do you find in the via media, the way of the center?
3. How might you practice listening and empathy with those who disagree with you?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Christ at the Center of Chaos | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho unpack how faith can guide us through a world of deep division. Drawing from Paul’s words to the Corinthians, they explore what it means to seek unity in a polarized time—not by watering down convictions, but by finding the best in one another’s perspectives. From the Methodist idea of the “via media,” or middle way, to the wisdom of Wesley’s three simple rules, they reflect on how love, empathy, and curiosity can help us stay centered when everything else feels split apart.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Faith Over Politics (October 12, 2025)
This Sunday, Pastor Magrey deVega continues our series Christ at the Center with a message about faith and politics — and how Jesus shows us a better way through the division. When the Pharisees and Herodians tried to trap him with a political question, Jesus refused the extremes and revealed a third way: a life guided by love, truth, and humility. Discover how followers of Christ can stay engaged without losing compassion — and why the healthiest faith can still shape a broken world.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Deeper Into What Divides Us | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho explore what it means to keep Christ at the center of our political lives. Using Jesus’ famous words—“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”—they unpack how faith can guide us through today’s culture of division, misinformation, and echo chambers. From the craftiness of the Pharisees to the traps of modern media, they draw a line between ancient wisdom and our digital age, reminding us that discernment, balance, and love remain timeless spiritual practices.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Faith Without Fear (October 19, 2025)
In the final week of Christ at the Center, Pastor Magrey deVega revisits a wild Sunday when Hyde Park was protested by Westboro Baptist Church—for being “too open-minded.” But instead of responding with hate, the church chose love, gentleness, and respect—the way 1 Peter calls us to. Discover how real faith holds conviction without closing hearts, and how open-mindedness—rooted in Jesus—can become one of the most powerful witnesses we have today.
Reflection Questions:
1. What positions in the Social Principles are instructive and persuasive for you?
2. How will you work toward bridging polarizing differences with others?
3. How will you work toward peace and justice in the world?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Are We Too Open Minded? | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho close out the Christ at the Center series by exploring what it really means to live out our faith in a complex world. They unpack the United Methodist Church’s revised Social Principles—a modern guide to how Christians engage issues of justice, technology, and compassion with conviction and humility. From the strong verbs that call us to act, to the dangers of certainty that can harden faith into harm, this conversation is about the power of love, presence, and openness in a divided time.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Life As God Intends
Freedom from Anxiety (September 7, 2025)
This week we welcome Rev. Dr. Mandy McDow, senior pastor of First UMC Los Angeles, for a fresh take on the Sermon on the Mount. Known for her humor, honesty, and fearless preaching, Mandy brings us into Jesus’ challenging words: “Do not worry.”
With stories that will make you laugh and truths that will make you think, she helps us discover how faith and courage can free us from anxiety — and open us to the Kingdom of God here and now.
Reflection Questions:
1. In what ways are you carrying worry right now?
2. How can your faith in God provide you stability amid your worry?
3. How has this church helped you live your life as God intends?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
God's Word on Worry | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey welcomes Rev. Dr. Mandy McDow from Los Angeles First UMC. Together they explore Jesus’ words about worry—why it’s such a universal part of being human, how it shows up in our daily lives, and what faith offers us in response. Drawing on Mandy’s unique ministry in downtown LA and her own reflections, they talk about how trust, integrity, and community become anchors when life feels uncertain. With stories that move from family life to church in a parking lot, this conversation reminds us that even in seasons of anxiety, God’s presence is steady and we are never alone.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
God’s Grace Chase (September 14, 2025)
This Sunday, Rev. Justin LaRosa shares how God relentlessly seeks, finds, and celebrates the lost through the Parable of the Lost Sheep. With a real-life rescue story and a call to “Be a Buford,” we’re reminded that God’s grace is relentless and never gives up on anyone.
God’s “Grace Chase” is for you and for those you love. Watch and be encouraged that no one is ever too far gone to be found by the Shepherd.
Reflection Questions:
1. What does being “lost” look like in real life—either spiritually, emotionally or relationally? Describe your experience with God’s “Grace Chase.”
2. In what practical ways can we, as individuals or as a group, become a “Buford” for someone who feels far from God? Be a Buford!
3. Jesus says heaven celebrates when one person is found. How might our church community reflect that same joy and seek those weaker?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Is Being Present Enough? | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Justin and Savanna talk about what it means to feel lost—and how God’s grace often shows up in those moments through the presence of others. Justin shares stories from the Portico community and from his own life, reminding us that sometimes the most powerful thing we can offer isn’t the “right words” but simply showing up with humility and compassion. Together, they reflect on how presence, accountability, and community help us notice when someone is struggling, and how God can even use our own scars to bring healing to others.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
When Creation Groans (September 21, 2025)
This Sunday, Pastor Magrey deVega continues our series Life as God Intends with a message from Romans 8 about a world that is “groaning as in labor pains.” When it feels like humanity has lost its heartbeat, what does it mean to be “midwives of hope,” called to push forward with courage, faith, and love? Together, we’ll explore how God’s Spirit intercedes in our weakness, and how our vision as a church—connecting in loving community, being transformed to be more like Jesus, and equipping others to live life as God intends—gives us a pulse of hope in a hurting world.
Reflection Questions:
1. In what ways do you experience creation “groaning” right now?
2. How is God transforming you to be more like Jesus? How will you participate in that transformation?
3. How will you maintain courage and strength to keep pushing through the labor pains of the world?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Grounded in Hope When Creation Groans | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey and Mat dig into Romans 8 — one of Paul’s most famous and vivid passages. Paul describes creation “groaning like childbirth,” a picture that captures both the pain of the present and the hope of what’s to come. Together, they explore how this chapter acts as a hinge in Romans: shifting from heavy theology to a vision of new life, resilience, and community.
From midwives of hope to modern struggles, they reflect on what it means to live faithfully when the world never seems perfect, and how values like integrity, courage, and humility can ground us no matter the season.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Use What God Has Given You (September 28, 2025)
This Sunday, Rev. Bernie Leiving concludes our Life as God Intends series with a powerful reflection on the Parable of the Talents. Instead of focusing on money, we look at the “talents” God has given each of us — our skills, passions, and spiritual gifts — and how they can transform lives, connect people in community, and bring God’s kingdom to earth.
Discover how to identify your gifts, “fan them into flame,” and use them to make a difference in your neighborhood and beyond.
Reflection Questions:
1. What specific God-given skills, abilities, gifts and talents entrusted to you to use in your life?
2. What "what ifs" or fears might be stopping you from stepping into greater faithfulness with your gifts?
3. What action might you take this week to put your "talents" to work for the Lord and His Kingdom?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Use What God Has Given You | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Rev. Bernie Leving and Mat Hotho wrap up our series on the church’s vision statement by exploring what it means to live out our God-given gifts. From music and art to cooking, quilting, and even writing notes of encouragement, Bernie shares how ordinary talents become extraordinary when they’re used in service to others. Along the way, he reflects on his own top spiritual gifts—healing, teaching, and faith—and how they’ve shaped his journey from a teenager saying “yes” to God to a lifetime of caring for people. Together, Bernie and Mat consider how we discover our gifts, what holds us back from using them, and the joy that comes when we lean into the unique callings God has placed on each of our lives.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
The Call to Care
Caring for Every Child (August 10, 2025)
This week, Pastor Magrey deVega opens our new “The Call to Care” series with a powerful reminder that caring for children starts in our homes, our communities, and even within ourselves. From parenting through life’s stages to healing our own inner child, discover how God’s call to love shapes every relationship we have, including the one with our truest self.
Reflection Questions:
1. How will you support and encourage professional educators in our society?
2. In what ways are the parenting metaphors helpful or unhelpful?
3. What work will you do to tend to your inner child?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Full Circle Parenting | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, we’re kicking off our new series The Call to Care by talking about what it means to care for children — both the ones in our lives and the “inner child” we all carry. From the evolving roles of parenting to the deep work of understanding ourselves, we explore how the way we care changes as we grow. It’s about more than just raising kids — it’s about becoming the kind of people who can show up with love, wisdom, and compassion, no matter the season of life.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Who Cares? Caring for Our Aging (August 17, 2025)
Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans continues our "The Call to Care" series with a message about valuing and caring for the older adults in our community. Drawing on stories of wisdom, dignity, and service, she reminds us that God has a purpose for us at every stage of life — and that true care means honoring one another through presence, language, and love.
