Mercy Street not only has a new location but is birthing a new worship community- on Sundays! Located near Houston's West End, the Jackson Hill gathering is also the home base of the Houston Council.My first time to visit was last Sunday, July 17. Mercy Street started meeting there in February of this year. Their service begins at 10:30 a.m.
When I found the building, there was a greeter (actually on the street) who directed me to park in the garage, and also told me how to get into the building. And it couldn't have been easier to find a place! There is a nice welcome foyer on the first floor. There you can enjoy your coffee and doughnut. This area was open and well-lighted with lots of glass- a really good place to welcome people and visit both before and after the service.
The actual worship setting doesn't allow coffee, but that may be the only drawback. The lighting was toned down, very conducive to feeling apart and being relaxed. The room's size felt warm and friendly- there was enough room but I never felt swallowed up by the space. The seating was comfortable.
The music was well done. I could participate at the level I wanted to and needed to. I enjoyed both listening to it and singing along as the Spirit led- and as the song became more familiar. It was a catalyst for worship, and not a detraction from it. The music was also congruent with the message and set the tone for receiving it.
The message itself was on "blessing," a word that we use and and maybe misuse without even knowing it. Blessing is what brings us to life. Blessing bring God's image in us to life! And blessing activates our true self in both what we intend and do. All this was set up with an animated video about toys sort of coming to life as they were given away by an older child and used to bless a younger child. The wrap up was about how we can become blessings, how we can bless others by putting God's name over others. So many times, the names we have used names that have hurt others and ourselves.
Finally, everyone was invited to come forward to receive a blessing in the form of a hug from the Mercy Street leadership. As people came forward, there was no pressure. It just seemed like a powerful moment of surrender as we recognized our need to be blessed with God's name and to be a blessing to others.
I'm impressed and yes, I am blessed to have experienced Mercy Street at Jackson Hill. Most of the same staff that leads their Saturday Mercy Street gatherings at Chapelwood handles the Jackson Hill location. So kudos to them. Especially if you are in active recovery, it is well worth your time to give it a try.
The message itself was on "blessing," a word that we use and and maybe misuse without even knowing it. Blessing is what brings us to life. Blessing bring God's image in us to life! And blessing activates our true self in both what we intend and do. All this was set up with an animated video about toys sort of coming to life as they were given away by an older child and used to bless a younger child. The wrap up was about how we can become blessings, how we can bless others by putting God's name over others. So many times, the names we have used names that have hurt others and ourselves.
Finally, everyone was invited to come forward to receive a blessing in the form of a hug from the Mercy Street leadership. As people came forward, there was no pressure. It just seemed like a powerful moment of surrender as we recognized our need to be blessed with God's name and to be a blessing to others.
I'm impressed and yes, I am blessed to have experienced Mercy Street at Jackson Hill. Most of the same staff that leads their Saturday Mercy Street gatherings at Chapelwood handles the Jackson Hill location. So kudos to them. Especially if you are in active recovery, it is well worth your time to give it a try.
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