Hyde Park United Methodist

Giving of our time, talent, and treasure is a central aspect of discipleship, and, for some, is the most difficult one to surrender.

Reflection Questions:

1. When have you had a good experience baking bread, or enjoying bread someone else made?

2. What difference does it make to see yourself as part of the global church of Jesus Christ?

 3. How will you see your financial generosity as a way of making a living impact for God and others?

Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/nextsteps

Since the early church, Christians have been called to gather (ekklesia, which is translated as both “church” and “gathering.”) When we are present to each other, in worship, small groups, and service, we can experience the presence of God in a powerful way, along with the mutual support and accountability that comes with being together.

A natural and important follow-up to our 125th Anniversary Celebration is a season of recommitment to grow deeper as disciples, wider in our reach to others, and united in mission to love God and love all. This five-part series reviews the five-fold membership vow that each member took to become a part of this church. Prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian. It connects us to God, raises our attention to the Holy Spirit, and unites us together.

HydeParkUMC.org/nextsteps

Reflection Questions:
1. Reflect and describe the first time you remember praying.   

2. How have you struggled with prayer?

3. How does regular prayer practice strengthen your inner being, root you in love, and help you comprehend God’s grace?

Stories from our heritage not only tell us about our past. They remind us of who we are. Such is the story of our church’s beginning, back in 1899, when a small group chose to sing “I Love to Tell the Story” at the site of what would become our church. Their courage and witness, coupled with their choice of song, tells us something about who we are.  

HydeParkUMC.org/nextsteps

Reflection Questions:
1. How can you re-prioritize your life, to focus less on being remembered, and more on being part of a story bigger than yourself?
 
2. How will you remember the “old, old story” of God’s love in your life?
 
3. How will you live into the story of God’s love through this church?

This week Mat sits down with former senior pastor of Hyde Park, Jim Harnish, with the topic of discovering and recognizing continuing threads of your life in the both spiritual and historical sense. 

HydeParkUMC.org/nextsteps

The writer of Hebrews scans over the long history of men and women who lived by faith, some of it in gory detail! But then the text looks directly at us to say that God’s story will not be perfect (complete, whole) without us.  We have the beautiful stories of how God has been at work through the people of this congregation over the past 125 years, but the story will not be complete until we step into it, i.e. lay aside the things that keep us from moving forward and run the leg of the relay that is before us. 

HydeParkUMC.org/nextsteps

As Hyde Park begins its celebration of 125 years, Magrey and Mat sit down to discuss what it means to have a spiritual legacy.

HydeParkUMC.org/nextsteps

In 1899, a group of 30 people from First Methodist in Tampa crossed the Hillsborough River to begin meeting in a two-room schoolhouse at the corner of Platt and Magnolia. 125 years later, we are living into a legacy that has proclaimed the good news of Jesus and built the kingdom of God for generation. This three-part worship series celebrates the grace of God and the history of our church, and points us toward an exciting future for generations to come.

HydeParkUMC.org/nextsteps

Reflection Questions:
What favorite stories do you know about your ancestors?
 
What does it mean for you to think of yourself as a simultaneous descendant and ancestor?
 
How will you live faithfully now to leave a living impact for those to follow?

This week Magrey sits down with Gary Mason to talk about the current situation with Israel-Palestine and how to find common ground in the mist of intense disagreement and conflict. 

HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Sharing the gospel with unbelievers is essential. Paul's example in Acts 17 shows how we can bridge the gap by using familiar language and imagery to reveal God's love in Christ.

HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Reflection Questions:
1. How have you struggled with questions of meaning and purpose in your life?
 
2. How do your struggles help you connect with unchurched people with similar experiences?
 
3. How does putting Christ at the center of our lives help with those struggles?