Questions for Reflection:
1. The biblical mandate to care for others is very clear. In what ways do you enjoy helping care for others?
2 . When caring for others, especially older adults, what kind of support could benefit (or would have benefited) you in that endeavor?
3. How might God be inviting you to support our Older Adult care ministries at church?
Find out more at Hyde ParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Caring Across the Years | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans and Mat Hotho continue our series The Call to Care, reflecting on what it means to walk with people in every stage of life—especially as we age. With stories of prayer, community, and small acts of kindness, Sally shares how care isn’t just something we do, but a way of life that shapes who we are together.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Caring for Ourselves (August 24, 2025)
Pastor Magrey deVega continues our Call to Care series with a message on one of the most overlooked forms of care: caring for yourself. Drawing from 3 John, he shows how true self-care is more than self-soothing—it’s building inner resilience by tending to your body, your soul, and your mind. What daily practices help you walk in truth, strengthen your spirit, and live with greater peace? We’d love to hear how you’re practicing self-care—and to walk that journey alongside you.
Reflection Questions:
1. What are your favorite practices for “self-soothing”?
2. What practices help you build up inner resilience in your body, spirit, and mind?
3. What new practice will you develop to care more holistically for yourself?
Find out more and connect with us at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Why Self-Care Is Spiritual Care | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey deVega and Savanna Beasley dig into what it really means to practice self-care as people of faith. From routines and resilience to releasing control, they share honest reflections on the tug-of-war between structure and surrender.
Together they explore how caring for our bodies, our emotions, and even our 3 a.m. selves can help us grow closer to God. It’s a conversation about choosing rhythms that sustain us, embracing our humanity, and learning to love ourselves the way God already does.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Caring for God’s Creation (August 31, 2025)
We wrap up our series The Call to Care with the broadest call of all—caring for God’s creation. This week, Pastor Magrey deVega explores how Scripture challenges the idea of “dominion” as domination, and instead reveals our true role as stewards of the earth. What if creation isn’t ours to control, but God’s gift to protect and learn from? Every small act of care matters, and together, we can reflect God’s beauty through the way we treat the world around us.
Reflection Questions:
1. In what way does creation and nature teach you about God?
2. How does creation help you remember that you are not helpless or alone?
3. What steps will you take to care for creation?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Learning from Creation | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey and Mat reflect on what it really means to care for creation. Starting with Genesis, they unpack how a single word has shaped the way people think about our relationship with the world — sometimes for worse, but also for better when understood through the lens of stewardship and compassion. From vineyards and backyard lawns to hurricanes and baptism, the conversation weaves together metaphors, word studies, and stories that reveal how creation’s beauty points us back to God.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Living Amen
Take Me, Lord (July 6, 2025)
This week, Pastor Magrey deVega kicks off our “Living Amen” series with a powerful look at the Wesley Covenant Prayer. What happens when we stop trying to control our lives and simply say, “Take me, Lord”? Discover the history behind one of our most important prayers—and why it still has the power to change us today.
Reflection Questions:
1. What would praying “Suscipe” to God each day mean for you?
2. What new insights does the Wesley Covenant Prayer give you?
3. How will you apply the Wesley Covenant Prayer to the way you live?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
The Prayer That Calls Us Back | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho kick off our new series on history’s most powerful prayers by diving into the Wesley Covenant Prayer—a bold act of surrender that still hits hard today. They reflect on how this prayer challenges our culture of self-fulfillment and invites us to offer every part of our lives to God. Join us as we explore what it means to live with purpose, trust, and a heart that says, “Take me.”
https://www.jesuitseastois.org/news-feed/an-expanded-version-of-st-ignatius-loyolas-suscipe-prayer
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
When God’s Plan Feels Hard (July 13, 2025)
What do you do when your plans fall apart? This week, Pastor Justin LaRosa shares how the Serenity Prayer invites us to let go of control and practice a deeper kind of trust. Drawing from scripture, personal story, and spiritual practice, we explore how peace comes—not from everything getting better, but from knowing we’re not alone in the storm. Whether you’re struggling to believe or holding onto a mustard seed of faith, this message is for you.
