Christmas
AT PE AC H T R EE
COMMUNION SERVICE 12:00 PM
The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. — Luke 2:1–7
Dear Friends, The lights really do seem to shine brighter at this time of year, reminding us that the longing and promise of Christmas is that God is nearer than we realize. God comes to unlikely times and places and people to offer His loving reign and hope. My prayer for you this Christmas is that celebration will turn into vocation for the whole year. One of my professors, Dallas Willard, used to say “more people have lost their faith due to a lack of imagination than reason.” An example of faithful creativity is C. S. Lewis’s beloved The Chronicles of Narnia, a timeless classic for all ages to enter deeper into the Christian journey. At the conclusion of today’s service, we would love for you to take home our present to you, one of the copies of one of the stories of Narnia. I have read them numerous times throughout my life, and they have never failed to inspire and enrich my own story with God. Starting in January, we will draw from each of the seven books as we gather for worship on Sunday mornings. I will deliver all of the messages, while professional actor, Tom Key, will be providing dramatic readings every week from Lewis’s story. “Further up and further in!” was the cry of the Narnians to explore the vast beauty of God’s heavenly, new creation together, and it is my hope that this season will draw us further into the wonder of that expedition. For decades, Peachtree’s Christmas offering will serve to construct a new home for a family through Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. This will be our 156th home for a family in our community. Join me in extending shelter to a family in need as a signpost of God’s great welcome to each and every one of us into “the house of the Lord forever” (Ps. 23:6). With Christmas joy,
Dr. Richard Kannwischer Peachtree Presbyterian Church Atlanta, GA
Prelude & Chiming of the Hour Congregational Introit † Angels from the Realms of Glory Regent Square Angels, from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o’er all the earth; Ye who sang creation’s story, Now proclaim Messiah’s birth: Come and worship, come and worship Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Welcome & Call to Worship†
Pastor: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. People: He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. Pastor: In Him was life, and that light was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. People: Grace and truth have come to us through Jesus Christ. Pastor: From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. People: The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. All:
O come, let us adore Him! — from John 1
Congregational Carol† O Come, All Ye Faithful Adeste Fidelis, arr. John Rutter O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest; Refrain Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory given. Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. Refrain
Refrain: O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
† Those who are able, please stand. 4
Lighting of the Advent Wreath Pr ayer of Confession
God of light, Who shines brightly in this world; Your grace is more abundant than our sinfulness. We confess that we focus more on our own concerns than the glory You reveal in our midst. Forgive our sin, doubt, and preoccupation, and renew in us the spirit of wonder that we may hear the good news of Jesus. Open us to the joy of Christmas as we continue our confessions in silence…
Assur ance of God’s Forgiveness Congregational Response † Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Mendelssohn Hail the heav’n born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, ris’n 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!”
SCR IPT UR E R E A DING: LUK E 2:1 – 7 Carol Gesu Bambino Pietro Yon When blossoms flowered ’mid the snows upon a winter night, Was born the Child, the Christmas Rose, The King of Love and Light.
Again the heart with rapture glows to greet the holy night, That gave the world its Christmas Rose, Its King of Love and Light.
The angels sang, the shepherds sang, the grateful earth rejoiced; And at His blessed birth the stars their exultation voiced.
Let ev’ry voice acclaim His name, the grateful chorus swell. From paradise to earth He came that we with Him might dwell.
O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
† Those who are able, please stand. 5
SCR IPT UR E R E A DING: LUK E 2:8 – 20 Congregational Carol† Go Tell It on the Mountain Go Tell It Refrain: Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born! While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night Behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. Refrain Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. Refrain
Christmas Pr ayer Offertory What Songs Were Sung John Jacob Niles We cannot tell, we do not know What stars shone down so long ago When Mary birthed her own sweet Son And peace and love became as one.
We do not know, we cannot tell What songs were sung, what starlight fell Or where the holy mystery stands For so many years and so many lands.
The Son of God, as Scripture said Was virgin-born in a tiny shed, While lowly shepherds stood hard by And heavenly sound filled up the sky.
We cannot tell, we do not know What stars shone down so long ago When Mary birthed her own sweet Son And peace and love became as one.
Now let us stand, uncovered all before this creche in lowly stall Where kings and angels dignify God’s gift His Son in humility.
Meditation
M AT THEW 1:18 – 25 Dr. Chuck Roberts · A ssoci ate Pa stor † Those who are able, please stand. 6
COM MUNION Pastor: Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ. People: Make us one with Christ and with all who share this feast. Unite us in faith, encourage us with hope, inspire us to love, that we may serve as your faithful disciples until we feast at your table in glory. Pastor: Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are Yours, almighty God, forever and ever. And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray… People: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Words of Institution Communion Anthem O Holy Night Adolphe Adam Pr ayer of Thanksgiving Carol† Joy to the World Antioch Joy to the world! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing.
He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love.
Benediction † Postlude
† Those who are able, please stand. 7
LE A DING THE WOR SHIP Dr. Chuck Roberts Associate Pastor Rev. Scott Tucker Pastor for Grand Adults & Pastoral Care
LE A DING MUSIC IN WOR SHIP Steven Wooddell Organist John Irvin Soloist
LIGHTING THE A DV ENT W R E ATH Chrissy & Keene Reese
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And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. — Luke 2:7
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Habitat for Hum anit y Imagine preparing for the birth of your child and having nowhere to go, and the relief that comes when you have a place that you can call your own. Through our Christmas offering, we will have the opportunity to provide the gift of first-time homeownership to a family through our partnership with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. Join us by giving today and volunteering during our 156th Habitat build March 7 – May 2. Let us prepare room for our neighbors!
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FURTHER UP AND FURTHER IN Join us beginning January 5 for our sermon series based on C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. Each week, Dr. Richard Kannwischer will bring a message of challenge and encouragement from one of the seven books in this compelling collection of fantasy novels with theological Christian themes.
For the schedule of sermons and correlating books as well as other opportunities and resources to engage this literary masterpiece, visit:
PeachtreeChurch.com/NarniaSeries JOIN US ON SUNDAYS Communion in Wilson Chapel: Sundays at 8:20 am Traditional Worship in Sanctuary: Sundays at 8:45 and 10:00 am Contemporary Worship in Sanctuary: Sundays at 11:15 am For more information about joining Peachtree, please contact Rebecca Madden, Connections Director, at 404.842.2173 or RMadden@PeachtreeChurch.com. To learn more about Peachtree Presbyterian Church, visit us at PeachtreeChurch.com.
3434 Roswell Road NW | Atlanta, Georgia 30305 PeachtreeChurch.com | 404.842.5800