Hyde Park United Methodist

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

What if courage comes from knowing we're never alone? St. Patrick, a key figure in early Celtic Christianity, gave us a prayer that brings comfort and strength to those who feel lost, alone, or afraid.

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

 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

What if uncertainty could still lead us to God? Merton’s prayer is striking in its vulnerability ("I have no idea where I am going"), yet it also affirms that our desire to please God is enough, even in our ignorance.

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

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

What if peace comes from knowing when to act and when to surrender? The Serenity Prayer beautifully balances personal agency, humble surrender, and keen discernment, making it one of the most repeated prayers of our time. 

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

What if true renewal begins with surrender? John Wesley’s prayer for covenant renewal is a powerful reminder to shift our focus away from ourselves and toward obedience and surrender to God. 

 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

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

What if God’s intent is to deliver us from evil, not use it? The Lord’s Prayer reminds us that God stands against evil, desiring our deliverance. The final line is a benedictory alleluia, declaring that all of who we are belongs to God, for all creation is part of His kingdom.

Reflection Questions:
1. What would it mean to give God all of what you have and do?
2. How can you make your life a living Temple in which God resides?
3. What new insights do you have about the Lord’s Prayer, and what difference will it make?

Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

This week, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho wrap up our series on the Lord’s Prayer by asking a surprising question: why do we say a final line that doesn’t actually appear in scripture? They explore how tradition, worship, and scripture have long been in conversation—shaping how we pray and how we see God. From ancient manuscripts to personal reflections, this episode uncovers the deeper meaning behind “forever and ever, Amen.” Join us as we reflect on what it means to see our everyday lives through the lens of eternity.

Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps