2022 Family Christmas Pageant Program

Dear Friends,

The delight of Christmas can be seen everywhere you turn—twinkling lights, decorated trees, Christmas carols, and the chance to gather with people we love. This season invites us to rekindle a sense of awe and wonder at God’s goodness. My prayer is that you will experience His presence in a very real way.

This evening’s program is designed to draw you and your family into the story of Jesus’ birth and the truth of what it means, with over 100 cast members, musicians and live animals. And our walkthrough, interactive Jerusalem Village will be a way for you to further immerse yourself into the world Jesus was born.

Our church has traveled a remarkable journey through the entire Bible this year. Starting in January, we will begin a new series in the books of Matthew and Romans, rediscovering the story and significance of Jesus’ life and ministry. I hope you will consider partnering with us as we join Christ daily in the restoration of all things.

For decades, Peachtree’s Christmas offering has served to construct a new home for a family through Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. This year will be our 159th and 160th homes for families 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 Church Atlanta, GA

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.

— The Birth of Jesus — —Luke

2:1–7

Prelude — STRIKING OF THE HOUR —

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Congregational Carol

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!

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord! Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation! Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest!

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

— WELCOME —

Adestes Fideles

Carol of Prophecy

— I —

THE PROPHECY

Isaiah

9:2–3, 6–7 Angel

Song

Shirley W. McRae Thomas Ellison, lily sprain & KamEron ChrisTiE, soloisTs

(Refrain)

Exultate, jubilate, jubilate Deo! Exultate, jubilate, jubilate Deo!

The desert will rejoice and blossom as a rose, It will blossom and shout for joy. (Refrain)

The wolf and the lamb will live peacefully together, and a little child shall lead them. (Refrain)

Behold the glory and the majesty of God, Rejoice, Emmanuel will come. (Refrain) (Refrain)

Congregational Carol O Come, O Come Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Emmanuel

— II —

THE ANGEL VISITS MARY

Luke 1:26–35, 38 Angel Song Nova, Nova! .................................................................................... Michael Bedford

The angel, Gabriel by name, Unto the Virgin Mary came, With joyful news unto the same. Nova, nova! Tidings of salvation! Nova, nova! Tidings of salvation!

Then said the angel, “Do not fear, I bring glad news for you to hear: You will bring forth God’s Son so dear.” Nova, nova! Tidings of salvation! Nova, nova! Tidings of salvation!

Then Mary looked unto the sky: “Be as it pleases God on high, Whose name my soul shall magnify.” Nova, nova! Tidings of salvation! Nova, nova! Tidings of salvation! Nova, nova, nova!

THE ANGEL VISITS JOSEPH

Matthew 1:18–23 Angel Song Kind Joseph ............................................................................................ K. Lee Scott

As Joseph thought things over, An angel to him said In a dream while he lay sleeping, An angel of the Lord:

“Fear not to marry Mary; Her blest child will be a son; He is from the Holy Spirit The Ever-blessed One.”

O

THE JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM

Luke 2:1, 3, 4–5; Micah 5:2, 4 Congregational Carol

Little

Town of Bethlehem ..................................................................... St. Louis

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

Luke 2:6–7 Congregational Carol Away in a Manger

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head; The stars in the sky looked down where He lay; The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

SHEPHERDS IN THE FIELDS

Luke 2:8–15 Angel Song

Glory to God

Glory to God, sing glory to God.

Glory to God in the highest!

Peace on earth, goodwill to all!

Glory to God in the highest!

Good shepherds, now rejoice With heart and soul and voice!

Hear the news the angels say: “Jesus Christ is born today!”

You will find the newborn Babe, So humbly in a manger laid.” Christ is born today! Christ is born today!

Glory to God in the highest!

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 th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Terry Taylor

Congregational Carol Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

Mendelssohn

SHEPHERDS WORSHIP CHRIST

Luke 2:16–18, 20

Shepherd Song

Vamos todos a Belén ......................................................................... arr. Philip Kern lily sprain, soloisT

Vamos todos a Belén con amor y gozo. Adoremos al Señor, Nuestro Redentor con gozo. Adoremos al Señor, Redentor.

La noche fue día, un Angel bajó, Nadando entre luces, que así nos habló: Vamos todos a Belén con amor y gozo. Adoremos al Señor, nuestro Redentor.

Felices pastores, la dicha triunfó; El cielo se rasga, La Vida naci, vida nació. Vamos todos a Belén con amor y gozo. Adoremos al Señor, nuestro Redentor.

Translation:

Let us go to Bethlehem with love and joy. Let us adore our Savior, our Redeemer.

Night became day, an angel descended, Swimming in the Light, this is what he said:

“Let us go to Bethlehem with love and joy. Let us adore our Savior, our Redeemer.”

Joyous shepherds, the prophecy is fulfilled; Heaven is opened, Life is born.

Congregational Carol

Go, Tell It on the Mountain

(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)

Go Tell It

THE WISEMEN SEE THE STAR IN THE EAST

2:1–8

We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts, we traverse afar, Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.

