Hyde Park Speaks

The Birth of Jesus Retold In Modern Times

by John Parrish

More than 2,000 years old, the Advent story keeps finding new ways to spread.

This video was shared this past Sunday as part of the sermon.

 

The Greatest Gift

by Amy Schmucker

I don't believe in Magic but I like to think that today will be a Magical Monday.  I am setting my mind to have a great day, dental cleaning included. The reason today is so great is that yesterday was so fantastic and my yesterday is overflowing into today. OK that is kinda magical isn't it? I have to share with you something that made my heart grow five times it's size yesterday. Actually it wasn't so much a something as a someone. I can't tell you his name because I don't know it. I will tell you that God used him to minister to me as much as God used me to minister to him. Here is the story.

Sunday morning church was a flurry of events. We have our advent Chistmon Tree all decorated and in the front of the church.  We have our Alternative Christmas Market on display in our activities center and we have a number tables set up for toy drive and the sign up for bell ringers in our courtyard.  Every Sunday we have our Open Arms ministry feeding the hungry. Its a full  breakfast for anyone who might need a meal and a safe place to have the meal out of the weather.  I understand we can feed as many as 300 people on Sunday morning. This is not for our regular church attendance. This is for folks down on their luck. The hard terminology is Homeless or Unemployed.  In today's economy we are seeing so many folks who are struggling and this even includes the working at times.  Occasionally some of these visitors will come and share a pew with us in our service.

Service begins with music. We have an introduction song that helps people understand that service is starting and they need to get into their seats. Then two songs are sung followed by someone welcoming us to service, usually from one of our pastors and then our final worship song. At the end of the final worship song, our worship leader will say: "before you take your seats, greet one another in the name of our Lord". 

Now comes the fun part. I  turn to the people all around me, left, right, front, back, back and to the left, back and to the right, front and to the right.. you get the picture.  I introduce myself with "Hi, I am Amy, welcome to church, so glad to have you here today."  Most people just say, "Good morning", but once they hear me introduce myself they will actually look me in the eye and also introduce themselves too.  Yesterday was no different. Well OK it was otherwise you wouldn't be getting this long drawn out story.  Yesterday I turned around and greeted the three people behind me when I saw this fellow standing behind me and to my right. I had to lean on the pew to reach him, but I held out my hand and he looked up and I clasp his hand in mind and gave him a great big smile and welcomed him to the service.  I noticed he was not a member. He wasn't shaved. He wasn't really dressed for church, even with our dress comfortable casual service. He didn't have very clean fingernails and his clothes probably had not been washed recently. All that didn't matter. I was in the moment and I needed to tell him that he was a child of God and welcomed here. I needed to let him know he was my brother in Christ Jesus and he can still have Joy in his heart even with life's difficulties thrown at him. How do you say all that in three seconds? I will tell you how. Big warm smile that light's up your entire face, eye contact that holds their eyes and a warm clasp of their hand that says, I am your friend and want to share a moment with you.  That's just what I did.  What I didn't know is what it meant to him.

After the service I got up to leave, speaking to others that I knew. I was busy wishing people a wonderful holiday season when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I was sure it was another friend of mine wanting to wish me a Merry Christmas. Turning around I was surprised to see this same new face that was behind me in the pew. I looked up, confused and waited. He said in a very unexpected joyful tone, "Thank you for the brightest smile today". And then I just turned away, being pushed forward by the others trying to leave the sanctuary to retrieve their children from Sunday School and to do more shopping in the alternative market.  My heart soared through the rafters of church as I proceeded down the aisle. I silently thanked God as I was used to brighten someone's day. Then it occurred to me that my new friend had just made my day. He confirmed Gods work in me. I was were I was suppose to be doing the work God created me to do. A smile. That was my job yesterday. 

Hours later I reflected on this chance meeting and thought I should have asked him his name. Somehow it was OK that I didn't know his name, I knew God did. I didn't know anything about this fellow other than he sat behind me yesterday at church.  The more I have reflected on this moment, the more my heart grew.  Mean words just tear us down while kind words lift us up. I believe you can find that exact idea in the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 12:18 NIV
The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Always speak the gospel, use words if you have to.