Reflection Questions:
1. What does this tension between planning and trusting Jesus Christ look like in your own life?
2. Share one situation when your plan didn’t seem to line up with God’s. How did you “accept the things you couldn’t change?”
3. Which of the three practices—prayer, scripture, or people—do you feel most drawn to right now, and what’s one small way you could lean into it this week?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
The Prayer That’s Teaching Us Surrender | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Justin LaRosa and Mat Hotho reflect on the Serenity Prayer—not as a worn-out phrase, but as a real tool for navigating life’s hardest moments. Through honest conversation and personal stories, they explore what it means to face what we can’t control, take action where we can, and wrestle with the wisdom to know the difference.
Whether you're sitting in grief, stuck in uncertainty, or just feeling the weight of being human, this episode invites you into a deeper trust in a God who’s present—even when answers are hard to come by.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
The Prayer of Unknowing (July 20, 2025)
What if certainty isn’t the goal of faith—but trust is?
This week, Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans reflects on the powerful Thomas Merton prayer that embraces the unknown, the unseen, and the deeply human desire to follow God—even when we can’t see the road ahead.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Did you know much about Thomas Merton before today’s sermon? What surprised you about his life and witness?
2. Can you think of a time when you were unsure if you were being faithful or obedient to God, but knew in your heart that you were trying to orient your life to God’s will and God’s ways? What was that like?
3. How might God be inviting you to use this prayer (or another one from our series) in your daily faith walk?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
We Took a Trip Without a Map | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans and Mat Hotho share stories of uncertainty, reflection, and the surprising ways God shows up along the way. Inspired by the prayer of Thomas Merton, they talk about letting go of control and learning to trust—even when we don’t know where the path leads. Whether you’re standing at a crossroads or just looking for space to breathe, this episode invites you to find meaning in the journey, not just the destination.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Christ All Around Me (July 27, 2025)
What if protection doesn’t mean avoiding pain—but having the strength to stand through it? This week, Pastor Magrey deVega explores Saint Patrick’s powerful prayer and reminds us that real protection looks like courage, compassion, and Christ in every part of our lives.
Reflection Questions:
1. When have you prayed that God would protect you? What has been the result?
2. What will you do to participate in God’s protection through integrity and courage?
3. What difference will it make for you to see Christ in everyone you meet?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Our Faith Isn’t a Forcefield | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho talk about Saint Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer and what it really means to ask God for protection. Instead of treating prayer like a divine forcefield, they explore how it can strengthen us from within to face life’s challenges with courage and faith. From ancient monastic rhythms to personal spiritual tools (bracelets included), this conversation is about finding God’s presence in the practice, not the outcome.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Becoming Instruments of Peace (August 3, 2025)
This week, Rev. Bernie Leving explores the life and prayer of St. Francis—what it means to be peacemakers in a divided world, and how giving love, light, and joy might just be the way to receive it.
He reminds us that peace begins within, and only when we embody it ourselves can we share it with others.
Questions for reflection:
1. In what ways are you ready to say "yes" to what the Prayer of St. Francis calls you to be and to do?
2. How might you become an "instrument of peace" with those with whom you live, work,and socialize?
3. How might the Prayer of St. Francis lead you to a spiritual awakening?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
How Our Prayers Grow With Us | Beyond the Sermon
This week on Beyond the Sermon, Decker Tallbacka sits down with Rev. Bernie Leiving to reflect on our “Living Amen” series — and on how prayer evolves over a lifetime.
With over 65 years in ministry, Bernie shares how his understanding of prayer has deepened, from battlefield prayers to everyday gratitude. It’s a conversation about how prayer meets us where we are, changes with us, and reminds us we’re never alone.
