FAMILY CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
DECEMBER 23, 2019 5:00 PM
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. This evening we will celebrate our Savior’s incarnation. Over 150 cast members ranging from a young infant to a Grand Adult will retell the wondrous story of Christ coming to dwell with us. 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’ 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’ 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 Church Atlanta, GA 2
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— 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
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Prelude — S T RI KI NG OF T H E HOU R — — WELCOME —
Congregational Carol O Come, All Ye Faithful.................................................................... Adestes Fideles 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!
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— I —
THE PR OPHE C Y Isaiah 9:2–3, 6–7
Angel Song Oh, Come, Little Children........................... arr. Lynn Shaw Bailey & Becki Slagle Mayo Oh, come, little children, oh, come, one and all! Oh, come to the manger in Bethlehem’s stall. The bright star will guide us and show us the way To Jesus our Savior, asleep on the hay.
Come, little children, come, come to Bethlehem. Come, see the baby lying in a manger. Come, little children, come, come to Bethlehem. Come, see the newborn King! Come, see the shining star guiding us from afar, Helping to show us the way.
Congregational Carol O Come, O Come Emmanuel............................................................Veni 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! 6
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— II —
THE A NG E L V ISITS M ARY Luke 1:26–35, 38
Angel Song The Angel Gabriel........................................Basque Carol / arr. John Raymond Howell The Angel Gabriel from heaven came, His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame. “All hail,” said he, “Thou lowly maiden Mary, Most highly favored lady,” Gloria. “For known a blessed mother thou shalt be, All generations laud and honor thee. Thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold, Most highly favored lady,” Gloria. Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head, “To me be as it pleaseth God,” she said. “My soul shall laud and magnify His holy name.” Most highly favored lady, Gloria.
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— III —
T H E A NGEL VISITS JO SE PH M at t h e w 1 : 1 8 – 2 3
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.”
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— IV —
THE JO U R N E Y TO BE THLE HE M Luke 2:1, 3, 4–5; Micah 5:2, 4
Congregational Carol O 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.
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T H E BIRTH OF C HR IST Luke 2:6–7
Congregational Carol Away in a Manger........................................................................................Mueller 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.
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SHE PHE R D S IN THE FI E L D S Luke 2:8–15
Angel Song A Baby in a Manger, Gloria!......................................................Vicki Tucker Courtney A baby in a manger, gloria! A baby in a manger, child of God. Angels are singin’, all of heaven’s ringin’, A baby in a manger, gloria!
Gloria in excelsis Deo! The shepherds come to see Him, gloria! The shepherds come to see Him, Child of God. Angels are singin’, all of heaven’s ringin’ The shepherds come to see Him, gloria!
A star is shinin’ brightly, gloria! A star is shinin’ brightly, light of God. Angels are singin’, all of heaven’s ringin’, A star is shinin’ brightly, gloria!
Congregational Carol Hark! the Herald Angels Sing............................................................ Mendelssohn 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!” 17
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SHEPHERDS WORSHIP CHRIST Luke 2:16–18, 20
Angel Song The Very First Christmas Morn........................................... Ed Rush & Robert Sterling Take us back to Bethlehem, to the stable soft and warm, To the place where hope began on the very first Christmas morn. In a manger meek and low, there the Savior Christ was born, Far away and long ago on the very first Christmas morn.
Let us kneel with the shepherds in humility As the ox and lamb stand watch in silent praise. Let us bow with the sages who journeyed far to see The King of kings and Lord of all our days, our days.
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) 18
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— VI I I —
THE WISE ME N SE E T H E STA R IN THE E A ST M at t h e w 2 : 1 – 8
Congregational Carol We Three Kings.........................................................................Three kings of orient 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!
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W I S EMEN BRING G IFTS M at t h e w 2 : 9 – 1 1
Congregational Carol We Three Kings.........................................................................Three kings of Orient 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!
— THE OF F E RING — Congregational Carol Angels We Have Heard on High................................................................... Gloria 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!
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— T HE C HRISTM A S MES S A GE — Dr. Richard Kannwischer
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CA NDL E L IG HTING O Holy Night......................................................................................... Adolphe Adam Congregational Carol Silent Night........................................................................................... Stille Nacht 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. 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.
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— BEN EDICTION — Congregational 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 heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
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.
