December 20, 2020 - Sunday Service Worship Guide
Welcome!
Good morning Mercy Hill and happy Sunday to you! If you're new with us, we just wanted to extend a special welcome to you. Feel free to fill out a Connection Card to get more info or prayer. We're glad to have you with us!
If you're tuning in for the Live Stream, we'd encourage everyone to please consider taking a moment to put a comment in the chat box there. Let us know who you are and maybe where you're tuning in from. Say hi. We miss you! And as we get into the message, feel free to share other Scriptures that come to mind, prayer requests that you have, questions that you'd like answered, etc. It would be great to interact even in this limited format.
Call to Worship
Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before thee
Opening to the sun a - above
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness
Fill us with the light of day
Rejoice, Rejoice our God is here with us
Emmanuel, our God is still with us
All thy works with joy surround thee
Earth and heaven reflect thy rays
Stars and angels sing around thee
Center of unbroken praise
Ever singing, march we onward
Victors in the midst of strife
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful all ye nations rise_ Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim "Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King"
Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come, Offspring of the favored one.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see; hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel
Hark the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King"
Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace. Hail the son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth
Hark the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King"
TOday's Announcements
Here are a few critical announcements to keep in mind:
- Communion Elements: We will be taking communion together immediately following the sermon. We have prepackaged elements at the Welcome Table. If you haven't already picked them up, feel free to do so now. For those joining virtually, please plan to have those items ready as well.
- Christmas Weekend "Watch and Worship" Service: This Christmas, as you might expect, we are going to be doing things a little differently - we will be providing what we’re calling our Christmas Weekend “Watch & Worship” Service. This will be a pre-recorded video that will drop at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve. We will shoot a link to the video out through Facebook and our Newsletter, and we’ll also make it easy to find on our website (via our blog).
The video will have biblical reflections from Nick on the topic of hope especially as it pertains to Christmas. We’ll also include songs of worship and “Pause Points” with questions for family/group discussion. Our hope is that you might engage this Service at whatever point is most convenient for you during the holiday weekend. We also strongly encourage you to invite others to watch along with you. If you’re with family or friends celebrating Christmas, whether Christian or not, invite them to join you on the couch around the TV. Our goal is to make the content accessible and thought-provoking for all. We’ll even provide questions for parents to ask their kids! - Foster The Bay Partnership Opportunities: Foster The Bay has curated Christmas Wishlists to help you give directly to Foster Families in the Bay Area. Purchasing from these lists is a tangible way to show our neighbors the love and generosity of Jesus this Christmas season. You can find links to the Amazon wishlists here. If you’re interested in finding out more about how to get involved in the heart and mission of Foster the Bay, they host virtual interest meetings every month and it is open to all! To RSVP, visit fosterthebay.org/rsvp.
- Allen & Steinbeck Christmas Outreach: Mercy Hill has always looked for ways to bless the school we meet at, and the staff has let us know of families in need this year - with your help, we've already fulfilled the whole wish list! Thank you to everyone who contributed! As a reminder, please drop the gift off at our welcome table today if you haven't yet. We will bring the wrapped gifts to the family after service! Feel free to reach out to Christine at if you aren't able to bring the gift today.
- Mercy Hill Kids Online Worship: Mercy Hill Kids is meeting at 11:45 am (both Preschool and Elementary class). Go here to read more and to find a link to sign in!
- All Church Prayer: The All Church Prayer meeting will be meeting online tonight at 6 PM. Consider joining us in a time of corporate prayer! You can find the link to the Zoom meeting on our church calendar here.
- Home Groups: Many of our Home Groups have moved to a hybrid (in-person + virtual) format. Whatever your comfort level with meeting, you're welcome to come check one out. Find one to join here. You are not alone!
- COVID-19 SOS Form: If you or anyone you know needs help during this challenging time, we'd love to do what we can! Fill out the form here.
Today's Sermon
Title: The Powers of Hell, the Schemes of Man, and the Sovereign Grace of God (Part 2)
Text: Luke 22:1-13
Preacher: Nick Weber
Manuscript: If you appreciate following along with written material, you can find today's manuscript here.
Call to Response
1. Sing:
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest trial and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God, in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin, on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground, His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His, and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final death
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand
'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
And to take him at his word
Just to rest upon his promise
And to know, "Thus saith the Lord."
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I've proved him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!
O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood
And in simple faith to plunge me
'neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus
Just from sin and self to cease
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace
I'm so glad I learned to trust thee
Precious Jesus, Savior, friend
And I know that thou art with me
Wilt be with me to the end
2. Pray:
If you need prayer in any way, please either: (1) fill out a Connection Card; or (3) post your request to our Mercy Hill Community Facebook Group. We’d love to be lifting you up and caring for you in this time!
3. Give:
If you’d like to give an offering this morning, you can give online here. Thanks for your generosity!
Mercy Hill Kids
While difficult, this pandemic does create a wonderful chance for parents to step towards their God-given call as chief disciplers of their kids. We know this may feel overwhelming and that is why we want to help! Parents of Mercy Hill children should have already received an email from the Director of Mercy Hill Kids, Christina Lugo, regarding ways you can utilize the Gospel Project curriculum at home. This information has also been included on our blog here. Beyond this, each Sunday, we are also looking to host an online worship gathering for our kids. You can check here for more details. We'd love to have you join us!
If you have any questions or need help in any way, don't hesitate to reach out to Christina at
Have a Wonderful Week!