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The Good, The Bad, The Healthy
Choosing Joy (April 27, 2025)
Joy is more than a feeling—it's a choice rooted in God’s love. Join Pastor Magrey deVega as we explore how true joy strengthens us, even in life's hardest moments. Whether you're navigating struggles or just searching for deeper meaning, this message offers hope, honesty, and encouragement for everyone.
Reflection Questions:
1. What does it mean for you to have healthy emotions?
2. How can you experience joy amid hardship?
3. What do you think it means to believe that “the joy of the Lord is your strength”?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Beyond the Sermon: Choosing Joy
In this joyful episode of Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho celebrate Holy Humor Sunday, a tradition rooted in the idea that Easter is God's ultimate "gotcha" moment against evil. They kick off a new series on emotions by diving into joy — and sharing some hilarious faith-based memes along the way. From Spongebob and St. Paul to a Smokey Bear Bible story and a nod to the eternal "Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?" debate, this episode reminds us that laughter belongs in faith, too. Join us as we find the sacred in the silly and embrace joy together.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
When Jesus Wept (May 4, 2025)
We all feel it — sadness that pulls us into the past, fear about what might happen in the future. But what if these emotions weren’t signs of weakness, but invitations to grow, connect, and heal? In this message, Pastor Magrey deVega explores one of the most moving moments in scripture — Jesus weeping over the death of his friend Lazarus — and how naming our emotions can help us reclaim peace in the present. Whether you're grieving, anxious, or simply trying to stay grounded, this is a message for you.
Reflection Questions:
1. When are you most prone to experiencing sadness? Fear?
2. In what ways can sadness and fear be beneficial? Detrimental?
3. How will you learn to name sadness and fear, and express them in a healthy way?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Beyond the Sermon: When Jesus Wept
This week, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho open up about their personal experiences growing up with emotions like fear, sadness, and anxiety. From emotional suppression to learning how to feel and express emotions in a healthy way, this episode dives deep into why our feelings matter — and how they can actually help us connect, grow, and heal. Plus: a powerful story about proud tears on a soccer field, a Ted Lasso moment, and real-life tools for staying grounded when anxiety hits.
FInd out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Owning Your Anger (May 11, 2025)
What if anger wasn't necessarily bad or good, but a signal—pointing us toward something deeper? This week, Pastor Justin LaRosa talks about how anger, when understood and channeled well, can actually lead to healing, courage, and positive change. Drawing from personal stories and scripture, we explore how Jesus got angry—and what we can learn from that today.
Reflection Questions:
1. When you think about a time you felt deeply angry, what was the source of that anger—was it rooted in love and justice, or ego and fear? How can you tell the difference?
2. How has anger shaped—or distorted—your relationships, either through denial, repression, or explosion? What would it look like to let love, rather than anger, have the final word?
3. Jesus responded to anger with purposeful, holy action. What might it look like for you to “acknowledge, analyze, invite, and act” in a current or recent situation where you’ve felt anger?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Beyond the Sermon: Owning Your Anger
What do you do when something makes you angry—not just annoyed, but deep-in-your-body angry? In this week’s episode, Justin and Mat unpack what it means to recognize and work through our anger without letting it consume us. Mat shares a real-life situation that stirred up frustration, anxiety, and powerlessness, and Justin walks through a spiritual inventory tool that helps name the source of anger, what it’s touching in us, and what role we might unknowingly play in keeping it alive.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Naming Our Anxiety (May 18, 2025)
Stress and anxiety are everywhere — but they don’t have to define your life. In this honest and hope-filled message, our Youth Director Chris Temple shares personal reflections and practical steps for navigating anxiety, with powerful insights from our youth group students. Whether you're a teen, parent, or just feeling overwhelmed, this message is for you. You’re not alone — and you don’t have to carry it alone.
Reflection Questions:
1. When was the last time you felt anxious but didn’t name it out loud? What changed—or could have changed—if you had?
2. What’s one practice (spiritual or practical) that helps you feel grounded when anxiety hits?
3. Who in your life could use a safe listener right now? And how can you be present for them without trying to fix it?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Beyond the Sermon: Decoding Your Emotions with Dr. Erica Clarke
Go behind the scenes of a powerful moment from our recent event with psychologist Dr. Erica Clarke. In her talk "Decoding Your Emotions," she unpacks how understanding our feelings can lead to healthier relationships, stronger self-awareness, and a more grounded life. She reminds us that no emotion is inherently bad — each one has a purpose, and we can learn to bring them into balance instead of letting them take over.
📄 View the full PDF handout from Dr. Clark:
https://hydeparkumc-my.sharepoint.com/personal/mhotho_hydeparkumc_org/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fmhotho%5Fhydeparkumc%5Forg%2FDocuments%2FQuickDisk%2FDecodingYourEmotions%2FDecoding%20Emotions%20Deck%20notes%2Epdf
https://hydeparkumc-my.sharepoint.com/personal/mhotho_hydeparkumc_org/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fmhotho%5Fhydeparkumc%5Forg%2FDocuments%2FQuickDisk%2FDecodingYourEmotions%2FDecoding%20Emotions%20Deck%20notes%2Epdf&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Fmhotho%5Fhydeparkumc%5Forg%2FDocuments%2FQuickDisk%2FDecodingYourEmotions&ct=1747609022613&or=Teams%2DHL&ga=1&LOF=1
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Reframing Our Nostalgia (May 25, 2025)
Nostalgia isn’t just a longing for the past — it’s a doorway to healing. In the final week of our “The Good, The Bad, and The Healthy” series, Pastor Magrey deVega invites us to remember and listen — not just to our memories, but to the voice of God speaking through them. Because healing doesn’t mean forgetting — it means remembering with honesty, and moving forward with grace.
Reflection Questions:
1. What makes you feel nostalgic, and what past moments does it make you remember?
2. How will you learn from both the good and bad memories of your past?
3. What is your inner child telling you? What do you want to tell them?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Beyond the Sermon: Reframing Our Nostalgia
In this final episode of our series on emotions, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho explore the complex emotion of nostalgia—how it helps us remember, reflect, and grow. They unpack the biblical tension between “remembering” and “listening,” and how both God and humans are called to do both. From seminary basketball games to parenting wisdom passed down unknowingly, this conversation invites us to honor the past without getting stuck in it. Whether you’re someone who misses “the good old days” or someone learning to appreciate how far you’ve come, this episode is a gentle and grounded close to a series about becoming more emotionally whole.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
The Good Book
The Only Things We Can Control (February 2, 2025)
In uncertain times, we can only control our character, our actions, and how we treat others. This Sunday we explore how spiritual practices—prayer, worship, study, and service—help us stay grounded in the way of Jesus, not as tasks to complete but as a way of being in the world.
We are honored to welcome Bishop Patrick Streiff, who served as bishop across twelve countries in Central and Southern Europe for nearly two decades. In this special conversation, he shares his wisdom on spiritual resilience, biblical inspiration, and how United Methodists around the world live out their faith amid challenge and change.
Reflection Questions:
1. How will you see spiritual practices as a way of being, rather than an expectation of doing?
2. What does it mean to you for the Bible to be inspired?
3. How can different perspectives bring you new insights when reading of the Bible?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Beyond the Sermon: The Only Things We Can Control
This week, Pastor Magrey deVega and Bishop Patrick Streiff explore the power of spiritual practices, from the Moravian texts that shaped John Wesley to the wisdom passed down through centuries of faith. They discuss how scripture, tradition, and relationships shape our journey, just as Jesus walked with His disciples toward transformation. Join the conversation on how faith is lived and shared in community.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Breaking the Cycle of Violence (February 9, 2025)
This Sunday, Pastor Magrey deVega tackles one of the toughest questions of faith—what do we do with the violence in the Bible? From ancient wars to modern conflicts, scripture has been misused to justify bloodshed. But Jesus offers a different way. The cross breaks the cycle, calling us to obedience through love, not violence. Will we choose to follow it?
