In just a few more days, Christians all over the world will unite in celebrating one of the holiest days of the church calender, Christmas and the birth of the Christ Child.
Here in Fayette and Coweta, church members have been preparing for months and, with Christmas parties, shopping, breakfasts with Santa, cantatas, plays, Secret Santa gift-swapping, and children’s events over, it’s time to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas. All that remains is the much anticipated Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Since Christmas falls on Sunday this year, all churches will have services on Christmas Day. The following churches have announced their plans for additional Christmas services:
In a celebration for the whole community, Rolling Hills Baptist Church will once again celebrate Christmas with a special “Christmas by Candlelight” event on Saturday, Dec. 24, from 6 -6:30 p.m. at the Fayetteville Town Square. The event will include singing Christmas carols at the Gazebo, reading the Christmas story, and singing Silent Night by candlelight. The event is open to the public.
“Our real motive here is to offer something to a community of people who sense there is something more to the holiday than what they’ve experienced previously,” says Frank Mercer, senior pastor at Rolling Hills. “There are many who might feel cynical about attending a church service or hypocritical about attending only on Christmas Eve. This is a simple gathering for friends and neighbors who are looking for the hope, joy and love that Christmas promises.”
Rolling Hills worships on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. at the NCG Cinemas at Fischer Crossings. For more information on Rolling Hills, visit http://WheresTheSteeple.org.
• All Saints Anglican Church will have Christmas Eve services at 5 p.m. (family service,nursery provided), 10:30 p.m. (Christmas Lessons and Carols), and 11 p.m., (Midnight Candlelight Mass). On Christmas day, a service with Holy Communion will be held at 10:30 a.m.
On Sunday, Jan. 8, the church will present the Children’s Epiphany Pageant. All Saints is at 149 Ebenezer Rd., Fayetteville. For more information, call 770-486-5374 or visit www.ptcanglican.org.
• Brooks Christian Church invites the community to celebrate the birth of Christ on Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. with a Candlelight Communion Service. Scripture and Christmas carols will highlight the worship experience. Also, there will be a Christmas Day Celebration at 10 a.m. designed for the entire family. Brooks Christian Church is at 969 Ga. Highway 85 Connector in downtown Brooks, just four miles south of Starr’s Mill. For more information, visit www.brookschristian.org.
• Carriage Lane Presbyterian Church will have a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24, and a Christmas morning worship service at 11 a.m. on Christmas Day. The morning service will feature inspiring music and the Christmas message proclaimed in scripture. The church is at 101 Carriage Lane, Peachtree City. For more information, call 770-631-4618 or visit www.carriagelanepres.org.
• The Catholic Church of St.Gabriel will have Masses at 5 p.m., 8 p.m., and midnight on Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24. Masses on Christmas Day will be held at 8 and 10:30 a.m. There will be no 4 p.m Mass on Christmas Day. The church is at 152 Antioch Rd., Fayetteville. Father Richard Vu is pastor. For information, phone 770-461-0492, email info@stgabrielga.com, or visit www.stgabrielga.com.
• Chabad of Peachtree City invites you to The Fourth Annual Grand Menorah Lighting at City Hall and First ever Golf Cart Menorah parade ( contact shternie@chabadsouthside.com if you would like to be part of it,) The celebration is December 25. The Menorah parade starts at 3:30 p.m. and activities and the Grand Menorah Lighting run from 4-6 p.m. at The Green at City Hall at 151 Willow Bend Rd. in Peachtree City, Rsvp at http://m.chabadsouthside.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/3521223 and you will be entered in a raffle for prizes.
• Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City will offer four services on Christmas Eve, at 4:30, 6:30, 8:30, and 10:30 p.m. A nursery is provided at the 4:30 and 6:30 services, and the 4:30 service is especially child-friendly. Music from various soloists and ensembles enriches all the services, with children singing and playing at 4:30, and the Sanctuary Choir and Joyful Noise Ringers at 10:30. Pastor Fritz Wiese is the preacher.
One service on Christmas morning is at 10 a.m., with Pastor Miriam Beecher and Intern Pastor Jonathan Trapp leading.
