Communications Hub

Easter is coming soon and we have some exciting things planned!  See below more details . . .

GOOD FRIDAY SUNSET SERVICE (FRIDAY 4/18)

This year we're going to try something new for Good Friday and we'd love for you to be a part of it!  We're going to hold a Good Friday service, but perhaps not in the way you'd think.  It's going to be held outside, in the hills, just as the sun is going down.  Here's what you need to know . . .

When?  Friday, April 18th from 6:46pm to 7:46pm (sunset) (Note: We'll have to leave immediately following the service since the park closes at that point.)
Where?  Santa Teresa County Park - Pueblo Group Area (look for the Mercy Hill signs)
What?  We'll read and reflect on Scripture, sing songs, pray, etc. all in remembrance of our Lord's death for us on the cross.
RSVP?  Please RSVP to let us know you're coming and we'll secure a parking permit for you.

Here are a few other things you should know:

- Because we are planning to meet outside in the grass under an open sky, we are asking that people provide their own seating arrangements (chairs, picnic blankets, etc.).  Do also pay attention to the weather and dress accordingly.
- There is plenty of parking but it does cost $6/car.  If you RSVP in advance we will secure a parking permit for you (just drive in and find Jill, Joey, or Nick and they'll get it to you).  If you don't RSVP, you will have to pay for it yourself upon entry.
- We encourage any who can to consider packing a picnic dinner and coming early (~5:46pm) to the group area.  You can eat and let kids play in the hills and fields around.  This way you'll also be on time and ready for the service when it starts!

EASTER EGG HUNT & FAMILY FUN (SATURDAY 4/19)  

Join us at 3:00pm in the pavilion around the back of Allen at Steinbeck Elementary (follow the signs) for a time of family fun! We'll have an egg hunt (with prizes!), face painting, arts and crafts, cotton candy, and a whole lot more—all free of charge. Please RSVP here (this will help us know how many to plan for).  Invite your neighbors and your friends.  See ya there!

Note: We will be calling for volunteers (both youth and adult) to help with this.  Be on the lookout for sign-ups coming soon!

EASTER SERVICE (SUNDAY 4/20)

Join us at 10:00am in the auditorium of Allen at Steinbeck Elementary for a special service celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. We'll sing songs of worship, spend time in God's Word, and linger after together over coffee, tea, and donuts. Please invite any whom God lays on your heart.  If someone hasn't been to church or it's been quite a while, this would be a great first step!

Note: We'll be passing out flyers in the neighborhoods around the church on 4/6 after the All Church Hangout.  We'd love your help with this!

EVER WONDERED? SPECIAL SERVICE (SUNDAY 4/27)

Every now and then we try to specifically take up a question it seems those curious or even skeptical about Christianity might be asking and devote a whole Sunday sermon to addressing it.  These sermons are a part of what we've titled our ongoing Ever Wondered? sermon series.  This Sunday, we'll be tackling another one: How Do I Find Lasting Peace in an Anxious Age?  Have you ever wondered about this?  Do you know anyone else who has?  Please plan to join us!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at  info@mercyhillchurch.org.

In light of the past two Sundays where we as a church were encouraged and challenged through God's Word to consider what it means for us to be "every saint sent" and to "live missionally," we have some practical ways you can live this out in the coming weeks and months. We don't want to be just hearers of God's Word but doers of God's Word (cf. James 1:22), so we're providing some practical next steps you can take.  Please consider participating in the following: 

4/6 Sunday Afternoon: Handing Out Easter Invitations - Come join us after the All Church Hangout to hand out fliers in the neighborhood around the school to invite folks to our Easter Egg Outreach event, our Easter Service, and our Ever Wondered? outreach service.  We also encourage you to start praying about who you can personally invite to these events as well!

4/13 Sunday Afternoon: Delivering Easter Bags to Kids at CityTeam - Kids and their families are invited to help deliver the Easter Bags which the kids packed as part of the Kids Missions Emphasis Week activities. If interested, please reach out to Megan ( kids@mercyhillchurch.org). Please stay tuned for more details.  

6/14 Saturday 1:00-3:00pm: CityTeam's Community Day -  Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details in the coming months about ways to volunteer and help out on this community-wide outreach and service event for families in need in partnership with CityTeam. 

July: 3-Week Outreach Course - We will be launching in July a 3-week gathering (course) specifically for non-Christians where the basics of the Christian faith and the gospel will be laid out in an accessible way.  This will be a wonderful opportunity for you to prayerfully consider inviting any non-Christian friends, coworkers, neighbors, etc.  Please stay tuned for more details in the months!  

