December 5, 2021 - 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!
TOday's Announcements
Here are a few critical announcements to keep in mind:
Christmas Gifts for Allen School Children
We have an opportunity to bless families from Allen at Steinbeck School who are struggling financially. We reached out to the families and gave them a choice of receiving wrapped gifts for their children or a Target gift card. Most chose the gift card, and one family requested actual presents. The gift card will allow parents to get what their child needs most, whether clothes, toys, or even food.
If you would like to help by providing wrapped gifts for two children or contributing any amount to the gift cards for 19 children, you may sign up today after the service. You may also sign up online later today by responding to a post on the church Facebook page. We'll give you the name of a child that you and your family can pray for during this holiday season. The families we've heard from are very touched and grateful. One wrote "I am extremely thankful for your kindness and greatly appreciate your outreach during my difficult time. Thank you."
For more information, please contact us at
Christmas Eve Service!
This is still in the works, and more info will be coming soon, but we are planning to hold a Christmas Eve service this year and would love to have you there to celebrate with us. We'll keep it to an hour, sing a lot of carols, spend some time reflecting in Scripture, and enjoy some Christmas treats together! Please mark your calendars and stay tuned!
Associate Pastor Candidate Joey Wang - Member Vote Coming Soon!
Mercy Hill's Associate Pastor Candidate Joey Wang is actually away this morning helping his previous church ordain and install a new Associate Pastor. Many of you were with us for the specially called members' meeting a couple weeks ago where we got to know him and his family better. We're excited for what God has in store! Covenant members, please be on the look out for a voting form set arrive in your email inbox sometime later this week.
End-of-Year Giving
As you consider making any end-of-year donations, please prayerfully remember Mercy Hill. We are grateful for your partnership with us for the sake of the gospel in this city. It's your generosity that makes all we do possible!
For information regarding ways to give, check out this page on our website.
Mercy Hill Youth Hangout - Next Week!
All Mercy Hill Youth (6th thru 12th grade) are invited to join us after service next Sunday, December 12th at 12:30pm. We'll have time for fellowship, prayer, and getting in God's Word. And we even plan to provide some pizza! Weather permitting, we'll meet at the picnic tables in the pavilion around the back of Allen at Steinbeck Elementary. See ya there!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at .
Resources for Advent!
It sounds crazy to say but Christmas is just around the corner. And that means Advent is already upon us! Every Advent we encourage you to try your best to push back against the hurry and stress that so often characterize this season and instead make time to reflect on what it's really all about. Easier said than done! But if you'd like some help along the way, we've got you! Below you'll find some of our recommended Advent devotionals and resources. Everything you'll find here is designed to help you keep the main thing the main thing this Christmas. Enjoy!
Good News of Great Joy (John Piper)
Gospel in Life Advent Devotional (Tim & Kathy Keller)
Christ Our Hope (David Platt)
The Weary World Rejoices (The Gospel Coalition)
Advent Word Series (The Bible Project)
Playlists, Books, and More! (The Gospel Coalition)
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at .
Mercy Hill Kids - In-Person Today!
Due to the pandemic and the varying comfort levels each family has with their kids attending class in-person, we have established a rhythm for Mercy Hill Kids that allows for both online and in-person worship. On the first and third Sundays of each month, Mercy Hill Kids has in-person instruction for Preschool and Elementary children (2.5 years thru 5th grade). On the off-weeks, Mercy Hill Kids meets online.
Today's class is IN-PERSON. Kids can be checked in to their classes before the start of service and can continue there until the service ends. Our Nursery is not currently staffed but we do have a Mother's Room adjacent to the Sanctuary where parents can care for their littlest ones.
Note: We will NOT have the online zoom class on these first and third Sundays.
For more information, please contact Christina Lugo at .
All Church Prayer - Tonight!
This Sunday's All Church Prayer meeting will be hosted in-person at the Wilson Residence from 6:00-7:30pm. Please go here for more info.
Foster the City - With Us Today!
Philip Pattison, Executive Director of Foster the City (formerly Foster the Bay), is preaching for our service today. We love this ministry and all that they are doing in the Bay Area and beyond. Please do take some time to learn more about this vitally important work and prayerfully consider how God might be calling you to take part!
Home Groups
Home Groups are the heartbeat of our church. They are the place where our values of Faith, Community, and Mission gain traction in the everyday. Our hope is to have "everyone in one"!
Find a group to join here. You are not alone!
Today's Sermon
Title: Demonstration > Definition
Text: James 1:22-25, 27
Preacher: Philip Pattison
Manuscript: If you appreciate following along with written material, you can find today's manuscript here.
Call to Response
1. Sing:
We encourage you to lift your heart and voice up to the Lord!
2. Pray:
If you need prayer in any way, there are a number of things you can do: (1) find one of our leaders during or after the service; (2) fill out a Connection Card; (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! Every Sunday we have something for your kids, either in-person or online. You can check our church calendar to see what's happening on a particular date. 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!