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

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

What if creation itself could remind us of God’s presence? In the midst of personal suffering, Job discovered that God’s power and presence are revealed in creation. Even in our own struggles, we can find God in the wonder of the world around us, drawing closer to Him by caring for it.

Reflection Questions:
1. In what way do 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?

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

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

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

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

What if caring for the elderly is a mutual gift? Our older community members have wisdom from years of experience, while we can offer them energy, compassion, and companionship in return. Revering and caring for them benefits us all.

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 HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

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

What if caring for our children is a responsibility for all of us? As the new school year begins, we’re reminded that it’s not just about teaching our children for their sake, but for the sake of all of us, as a church and society. 

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