Come as you are! Wait no more! 11 Magnolia Launch is this Sunday, Sept. 18th!

11 Magnolia Launches this Sunday, September 18!

Wait no longer, Come as you are! 

The new 11 a.m. contemporary service in the Magnolia building officially launches this Sunday. Please join us and invite a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, or even a stranger to join us every Sunday for coffee, resfreshments and fellowship in a welcoming environment! Share the e-vite on Facebook, by e-mail or personal invitation!

Come as you are to worship God in this casual, comfortable setting with  a variety of contemporary music styles. Enjoy coffee, refreshments and fellowship in a welcoming environment. The experience includes creative and interactive elements using multi-media, personal stories, meditative and silent prayer, panel discussions and more. Traditional elements, such as a sermon, scripture, communion and the Lord's Prayer will also help us connect with one another and discover God in unique ways.

Check out the FAQs on the new 11 Magnolia service or contact John Mathew for details on serving.

 

11 Magnolia: Come as you are!

Thank you for joining us at the Open House and Dedication of the 11 Magnolia service this past Sunday! Even with a downpour of rain, over 100 people came to preview the new service, tour the space and pray.

You're invited to join us as we continue to prepare for
the launch of 11 Magnolia on September 18!

The next two weeks will be our soft launch Sundays; the 11 Magnolia service will be underway as we continue to tweak the format and recruit members to help with hospitality, communion, coffee service and more. You are welcome to join us!

Stop by, try the coffee and get a little taste of the sweetness that is 11 Magnolia!

 

Come as you are to worship God in this casual, comfortable setting with a variety of contemporary music styles. Enjoy coffee, refreshments and fellowship in a welcoming environment. The experience includes creative and interactive elements using multi-media, personal stories, meditative and silent prayer, panel discussions and more. Traditional elements, such as a sermon, scripture, communion and the Lord's Prayer will also help us connect with one another and discover God in unique ways.

Interested in learning more or being a part of the launch or hospitality team for 11 Magnolia? Check out the FAQs on the new 11 Magnolia service or contact John Mathew for details on serving.

 

11 Magnolia Preview and Dedication this Sunday!

You've seen the buttons, right? And now you're wondering, what is this 11 Mag buzz all about? Well, come and see!

You're invited to join us on Sunday, August 28, for a preview of 11 Magnolia and a dedication of the space! Stop by the Magnolia building after the 9:30 or 11 a.m. worship services, and get a little taste of what 11 Magnolia is all about!

 

Open House: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Stop by anytime to tour and pray and fellowship in the new 11 Magnolia worship space!

Worship, Prayer & Dedication:
10:40 - 10:55 a.m. & 12:10 - 12:25 p.m.

Please join us as we worship, pray and dedicate the new 11 Magnolia service to "Making God's Love Real" within our congregation and the community we serve. 

 

Come as you are! Come and see the preview of 11 Magnolia on August 28!

 

40 Days of Prayer for 11 Magnolia!

By Rev. Matt Horan

By now you may have heard about the new worship service being added this fall at Hyde Park United Methodist.  After months of research, dialogue, and prayer that began in 2009, our Ministry Leadership Council decided earlier this year to offer a fifth worship service at Hyde Park to reach new people for Christ as a part of our commitment to invitational evangelism. 

It will be held on the first floor of the Magnolia Building on Hyde Park’s campus, Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. (It will be called “11 Magnolia,” for short).  You can read more about it on the church’s website.  It will be a current, casual worship gathering with its own distinctive discussion and exploration of the scriptures and themes covered in our Chapel and Sanctuary services.

The first 11 Magnolia service will be on September 18th---
just 40 days from today!

There are teams hard at work building the service from the ground up—music, hospitality, environment, preaching, technology, marketing, etc.  However, what is needed more than anything is prayer! 

Would you please join the prayer team and spend the next 40 days offering a minute or two in prayer that God would sweep in to do something far more than we could ask or imagine?

