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This Missions Sunday, Rev. Pena from our sister congregation in Cuba will be our guest preacher. He will kick off our Generosity Campaign “So Much Good” sharing stories from God’s work among the Cuban people, as evidence of the good that comes from following Jesus, and its impact on others.   Reflection questions: 1. Before your parents ever thought of you, God already had. Where do you find it hardest to believe you were made on purpose? What would change if you saw yourself the way God sees you? 2. “Disconnected from God, nothing has its true meaning.” Which parts of your life (your work, home, relationships or possessions) feel like they’re missing their deeper purpose right now? 3. Mordecai told Esther she may have come “for such a time as this.” What might God be inviting you to do in this season and this place? What would it look like for you to say, like Joshua, “as for me and my house”? Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

In this episode of Beyond the Sermon, Clarke Campbell-Evans sits down with guest preacher Rev. Rodolfo Peña, a pastor and district superintendent of our sister churches in Cuba. Through stories of his own calling and the life of his congregation, Rodolfo shares how faith brings hope amid hardship and how two church communities can learn from one another through prayer, love, and support. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

This week on Beyond the Sermon, Michael Dougherty sits down with Sally Campbell-Evans to explore the book of Ecclesiastes and the surprising truth that joy and suffering can coexist. They discuss finding God in the middle of life’s hardest moments, why “everything happens for a reason” doesn’t always help, and how simple practices like prayer, gratitude, and sharing life with others can help us notice the joy that’s still there. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

One of Ecclesiastes recurring themes is that we do not control the future, and all we have is the power to savor the present moment. The invitation to “eat, drink, and be merry” is not tantamount to gluttony, but is a reminder to relish the here and now. There is wisdom to that kind of mindfulness, even though it is elusive to apply. And in the end, Ecclesiastes affirms a truth that is underscored throughout the rest of the Scriptures: The only thing that matters is fearing God and keeping God’s commandments. That can bring purpose and direction to life.    Reflection Questions: 1. How do you respond when life feels unfair or doesn't make sense? 2. What is one thing in your life that you need to stop trying to control, and where can you focus your energy instead? 3. Where are you finding joy in your everyday life, even amid challenges or uncertainty? Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

In this episode of Beyond the Sermon, Mat Hotho and Pastor Magrey deVega explore the surprising hope hidden in Ecclesiastes. They discuss how life can hold grief and hope, endings and beginnings, all at once, and how paying attention to our own experiences can help us find wisdom in the complexity of life. Magrey also shares the story behind his upcoming book, "A Time for Wisdom: Finding Hope in Ecclesiastes". Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

For all its perceptions as being too nihilistic and depressing, Ecclesiastes can actually be liberating. It frees us from a kind of “toxic positivity” that would have us believe that everything is okay, and that everything is going to be alright. That may often be the case, but it is the journey – full of highs and lows, ups and downs – that is a realistic experience in life. Like the rest of wisdom literature, Ecclesiastes gives us permission to ask hard questions about life, without fear of judgment, knowing that this kind of honest inquiry is a gateway to true, life-giving wisdom.    Reflection Questions: 1. Where is life inviting you to hold hardship and hope together? 2. What daily rhythms help you remain grounded when life feels uncertain? 3. What might be dying and being born in your life at the same time? Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

In the end, Proverbs provides a full collection of maxims, many of which can be directly applied to our lives. The result is wisdom that is both understood and embodied, so that we become living lessons that others can learn from. Reflection questions: 1. What's a short saying you live by right now? What happened that made you need it? 2. Proverbs 22:6 says a child raised the right way won't depart from it. Where did you depart from how you were raised? What did you carry with you anyway? 3. Jesus answered "Who is my neighbor?" with a story, not a list. Where are you tempted to sort people into black-and-white boxes? What would staying soft look like there this week? Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

In this episode of Beyond the Sermon, Mat Hotho is joined by his wife, Reverend Emily Hotho, to explore Proverbs 31 and what it means to live with wisdom in our everyday lives. Together, they unpack the idea of a “woman of valor,” challenge the pressure to live up to impossible expectations, and reflect on how faithfulness in the small things can make a meaningful difference. They also share the story behind Emily’s well-worn Bible and what it means to let scripture encounter the world. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

In this episode of Beyond the Sermon, Mat and Pastor Magrey deVega put the Book of Proverbs to the test with a little “Proverbs Roulette.” They randomly select passages and try to make sense of what these ancient sayings can teach us about honesty, relationships, suffering, our words, and everyday life. Along the way, they unpack some unexpected proverbs, surprising interpretations, and a few moments where the wisdom isn’t quite as straightforward as it seems. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

The book of Proverbs is filled with easily portable and memorable ideas. At first glance, they might seem too trite to be helpful, much like we take fortune cookies with a grain of salt. But collectively, they point to how the ancient Israelites saw the world, and how we can be faithful in asking hard questions about life. Is there really a cause-and-effect relationship between our actions and the blessings and curses that happen? Where can we find wisdom that is reliable, and truth that lasts?  Reflection Questions: 1. Where might humility and curiosity open you to wisdom you need today? 2. Who are the wise people in your life whose guidance you need to hear? 3. Where is God inviting you to move, wait, or trust? Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Job suffers and serves as a spokesperson for all humanity. He interrogates God, an act which itself can be a hopeful reminder that God encourages and allows that kind of intimate relationship. The result, in a way, is that Job puts God on “trial,” asking God for justification for all the harshness of life. And then in chapter 28, there is a “verdict” of sorts: the only source for wisdom to help navigate such difficult questions is the “fear of the Lord.” We may not receive all the answers we are seeking, but the solution remains clear: Continue to lean on God and trust, even despite the evidence.    Reflection Questions: 1. What suffering has expanded your capacity for faith, love, or trust? 2. Where are you being invited to surrender control and trust God’s larger picture? 3. How might you lean into God amid today’s uncertainty? Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

In this episode of Beyond the Sermon, Mat sits down with Pastor Magrey deVega to unpack the second half of Job and the questions it raises about suffering, God’s power, free will, and what it means to trust a bigger picture we can’t always see. They also explore why wisdom often comes with time and experience, and how the wisdom literature invites us to step back and see the human story from a wider perspective. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

This week Mat and Magrey kick off A Time For Wisdom by diving into the book of Job and what happens when the answers we've relied on no longer make sense. They talk about faith, doubt, unfairness, and the possibility that questioning what we believe can actually make room for something deeper and more expansive. Along the way, they explore why these ancient wisdom texts still speak so directly to the human experience today. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

The sufferings of Job are legendary, but the hardest part of his story to comprehend is the source and conditions of that suffering. Does God really conduct such bargaining with suffering? That kind of level playing field between good and evil is certainly problematic, but it gives us insight into the way our ancient spiritual ancestors viewed the world at the time. How do we wrestle with questions of theodicy today? Why do good people suffer? What is the relationship between God and suffering? And what is our responsibility?    Reflection Questions: 1. What disruption has challenged the theological container you inherited? 2. Where might God be inviting your faith to grow through difficult questions? 3. What would it mean to hold onto faith without holding onto easy answers? Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

This week Mat and Magrey wrap up Well Rounded by talking about money, work, rest, and what it really means to give. From John Wesley’s approach to stewardship to Paul’s call to generosity, they explore why giving isn’t about getting something back — it’s about recognizing what we’ve been given and choosing how we use it. Because generosity isn’t just about money. It’s about the way we give our time, our work, our gifts, and ourselves to God and to others. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps