Just as a tree digs its roots deeper to find water and nourishment during times of drought, times of unsettledness are an invitation for us to hone our commitment to Jesus. The year kicks off with a time of obedience to the will and way of Christ, in alignment with the year-long “Wesleyan Rooted” emphasis by the Annual Conference. This three-part series encompasses the two sacraments, communion and baptism, and the way we live our lives sacramentally for others, through service.   Refl...

The incarnation is the ultimate act of drawing near, as God bridged the gulf between God and humanity by becoming like us. We celebrate the birth of Christ by making room for him in our hearts, as we share the message and love of Christ with a world in need. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Mary and Elizabeth were the original collaborators, co-laboring to provide the world with the hope and promise that it needed. In drawing near to each other, they discovered mutual support and joy, and the strength to encourage each other throughout their journeys. In a season where our relationships with those closest to us might be most tested and strained, we are called to practice vulnerability, mutuality, and shared love.  Reflection Questions: 1. What would it mean for you to be ...

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 t...

The first-century Roman Empire faced the same kinds of injustices that we face today: growing inequality between the rich and the poor, abusive oppression by those in power, and a disregard for decency and civility. John the Baptist’s message is not just spiritual in nature; it has real-life, real-world implications for today.  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 yo...

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=mH...

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 arou...

No journey to Christmas would be complete without John the Baptist, the iconic figurehead of Advent preparation. His message is one that people then and now are reluctant to hear: Repent, seek justice, and live righteously. His is a timeless truth that is as relevant as ever.  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 linea...

This week on Beyond the Sermon, Sally Campbell-Evans and Matt 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...

The first Sunday of Advent often catches us by surprise, still plumped from Thanksgiving leftovers and not yet fully in the swing of Christmas preparations. But Luke’s gospel greets us with a jarring reminder that something bold and wondrous is on the horizon. It is the inbreaking of God’s presence and love, revealed in Jesus. All we have to do is open our eyes to the wonder of God in our midst. Reflection Questions: 1. When you get overwhelmed by the world’s problems, what helps you n...

The draw near theme encompasses 1) an affirmation that God has drawn near to us by taking on flesh and experiencing what it is to be human, 2) a plea for God to draw closer to us and to the spaces in the world that are broken, and 3) a charge for us to draw near to God by leaning into wonder, justice, truth, and one another. Reflection Questions: 1. What does it mean for you to call Jesus Lord and King? 2. How will you savor each present moment in the coming days? 3. How will yo...

As we wrap up Christ the King Sunday—and the Christian year—Magrey and Matt reflect on where we've been, what’s grounding us right now, and where our faith might carry us next. They share a simple three-part gratitude practice perfect for your Thanksgiving table, and explore what it really means to say “Jesus is Lord” in a world shaped by Christian nationalism and diverse faith traditions. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey and Mat dive into Paul’s letters to the Corinthians—letters written to a city full of wealth, ambition, and ego. They unpack how Paul uses the language of farmers to teach a lesson about generosity, faith, and interdependence. Together they explore what it means to plant seeds of faith in a world obsessed with control—and how true growth depends on forces far beyond ourselves. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

This iconic text from Paul on giving reminds us that our truest and most faithful generosity does not happen through rote obligation, but through a spirit of joy and gratitude. Reflection Questions: 1. When have you been misunderstood, the way the Corinthians misunderstood Paul? 2. How can you shift your thinking to see every person in the church as equally important? 3. How might you see your estimate of giving as planting a seed for impact in 2026 and beyond? Find out mor...

Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho explore the heart behind generosity—what drives us to give, and how to keep it from becoming self-serving. They unpack the danger of “propositional faith,” the belief that generosity guarantees reward, and contrast it with the deeper call to give simply because Jesus did. Along the way, they share stories of teachers, mentors, and church members whose quiet selflessness still ripples outward today. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Our simple acts of generosity are part of a continuum of God’s reciprocal work of grace. God blesses us, then blesses others through us, and then we are blessed in return, which enables us to give thanks to God. It is a true full circle of grace. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

On this All Saints Sunday, Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans reminds us that saints aren’t stained-glass figures of perfection—they’re ordinary people made radiant by grace. Through stories of faith, compassion, and love that bridge heaven and earth, we’re invited to see ourselves and others as bearers of God’s image. What would change if you truly believed that the divine spark lives in you—and in everyone you meet? Reflection Questions 1. Do you agree with the definition of a saint… as one...

Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans joins Mat Hotho for a heartfelt Beyond the Sermon conversation on the meaning of All Saints Sunday—a day to honor those who shaped our faith and reflect on how God’s grace shines through ordinary people. Sally shares the story of her niece’s courage and faith, and how recognizing the image of God in every person can change the way we live, love, and remember. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

This Sunday, guest preacher Rev. Dr. Juana Jordan from FAMU Impact Wesley challenges us to “Mind the Gap” — the space between what we believe and how we live it out. From Isaiah’s call to justice, to Boaz’s compassion, to Jesus’ parable of the Sheep and Goats, we’re reminded that real faith doesn’t step over need — it steps into it. Discover how God calls us to stand in the breach, live with margin, and become repairers of the world’s broken places. Reflection Questions: 1. Where in your li...

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 th...