On New Year’s Day, a service of Lessons and Carols is scheduled for 11 a.m. There is no service on New Year’s Eve.
The church is on the corner of Ga. Highway 54 and Peachtree Parkway. For more information, call 770-487-8717.
• Christ the King Church, 4881 Ga. Highway 34 East, Sharpsburg, will have a “Kid Friendly” service with a “special visitor at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and a Candlelight Service at 9 p.m. Holy Communion will be served at both services. The Christmas Day Service will be at 10:30 a.m. with a Christmas day message and Holy Communion.
• Dogwood Church in Tyrone will have three services on Christmas Eve, at 2, 2:30, and 5 p.m. On Christmas Day, worship will be at 11 a.m. Dogwood Church is at 975 Ga. Highway 74 North, Tyrone. For more information, visit www.dogwood.church.
• The Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Fayetteville will have a Christmas Eve service at 10:30 p.m. featuring Lessons and Carols. On Christmas Day, the service will be at 10 a.m.and will feature the story of the Nativity. The church is at 130 Antioch Rd., Fayetteville. For information, call 770-460-6390 or visit www.nativityepiscopal.org.
• Evergreen Church in Peachtree City will celebrate “The Gift” at 5 and 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The church is at 400 Windgate Rd., Peachtree City. For information, call 678-788-7374.
• Fayetteville First United Methodist Church is elebrating Christmas Eve with traditional candelight for three services at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. The shurch will hold one service on Christmas dat at 10 a.m. The church will also hold one service on New Year’s Day at 10 a.m.
• Members of First Presbyterian Church in Peachtree City invite everyone to join in their Christmas celebrations.
On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, the church will host a Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary. This is a family friendly event with audience participation in the telling of the Christmas Story and candlelight singing of Silent Night.
On Christmas Day, Dec 25, there will be a “come as you are” Christmas morning service at 11 a.m. in Smith Hall. Casual clothes and even kids in pajamas are welcome on this special Christmas morning.
Hot chocolate and cookies will be served while the Christmas Story will be retold. Communion will also be served at this service.
The church is at 206 Willowbend Rd. For more information, call 487-7757 or visit http://ptcfirstpres.atlpcusa.org/.
• Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City will have Christmas Vigil Masses at 4, 6:30, 9, and 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Masses at 4 p.m. will be held at Holy Trinity, McIntosh and Starr’s Mill high schools.
Christmas Day Masses will be held at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m., and at 12:15 and 1:45 p.m. Holy Trinity is at 101 Walt Banks Rd., Peachtree City. For information, call 770-487-7672 or visit www.holytrinityptc.org.
• Hopewell United Methodist Church in Tyrone will have a Christmas Eve service on Saturday, Dec. 24, at 5 p.m., Pastor Jenny Anderson will lead the congregation in a service featuring carols, candlelight, and communion.
And on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, at 9:45 a.m., the public is invited to join the members of Hopewell for a light breakfast prior to the 10:30 a.m. Christmas Day service.
All persons in the community, no matter what their religious affiliation, or those with no religious affiliation, are invited to attend both of these events.
The church is located at 351 Jenkins Road, directly across from Sandy Creek High.
For more information, contact the church office, 770-306-7537.
• McDonough Road Baptist Church will have a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24. The church is at 352 McDonough Road, near McCurry Park. Visit www.mcdonoughroad.org for more information.
• Mount Olive Baptist Church’s Christmas Day worship service on Sunday, Dec. 25, will be held at noon only. There will be no Sunday school.
Mount Olive is located at 1565 Ga. Highway 92 North (Forrest Avenue) in Fayetteville. Mount Olive is under the leadership of Pastor Melvin Ware and Co-Pastor J.T. Ware.
For more information, contact the church office at 770-892-7508. Visit the website at www.mobcfayettevillega.com, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mobcfayettevillega.
• New Beginnings Praise and Worship Center will host its Christmas morning service at 9 a.m. The theme for this special service is “A Christmas Reunion” featuring former and current worship leaders sharing in the music of the season. This is a special one hour service to give thanks for the greatest gift of all. Everyone is invited to join the New Beginnings congregation at 1091 S. Jeff Davis Dr. Fayetteville. For more information, call the church office,770-460-1346.