Reflection Questions:
1. What biblical passages of violence are most troubling to you?
2. How will you guard against the tendency to see the Old Testament as irrelevant or inferior?
3. How will you live out the call of Jesus to non-violence?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Beyond the Sermon: Breaking the Cycle of Violence
Violence in the Bible is one of the most challenging topics to wrestle with, yet it's a necessary conversation for understanding scripture in context. This week, Mat and Magrey explore the tension between taking violent passages too literally or dismissing them entirely. They discuss how ancient texts reflect the worldview of their time, the dangers of misinterpretation, and the responsibility we have to read scripture through the lens of love and justice. How do we navigate these difficult passages in a way that deepens faith rather than distorts it? Join the discussion.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Rethinking How We See God (February 16, 2025)
This Sunday, Pastor Magrey deVega explores the unsettling depictions of God in scripture—stories of wrath, destruction, and even change of mind. Do they reveal contradictions, or do they reflect humanity’s evolving understanding of the divine? Like any lifelong relationship, our perception of God shifts over time. What if faith isn't about having all the answers, but expanding our understanding?
Reflection Questions
1. What images for God in the Bible are among your favorites? What are most troubling to you?
2. How has your relationship with God changed over time? What role did external circumstances play in those changes?
3. What new way might you explore envisioning and relating to God in your life?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Beyond the Sermon: Rethinking How We See God
This week, Mat and Magrey discuss the evolving ways God is depicted in the Bible. They reflect on how personal experiences and challenges reshape our faith, inviting us to expand our perspective rather than leave it behind. Whether through theology, life events, or moments of transformation, growth means embracing new ways of seeing God while holding on to what still resonates.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Understanding Difficult Passages of Scripture (February 23, 2025)
The Bible has been used throughout history to justify harm, oppression, and inequality—but is that what God intended? This Sunday, we explore how to approach difficult and misinterpreted scriptures with a fresh perspective, recognizing the Bible as a dynamic record of human growth and understanding. How do we read scripture in a way that honors tradition but is not trapped by it? How do we ensure our interpretations align with love and justice? Join our Pastor Magrey deVega as we unpack these questions and seek a deeper, more life-giving understanding of God's word.
Reflection Questions:
1. What childhood story has brought you deeper meaning as you have gotten older?
2. What passages in the Bible have been most troublesome for you to interpret?
3. How will you approach the Bible through the lens of love, for God and others?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Beyond the Sermon: Understanding Difficult Passages of Scripture
This week, Mat and Magrey discuss how reading deeply—whether it’s scripture, poetry, music, or film—helps us see the bigger picture of God’s plan in our lives. By engaging with different perspectives and holding multiple interpretations in tension, we grow in understanding, not just of the Bible, but of the world around us.
Join us as we explore how faith isn’t about rigid answers, but about an ongoing, dynamic conversation that shapes us into more thoughtful, compassionate people.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
How We Use the Bible (March 2, 2025)
The Bible can often feel overwhelming, ancient, or even contradictory—but what if we approached it with curiosity instead of fear? Join us this week as our Director of Production and Online Engagement, Mat Hotho, shares a fresh perspective on how engaging with Scripture can shape our daily lives. Through practical insights, he challenges us to move beyond just reading the Bible to actively applying the written word in ways that bring clarity and purpose.
Reflection questions:
1. Which parts of the Bible tend to bring you fear or frustration, and how might a sense of curiosity transform your approach to those passages?
2. When you hear the metaphor of the Bible as a ‘gem,’ how does that shift the way you think about Scripture compared to seeing it as something rigid or unchanging?
3. In what ways can you engage Scripture in community—through small groups or study partners—so it might ‘bear and become the Word of God’ for you?
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Beyond the Sermon: How We Use the Bible
When we read the Bible, we’re encountering something ancient—written by people trying to make sense of their world and their experiences with God. So why do we sometimes expect it to be immediately clear to us today? This week, Mat and Decker explore how interpreting scripture is more like unpacking a halftime show performance—full of layers, context, and perspectives beyond our own.
Join us as we discuss how history, language, and community shape our understanding of faith, and why wrestling with the text can deepen, rather than weaken, our relationship with God.
Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
Audio Sermons
