Top News
The Blessing of the Animals
Dear Hyde Park Family, My first pet was a turtle. I was young when I received one as a gift from a friend. It was a small box turtle that I kept it in a green plastic bowl shaped around a fake island and topped with a plastic palm tree. I thought about naming it after...
Parents’ Night Out
Parents: Enjoy a night out on the town 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10! Children will party the night away celebrating Jesus's love with pizza, crafts, games and more! $10 per child, max of $30 per family RSVP now for this fun night! Questions? Email...
Blessing of the Pets Service
3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5 - Parking lot in front of the Magnolia Building (corner of Magnolia and Azeele St.) As we celebrate God's acts of creation in worship, we also celebrate God's creation of animals. All people are welcome to attend and your pet to this short...
What is Your Thin Place?
Dear Hyde Park Family, In Celtic spirituality there is a term called “thin places,” where a person experiences the God’s presence more readily than in any other place. Travel writer Eric Weiner describes them as “those rare locales where the distance between heaven...
Gasparilla Parking
Buy your Gasparilla Children's Parade (Jan. 21) parking tickets here. All proceeds support our youth missions.Buy your Gasparilla Pirate's Fest Parade (Jan. 28) parking tickets here. All proceeds support our PrimeTimers ministry.
Thank You for Providing Shelter: Julie Watkinson
Good day, I wanted to reach out and thank all our community partners and ask you to please extend my gratitude to your staff and many, many volunteers. You opened your hearts and shelters to provide our most vulnerable population, a hot meal, and a warm place to...
Cold Weather Jan 2023
Hyde Park United Methodist is part of a network of shelters that provide warm, secure space for those experiencing homelessness. The program is administered by Hillsborough County government, which monitors weather conditions and issues an alert when the weather...
All Things Christmas
Make room for God as advent begins. Check out all of our Christmas services times and events.
Come, Thou Almighty King
Dear Advent Pilgrims, We are about to round the corner and come down the home stretch of our journey through Advent. Be sure to check out our website for descriptions of all the exciting events happening next week, starting with this Sunday: Family Christmas Service:...
LOOK EAST! (THIS WEEKEND)
Dear Advent Pilgrims, As we approach the half-way mark of our journey to Christmas, we have some special events this Saturday and Sunday that will comprise a joyous, festive weekend. We hope you will make one or more of these events a part of your holiday...
A Child of the Light
Dear Advent Pilgrims, Our journey to Bethlehem is guided by the songs of Advent, hymns written to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus Christ. It is a series based on one of my earliest books, titled Songs for the Waiting: Devotions Inspired by the Hymns of...
A Gift for a King
What do you give to a king who has everything? A few years ago, during a trip to London, my daughters and I visited the Tower of London and made the compulsory tourist stop to see the Crown Jewels. This impressive collection features royal crowns, mantles, scepters,...
2022 Impact Report
View the 2022 Impact Report to see how your generosity of time, talents and financial giving allowed us to Make God’s Love Real in the past year.
SERVE Day Nov. 20
Be part of SERVE Day 2022! Individuals from Hyde Park will sort food, park cars, handout turkeys and more at the Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent on Nov. 20. The address of the tent is 2609 N Rome Ave, Tampa, FL 33607. Shifts are available throughout the day....
The Fragrance of Gratitude
Dear Hyde Park Family, Are there certain fragrances that evoke strong memories for you? I was surprised to learn recently that the same part of our brain that processes our sense of smell is the same as where we store our memories. Your olfactory bulb is connected to...
Living with Gratitude
Dear Hyde Park Family, This Sunday we begin a new worship series titled “Living with Gratitude.” It is a continuation of the leadership theme with which we started the year, based on Diana Butler Bass’ book Grateful: The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks. Each...
Therefore… “Go?”
Thirty years ago, I was in a small group Bible study in college, in which the leader was talking about Matthew 28:18-20, our scripture reading for this Sunday’s Missions Celebration. Jesus utters these iconic words to his disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of...
A Gift for Yourself
Dear Hyde Park Family, It is a condition that affects about one in 1 in 5 adults in the United States each year. One in 6 American youth experience this challenge, and it is the most common cause of hospitalizations of people under the age of 45. It is the leading...
Hurricane Ian Relief Update
Dear Hyde Park Family, Thank you for the amazing response to the urgent plea for water last weekend for residents of Florida impacted by Hurricane Ian. In less than 24 hours, you donated about 4.5 tons of water, the equivalent of over 1,200 gallons. That water has...
Voter Registration and Information
Click here for the Get Out The Vote Toolkit Click here for For the Hillsborough County students K-8 Contest
Hurricane Information and Resources
Relief Efforts HURRICANE IAN RELIEF Click here for the Newest Update from the Florida Conference $68,873.90 In Hurricane Ian Relief So Far Thank you for the amazing response to the urgent plea for water last weekend for residents of...
Special Midweek Message: A Pastoral Word Before the Storm
Dear Hyde Park Family, Today’s special Midweek Message is in the form of this video, in which I offer you and your loved ones a pastoral word of comfort and courage in the face of Hurricane Ian. Blessings to you and your family as we navigate these days ahead. Magrey
Remembering Rich Mullins
Dear Hyde Park Family, Last Monday was the 25th anniversary of the tragic death of Rich Mullins, one of the greatest contemporary Christian music artists, and songwriter of the soundtrack of my youth. His song “Awesome God” debuted during my senior year in high school...
For Everything a Season
Dear Hyde Park Family, At the outset of a meeting last Tuesday of the Committee on Lay Leadership, I read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, which contains the iconic “For everything there is a season” passage. Then I read a lovely poem by Laura Grace Weldon titled, “Compost...
Church Conference October 6
We are having our annual Church Conference at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday Oct. 6, in the Magnolia Building downstairs. It will include a vote on 2023 leadership nominations and adjustments to membership rolls. Every church member is a voting member and welcome to attend. A...
The Art of Hearing God’s Voice
Dear Hyde Park Family, “Can you hear me now?” You may remember that famous line from the advertising campaign for Verizon Wireless. It began on January 14, 2002, when nearly half of all Americans owned a cell phone. The ad assured Verizon subscribers that their cell...
Why I Love Being United Methodist
Dear Hyde Park Family, As we conclude our worship series “The Meaning of Methodist” this Sunday, here are ten reasons I love being United Methodist. I pray they resonate with you, too. 1. I love how United Methodists view God. We believe that first and foremost, God...
Seven Habits to Change Your Life with Dr. Erica Clark
Habits have the power to influence our circumstances, for better or for worse. Licensed psychologist, Dr. Erica J. Clark, will highlight seven life-changing habits that are proven to enhance well-being, improve relationships and increase overall life satisfaction....
Shaping the Future
Dear Hyde Park Family, Today I am remembering some very special people in my life. I remember the woman who worked in the church nursery when I was just a small child. I don’t remember her name, but I can still recollect her face and her smile. She welcomed me when my...
Living into Our Calling
Dear Hyde Park Family, The world lost a major spiritual voice last Monday when we learned of the death of Frederick Buechner. He was a Presbyterian minister, spiritual teacher and prolific author of 39 books. He is one of the most often quoted writers by preachers...
A Prayer For A New School Year
Dear Hyde Park Family, This week, schools are beginning a new year all across our area. It is a time mixed with anticipation, apprehension and the welcome return of routine. It is also an opportunity for us to pray God’s blessings on our students, teachers, families,...
It’s Good to Be Back!
Dear Hyde Park Family, I returned to the office this week, having relished the gift of a study and renewal leave. My daughters and I shared some wonderful experiences, the insights from which I am eager to share with you over the weeks and months ahead. For now, I am...
Facilities and Property Task Force: Congregational Update
July 2022 Update MLC Update: Facilities Task Force Concludes with Recommendations The Facilities Task Force presented recommendations on Thursday, July 7 to the MLC members. All recommendations passed unanimously! We are excited to share the next steps with you. MLC...
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...