• Peachtree City Christian Church will have Christmas Eve Services on Dec. 24 at 4 and 6 p.m., and a candlelight service at 11 p.m.
On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, worship will be at 11 a.m. Peachtree City Christian Church is at 500 Kedron Dr. in Peachtree City. For more information, visit www.ptc3.com.
• Peachtree City United Methodist Church will have a special Family Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m., and a Candlelight Service at 7 and 9 p.m. Childcare will be available through pre-K.
The Christmas Day service will be at 10:30 a.m. The church is at 225 Robinson Rd., Peachtree City. For more information, visit www.ptcumc.org.
• Prince of Peace Lutheran Church will have three services on Christmas Eve. At 4 p.m, there will be a live Nativity in the Life Center featuring Chester the Camel and his friends. This is a family friendly, less formal service.
At 8 and 11 p.m., services will be held in the sanctuary and will feature special music on the majestic pipe organ, a traditional service and Holy Communion.
Prince of Peace is on Ga. Highway 314, Fayetteville, between Lowe’s and The Pavilion. The pastor is Justin Kollmeyer. For more information, call 770-461-3403 or visit www.princeofpeacefayette.org.
• Providence United Methodist Church will have three services on Christmas Eve, all presented by Senior Pastor Herb Flanders and all with the theme “Home For Christmas: Miracle on 34th Street.” The 3 p.m. service is perfect for families with young children who want a Christmas Eve service at an early hour. The service will feature family-favorite Christmas carols and a message. A nursery will be provided.
The 5 p.m. contemporary service will feature the praise band singing current versions of favorite Christmas carols, a message, Holy Communion and candlelight. A nursery will be provided.
The 7 p.m. traditional worship will feature familiar Christmas carols, the choir, a message, Holy Communion and candlelight.
On Sunday, Dec. 25, one service is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. with the theme, “Home For Christmas, a Christmas Story.” This service is for the whole family and kids can wear pajamas. It will feature Christmas carols and a short message from the senior pastor.
On New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, a traditional service at 9:30 and a contemporary service at 11 a.m. will feature the theme, “Home For Christmas: Scrooge.”
Providence is at 592 Bernhard Rd., Fayetteville. For more information, call 770-719-8800 or visit provumc.com.
• The South Atlanta Indian Christian Fellowship will be hosting a Christmas program Monday, Dec. 26, at 4 p.m. at Fayetteville Presbyterian Church, 791 Forrest Ave. in Fayetteville. The community is invited to “this joyful program commemorating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
For more information, contact Santhosh Thomas at 404-542-1616 or santhoshthomas235@gmail.com.
• St. Christopher Hellenic Orthodox Church at 313 Dividend Drive, Peachtree City, offers the following services. All are welcome:
Saturday, Dec. 24, Great Hours of the Nativity of our Lord, 4 – 5 p.m.; Orthros – Vigil for the Nativity of our Lord, 5- 6 p.m.; Divine Liturgy – Vigil for the Nativity of our Lord, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 25, Holy Nativity of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
Orthros, 7:45 – 9 a.m.; Divine Liturgy, 9 – 10:30 a.m.
Members of the church will feed the homeless at St. John the Wonderworker Church in Atlanta from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on Christmas Day.
• The Summit Church will have a Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. on Dec. 24. The service is for the whole family. The Summit is at 1373 Ga. Highway 92 South, Fayetteville. For more information, call 770.460-3335 or visit TheSummitPC.net.
• Whitewater Christ’s Church will have a candelight Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m., featuring communion and Christmas music. The church is next to Whitewater Middle School
• Word of God Lutheran Church will have Christmas Eve services on Dec. 24 at 4 and 7 p.m. Both will be candlelight services with Holy Communion. A nursery will be available.
On Christmas Day, at 10:15 a.m., a traditional worship service with Holy Communion will be held. The church is at 303 Kelly Dr., Suite 10, Peachtree City. The pastor is Jeffray Greene. For more information, call 770-897-4508 or visit www.woglutheran.org