 For more information or questions, please reach out to Joey ( joey@mercyhillchurch.org).

We are excited to announce that we will again be hosting our All Church Campout at Mount Madonna County Park! This year, it will take place over the weekend of June 20-22.  Mark your calendars. We have a huge group campsite all to ourselves and lots of options in the park for having fun together.  Whether you love to camp or you'd rather still sleep in your own bed, we have something for everyone. More info to come as the day gets closer!

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@mercyhillchurch.org.

Applications are now available for our two trips to Nicaragua (end of June - beginning of July) and the Philippines (end of November), both in partnership with Arms of Love!  If you haven't already, we invite you to prayerfully consider the possibility of going.  If interested, please complete the application by the trip application due date(s).  The deadline for the Nicaragua application is the end of this month (February).

*Please note for couples and/or families, each person needs to complete a separate/individual application.

Find the application form here.

If you would like more information about the trips and/or have questions about the application, please reach out to Bob Durstenfeld ( bdurstenfeld@gmail.com) or Joey Wang ( joeywang@mercyhillchurch.org). 

Mercy Hill is now supporting Dana and Karen, global outreach workers who were at the Sunday Service on January 5th and shared about their work in Indonesia. There is also an article in the Autumn Missions Newsletter about them. We are looking for a Barnabas team for them.

What is a Barnabas Team?  A Barnabas Team is a group of individuals, couples, families, or home groups that "adopt" one of Mercy Hill's global outreach workers or organizations to help us care for them well. It does not take much time. It would involve praying for them, getting their newsletters, communicating with them occasionally, acknowledging birthdays, and letting the GO! Team know if they have any specific needs.

For more information or to sign up to be part of the Barnabas Team, feel free to reach out to Becky Durstenfeld at BeckyDurstenfeld@gmail.com.

Calling all adults with a passion to plant seeds of truth in the hearts of our youth! Would you please prayerfully consider being a part of Mercy Hill Kids ministry? Currently, we are in need of teachers and helpers for our preschool classroom! We are also looking to start a nursery/toddler class and would love to include you as a volunteer.  Looking forward to working alongside you!

Please reach out to Megan at kids@mercyhillchurch.org for more information.

The Christian life is a battle that is worth fighting till the very end. Unfortunately, many Christian men today have all but abandoned the good fight that Christ has called us to. We often sit on the sidelines and ignore costly discipleship for the sake of comfort or avoiding fear. It is time for Christian men to get back on the frontlines of the spiritual battle. It is time for us to wage war against the kingdom of darkness and advance the kingdom of God; first in our own lives, then in the world.

The goal of this group is to call men out of the snares of isolation, sexual sin, and cultural Christianity and into a radical lifestyle of following Jesus, no matter the cost. During our gatherings, we will take time to bond with each other in fellowship, study Scripture together, encourage one another to grow in our accountability and discipleship, and pray for one another. We hope you can join!

For more info and to find a link to sign up, click here.

We will be gathering after service on Sunday, April 27th at 1:00pm to do a prayer walk in the local neighborhood! So grab lunch after the service, and consider joining us to pray for our neighboring community, as we hope to have the opportunity to share the gospel with those who are open and ready to engage. We'll have a brief time before the prayer walk to discuss what to pray for, so we invite anyone regardless of experience to join and learn.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Chris Keener at  cmkeener2@gmail.com.  

Prayer is the start of everything good (Acts 1:14).  It is the death of self-reliance and the lifeline of faith.  It is the moving of our eyes outward and upward.  It is the stretch of our empty hands towards a Father rich in mercy.  As a church we prioritize this regular prayer meeting because of our deep-seated conviction that, while man can plant and water, it is only God who can cause the growth (1 Cor. 3:7).

This Sunday's prayer meeting will held in-person at 6:00pm at the Wilson Residence.  Click here for more info.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at  info@mercyhillchurch.org.

Meaningful community is hard to find in Silicon Valley, even in the church.  Our congregation is spread out all over the city. But there is one day of every week when we all commit to gather together and worship our God: Sunday. It seems strategic to take this pre-existing momentum and work with it in an attempt to develop deeper community within our body. Therefore, on occasional Sundays throughout the year we will invite the church to enjoy picnic-style afternoons together immediately following the service.

The Plan:  After service, bring or buy your lunch and join us at the tables out back for a picnic-style afternoon (we may shift inside depending on weather).  We’ll also open the gym for people to play in!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at   info@mercyhillchurch.org.  

Question 33
Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else?

No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior.

(For more, click here.)

Note: For 2024-25, we will be progressing through the catechism at a slower place—lingering on the same question for two weeks at a time.