An Exciting Summer Ahead
Dear Hyde Park Family, Starting Monday, June 13, I will begin a six-week period of study leave and renewal. It will be a time away from daily ministry at Hyde Park United Methodist, enabling me to return on August 1 with renewed clarity and energy for the long haul of...
Living The Three
(Note: Read to the end of today’s Midweek Message for a pastoral statement on the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.) Dear Hyde Park Family, People attending our in-person worship services may have noticed that for the past several weeks I have preceded my...
A Word for Graduates
Dear Hyde Park Family, We are now in graduation season here in the Tampa Bay area, as we celebrate high school seniors embarking on an exciting and unfolding future. We will be honoring our seniors this Sunday in worship, as well as praying for graduating students at...
There Once was a Journey
Dear Hyde Park Family, Happy National Limerick Day! I know; today’s observance was likely not on your calendar. It wasn’t on mine, either, until I randomly checked this website yesterday. In case you’re wondering, today is also International Nurses Day,...
A Mother’s Day Prayer
Dear Hyde Park Family, In preparation for this Sunday, when we celebrate and honor the mothers and mother figures in our lives, here is a reprise of a prayer for Mother’s Day that I first offered years ago. May it guide us into a deeper appreciation for these special...
The Original Six-Word Story
Dear Easter People, There is a legend that someone once asked Ernest Hemingway to write a story using only six words. His response? “For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.” Since then, the idea of a “Six-Word Story” has grown in popularity. One article defines it as “a...
Top Serving Opportunities
Are you looking to get connected or even looking for service hours? Here we have a list of our top serving opportunities that you can get involved in! Adult Bible Study Facilitator Serve any day; lead a small group or class for adults; curriculum and training...
See You at the Starting Line!
Dear Hyde Park Pilgrims, Don’t finish what you can’t start. That’s a twist on the classic cliché, but it is sage advice for our tendency to jump quickly to Easter without moving through the Passion. Our stores are stocked with plastic grass and chocolate bunnies, yet...
A Safe Place for Questions
Dear Hyde Park Family, Last Sunday morning, I spent the 9:30 hour with about thirty of our seventh-grade confirmation students, to walk them through a rehearsal for our Confirmation Service on April 24. I also spent time with the entire youth group, for a special...
Praying as the Prodigal
Dear Lenten Pilgrims, In March 2010, during a family trip to Paris, we visited the Rodin Museum, featuring the work of the great sculptor Auguste Rodin. We saw his most famous sculpture, The Thinker, along with many other amazing works. In contrast to the smooth...
Grace in Every Moment
Dear Hyde Park Family, Last week, I returned from spending a few days in San Diego, where my older daughter Grace is a junior at San Diego State. My younger daughter Madelyn flew over from Washington, D.C., giving the three of us a fun time to reconnect....
Gratitude from Endowment
We are so THANKFUL for the "Leading with Gratitude" event last week which was sponsored by the Richard C. Langford Endowment. This endowment was created in loving memory of him by his family in 2015. The event featured Diana Butler Bass who is an award-winning...
Three More Things You Might Give Up for Lent
Dear Lenten Pilgrims, Five years ago, I wrote a Midweek Message titled “Ten Other Things You Might Give Up for Lent,” which was subsequently picked up and published by Ministry Matters, our denomination’s online publication. You may wish to refer back to it as a guide...
Prayer for Ukraine
Dear Hyde Park Family, As we begin this Lenten journey, we join our hearts and spirits in prayer for the devastation occurring in the country of Ukraine and the trauma experienced by its people around the world. We pray for an end to violence, comfort for the mourning...
Lent
Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Christian season called Lent. Lent originated in the fourth century, and was initially a time of preparation for those being baptized at Easter. The ashes symbolize our humility before God, and our recognition that we are mortal....
If the Transfiguration Happened Today
Dear Hyde Park Family, For today’s Midweek Message, I’m resurrecting (pun intended) a message from 2018, in which I playfully contemplate what the transfiguration of Jesus, observed by Christians this Sunday, might look like in today’s social media world. ...