O star of wonder, star of night! Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect Light!

WISEMEN BRING GIFTS

Matthew 2:9–11

Congregational Carol We Three Kings

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, ceasing never over us all to reign!

O star of wonder, star of night! Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect Light!

kings of Orient Congregational Carol

Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains And the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains: Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing! Come adore on bended knee Christ, the Lord, the newborn king!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

— THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE —

Dr. Richard Kannwischer

CANDLE LIGHTING

Night of Silence

Cold are the people, winter of life, We tremble in shadows this cold endless night, Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping, Flowers that will echo the sunrise Fire of hope is our only warmth, Weary, its flame will be dying soon.

Voice in the distance, call in the night, On wind you enfold us, you speak of the light, Gentle on the ear you whisper softly, Rumor of a dawn so embracing. Breathless love awaits darkened souls, Soon will we know of the morning.

Spirit among us, shine like the star, Your light that guides shepherds and kings from afar. Shimmer in the sky so empty, lonely, Rising in the warmth of your Son’s love, Star unknowing of night and day, Spirit we wait for your loving Son.

Silent Night,

Holy

Night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin Mother and Child. Holy Infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.

Daniel Kantor/arr. John Ferguson

Congregational Carol

Silent Night

Silent night! Holy night!

All is calm, all is bright, ‘Round yon Virgin Mother and Child, Holy Infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.

stille nacht

Silent night! Holy night!

Wondrous Star, lend thy light; With the angels let us sing, Alleluia to our King; Christ the Savior is born, Christ, the Savior is born.

— BENEDICTION —

Congregational Carol Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King!

Let every heart prepare Him room And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.

Antioch

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nation prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders of His love.

LEADING IN WORSHIP

Dr. Richard Kannwischer Senior Pastor

Rev. Deanne Townsend Pastor for Family Ministries

Mary Hoffman Director of Music

Heather Ellison Director of Children’s Music

Sarah Dempster Music Associate

Jennifer Hanna Cherub Choir Director

John Phillips

Children’s and Youth Music Accompanist

Kristi Holmes Children’s Music Assistant

LEADING IN MUSIC CHILDREN’S MINISTRY STAFF

June Abbott Children’s Music Assistant

Megan Dawson Children’s Music Assistant

Jason Maynard Organist

Benito Thompson Violin

Guang Wang Cello

Joel Morris Percussion

Rev. Deanne Townsend Pastor for Family Ministries

Ashley Grandchamp Director of Nursery Ministry

Meg Williams Director of Family Life

Connor Smith Director of Elementary Ministry

Melissa McFaddin Elementary Coordinator

Yee-Lynn Chen Early Childhood Director Hannah Hays Preschool Coordinator

Kristy Beck Executive Assistant

Baby Jesus Darcy Swindle

Mary Ashby Kannwischer

Joseph Nicholas Schramkowski

Angel Gabriel

Pearson Dyslin

Inn Keeper

Scotty Candler

Angel Choir

Rhodes Averitt

Chase Batchelor

Will Batchelor

Eliza Beard

Julia Belatti

Suzy Bowlin

Dallas Bradshaw

Florrie Byrd

Georgia Castillo

Evans Cyphers

Jackson David Lucy David

Rhodes David Ward Davis

Ella Tate Dick

Mary Catherine Ellison

Virginia Ezzell

Annie Glass

Grace Gardiner

Josephine Harding

Camille Head

Wren Kennedy

Woods Kennedy

Ella Kate Larson

Adeline Lee Walker Lewis Jack Linsky

McKenna Linsky Charlotte Longsworth Gaare

Juliette Longsworth Gaare Bell McDonald Sophie Mendolera Ellie Miller

Bane Milligan Jefferson Murphy Josephine Murphy

Addison Nichols Ware Odom Maggie Olsen Greer Ragone

Olivia Rand Reese Rocchini Sandifer Rocchini

Caroline Ross Ellis Sandrock

Robert Savage Ronnie Savage Callie Stewart Henry Swift Mia Taylor Collins Thome

Amelia Tomlinson

Clare Tucker Ryals Wadsworth

Bennett Watters Ellie Whitty

Shepherds

Jade Aguilar

Kameron Christie

Sarah Dempster

Thomas Ellison Mary Hoffman Christian Savage

Philip Savage

Sean Savage

Lily Sprain

Cameron Thaler Carter Wilson

Trey Williams Xochitl Zamora

Roman Centurion

Scott Tucker

Roman Guards

John Bryant, Trumpet Fanfare Ross Johnson

Todd McKnight Harry Thompson Tyler Warden

John Warden Matt Williams

The Wise Men

King Herod Chuck Roberts

Herod’s Advisors

Hazen Dempster Fitz Wickham

Terry Moore V Evan Owens Luke Wilson

Special thanks to Diane Tingas for coordinating the Roman Guards and to Adam Oh for coordinating the Wise Men.