Check out this video to learn more.

  

Click here to ask to join the prayer team on Facebook.
Click here to join the prayer team as a follower on Twitter.
Click here to receive the daily updates by e-mail if you do not use Facebook or Twitter.

Please join together in prayer for this new chapter in the life of Hyde Park United Methodist.  God is doing exciting new things among us—will you be a part of it in prayer? 

We need you!  Please pray for 11 Magnolia—that 40th day will be here before we know it!

Do you need coffee with your worship service?

Not a morning person? Need your coffee before you get your Jesus on? Or are you one of those members who sneaks your coffee cup in under your arm to the sanctuary?

Well, maybe the new 11 Magnolia service is right for you! The later hour of 11 a.m. lets you sleep a bit later, and you can have a cup of Joe while you get your Jesus on!

 

11 Magnolia is coming this fall beginning Sunday, Sept. 18! Join us at 11 a.m. in the Magnolia Building (414 S. Magnolia Ave.)! Come as you are to worship God in this casual, comfortable setting with a variety of contemporary music styles. Enjoy coffee, refreshments and fellowship in a welcoming environment!

You and your coffee are welcome to join us beginning September 18!

Interested in learning more or being a part of the launch or hospitality team for 11 Magnolia? Check out the FAQs on the new 11 Magnolia service or contact John Mathew for details on serving.

Will you pray for this new service, that above all else, this effort would serve to form a community that would make and grow disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of Tampa and the world?

Click here to ask to join the prayer team on Facebook.
Click here to join the prayer team as a follower on Twitter.
Click here to receive the daily updates by e-mail if you do not use Facebook or Twitter.

 

What's all the buzz about 11 Magnolia?

Have you heard the buzz about a new contemporary worship service coming this fall? Don't feel like you're in the dark! Lots of behind-the-scenes prayer, planning and activity have been occurring to reach new people and offer an additional contemporary service at the later hour of 11 a.m.

Coming this fall, you'll be able to experience what all the buzz is about!

 

11 Magnolia is coming this fall beginning September 18!

Come as you are to worship God in this casual, comfortable setting with  a variety of contemporary music styles. Enjoy coffee, refreshments and fellowship in a welcoming environment. The experience includes creative and interactive elements using multi-media, personal stories, meditative and silent prayer, panel discussions and more. Traditional elements, such as a sermon, scripture, communion and the Lord's Prayer will also help us connect with one another and discover God in unique ways.

Interested in learning more or being a part of the launch or hospitality team for 11 Magnolia? Check out the FAQs on the new 11 Magnolia service or contact John Mathew for details on serving.

Will you pray for this new service, that above all else, this effort would serve to form a community that would make and grow disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of Tampa and the world?

Click here to ask to join the prayer team on Facebook.
Click here to join the prayer team as a follower on Twitter.
Click here to receive the daily updates by e-mail if you do not use Facebook or Twitter.

Come Sing With The Choir

By Suana Delaney, Alto

Let me tell you about my experience with the Chancel Choir at Hyde Park United Methodist Church. I am a single adult and I have to say that it is the best and most joyful thing I do. The Holy Spirit is moving in me when I sing. It is also a great educational experience. Penny is an awesome director and brings her talent and tender touch to everything she does. The music is divine. Singers are special people and the Saints of our Lord Jesus Christ. We welcome new members who want to learn and grow with us, or renew their faith. I promise you will be warmly embraced by our choir family.

Editor's Note: Click here for more information about traditional music at Hyde Park United Methodist.

 

Coming this September: A unique 11 a.m. contemporary worship service at Hyde Park

Have you heard about a new 11 a.m. contemporary worship service in the Magnolia Building that is coming soon? Just can’t wait for more information, get a sneak peak here:

The leadership team has been formed, and their mission is to, “Make God’s Love Real” by offering a unique 11 a.m. contemporary worship service to launch on the second Sunday of September.

Are you ready to serve or learn more? Please contact James Catalano for more information.