L IGHTING THE A DV ENT WR E AT H Mike & Pam Elting Lindsay & Preston Kimbrel; Lawson and Hayden
LEA DING IN WORSHIP Dr. Richard Kannwischer Senior Pastor Deanne Townsend Minister to Children & Families
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L EADI NG IN M USIC
C H IL DR EN & FA MILY MINISTRY TEA M Deanne Townsend Minister to Children & Families Carol Cooper Elementary Coordinator Jennifer Edenfield Director of Early Childhood Isabelle Heard Director of Elementary Ministry Danielle Jones Director of Early Development Megan Longoria Early Childhood Curriculum Coordinator Jeannie Magnon Administrative Assistant Cori Temple Director of Nursery Meg Williams Director of Programs 26
CAST
Heather Ellison Director of Children’s Music Sarah Dempster Music Associate Jennifer Hanna Children’s Music Staff Kristi Holmes Children’s Music Staff Esther Darden Director of Dance John Phillips Children’s Music Accompanist Steven Wooddell Piano Daniel Solberg Organist Wil Brown Soloist, Guitar Jonathan Swygert Trumpet Benito Thompson Violin Guang Wang Cello Joel Morris Percussion
Baby Jesus Olivia Entrekin Mary Kate Moore Joseph Hunter Fankhauser Gabriel Kayla Bell Angel Choir Jade Aguilar Mia Arvelo Janie Atkinson Virginia Atkinson Sarah Barwis Eliza Beard Sasha Booth Joan Brinkley Wells Brown Florrie Byrd Riley Campbell Dylan Cannon Elena Cassinelli Cora Champney Holly Champney Mary Jane Christiansen Bryce Clayton Laura Brandt Clayton Evie Coppedge Addison Corbett Jack Dean Lauren Dean Reagan Donnelly Mary Dorn
Annabelle Edenfield Thomas Ellison Fernando Escareno Destiny Etheridge Bea Gartland Haley Gober Katherine Gober Tanner Hayes Lottie Hearn Vivienne Hearn Alexandra Hinton Charlotte Hinton Britt Kelso Lanie Kelso Skylar Kim Teo McAfee Ann Moore McAnally Maggie McCloud Penelope McCraw Paige McMillan Charlotte Miller Mary Leland Murphy North Neal Sierra Novak Elizabeth Price Evelyn Price Caroline Quackenbush Olivia Rand Evelyn Redden Vivian Robertson Sandifer Rocchini Clark Sanders Jack Sanders Robert Savage Ashton Shanks Maddie Spector Palmer Spry
Ramsey Spry Andrew Stevens Emmy Stewart Tait Stubits Chelsea Swann Addison Tarpley Bennett Thaler Cameron Thaler Swin Taubel Blaire Thomson Tais Torossian Emma Urbano Edward Wait Lucy Wait Libby Wamser Adelle Weatherly Marian West Harper White Carlton Whitney Caroline Whitney William Whitty Shug Williams Sybil Williams Xochitl Zamora Dancers Margaux Ibing Caroline Putnam Lily Stanford Blythe Wick Herdsmen Alison Boyer John Gross John Knudsen Bobby Thomson
Shepherds Grayson Backscheider Andie Boyer Laura Grace Bush Brooks Castellaw Henry Greene Tuck Greene Claire Harris Graham Harris Leo Ibing Theo Ibing Ava Jenkins Collier Johnston Whitty Kloberdanz Trenton Knudsen Elijah McCranie Ford McGowan Gus McGowan Cameron Morrison MacEwen Morrison Jack Patrick Franklin Pickens Caroline Ray William Ray Cole Sprague Cate Wassenaar Will Wassenaar Owen Weaver Arthur West Josie Williams King Herod Chuck Roberts Herod’s Advisors Tucker Greene Cody Jensen
Roman Centurion Scott Staley Roman Guards Derrick DeCarlo Nicholas DeCarlo Ross Johnson Dan Schaffer Wise Men Sandford Birdsey Jonathan McAnally Tyler Warden Wise Men Entourage Bradford Bagwell Brooks Bagwell William Bagwell Addie Bellem Harris Bellem Caroline Birdsey Robert Brooks Graham Gordon Caitlin Lawrence Caroline Lawrence Myers McAnally Katelyn O’Meara Davis Reynolds Molly Schaffer Henry Swann Tyler Trammell Teddy Wamser Blake Warden Merridy White William White
— Join Us for Worship on Sundays — Communion in the Wilson Chapel: Sundays at 8:20 am Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary: Sundays at 8:45 & 10:00 am Contemporary Worship in the 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