The parties are over, the festivities done. It’s Christmas Eve. Now it’s time for Christians everywhere to celebrate the real reason for the season, the birth of Jesus Christ. All over the south side, churches are preparing for tonight’s big event with candles, carols and Holy Communion. The people will come, old and young alike, to pause and worship the One who is the foundation of their faith.
As they have in years past, Rolling Hills Baptist Church will host a community service in Fayette County with a special “Christmas by Candlelight” event on Wednesday, Dec. 24, from 6 – 6:30 p.m. at the Fayetteville Town Square. The event, which is open to the public, will include singing Christmas carols at the Gazebo, reading the Christmas story, and singing Silent Night by candlelight.
“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,” said 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 just west of Peachtree City on Ga. Highway 54 at Ga. Highway 34. For more information on Rolling Hills, visit http://WheresTheSteeple.org.
Other local churches have also announced their Christmas and New year’s events.
• All Saints Anglican will have services on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, at 5 p.m. (Family Service with nursery provided), 10:30 p.m. (Christmas Lessons and Carols), and 11 p.m. (“Midnight” Candlelight Mass. On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, the church will hold worship at 10 a.m. (Holy Communion). On Jan. 4 at 10:30 a.m. the church will present the Children’s Epiphany Pageant. All Saints is now at its new location, 149 Ebenezer Road, Fayetteville. for more information, call 770-486-5374.
• Brooks Christian Church will hold a Candlelight Communion Service on Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. The public is invited to journey to a simpler time and worship in the historic sanctuary located in downtown Brooks. Scripture and Christmas carols will highlight the worship experience. The church is at 969 Ga. Highway 85 Connector in Brooks, four miles east of Starr’s Mill. Visit www.brookschristian.org for more information.
• Carriage Lane Presbyterian Church in Peachtree City will have one Christmas Eve service at 6:30 p.m. Carriage Lane is at 101 Carriage Lane, Peachtree City. For information, call 770-631-4618 or visit www.carriagelanepres.org.
• Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City will offer four candlelight communion services on Christmas Eve. The 4:30 p.m. service is especially family-friendly, with a children’s choir singing, but a nursery will also be provided at the 6:30 p.m. service for children three and under. The other services will be at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m., with the 10:30 service featuring special music by the Sanctuary Choir and Joyful Noise Ringers. Soloists and ensembles will sing and play music at all services. Pastor Miriam Beecher will be the preacher, with Pastor Fritz Wiese celebrating Holy Communion.
The Christmas morning service is at 10 a.m. Sarah Juhasz will be the preacher. She is a pediatric nurse and a musician and has preached previous sermons. All will be invited to receive Holy Communion.
Two services of Lessons and Carols with Communion are scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 28 at 8:30 and 11 a.m. These are the only services that weekend.
Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran is on the corner of Ga. Highway 54 and Peachtree Parkway. For information, call 770-487-8717 or visit www.coslutheran.org.
• Cokes Chapel United Methodist Church will celebrate Christmas Eve with three distinct worship celebrations on Wednesday, Dec. 24. A traditional service will be held at 4 p.m., a contemporary service at 7 p.m. and another traditional service at 9 p.m. All services will include Christmas music, a special message by Cokes Chapel’s pastor, Dr. Mark Jordan, and will conclude with Holy Communion and candle lighting.
There will be only one combined worship celebration on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 11 a.m. in the historic sanctuary.
For more information on Cokes Chapel United Methodist Church, visit www.cokeschapel.org, www.facebook.com/cokeschapel, or call the church office, 770-253-6052. The church is in Coweta County at 4096 Lower Fayetteville Road just east of its intersection with Ga. Highway 154.
• Dogwood Church will have three Christmas Eve services on Dec. 24. Services are scheduled for 2, 3:30 and 5 p.m. with special guest Joe Castillo, the sand story artist from America’s Got Talent.
Dogwood Church is at 975 Ga. Hwy. 74 North, Tyrone. For more information, call 770-487-6691 or visit www.dogwood.church.
• Evergreen Church will have a Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m. at the Whitewater High School Auditorium, 100 Wildcat Way, Fayetteville.
Evergreen has regular worship services each Sunday in the old Methodist Church building on the corner of Windgate Road and Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree City.
For more information, visit www.evergreenchurch.org.
• Fayetteville First United Methodist Church will have traditional Candlelight Christmas Eve services at 4, 6 and 11 p.m. The church is in downtown Fayetteville across from the historic courthouse. For more information, call 770-461-4313 or visit fayettevillefirst.com.
• The First Presbyterian Church in Peachtree City, PCUSA, will have a Christmas Eve Service at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to this very family friendly participation service led by the Rev. Morgan Morse Hay. The congregation will have a chance to participate in the service, young and old are invited to play the parts of angels, wise men, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and more. A candlelight service with electric candles for children will conclude the evening.
The church is on Willowbend Drive just off Ga. Highway 54 in Peachtree City.
• Flat Creek Baptist Church will have a Family Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Service at 5 p.m. Dec. 24. Everyone is invited. Flat Creek is at 161 Flat Creek Trail, Fayetteville. For information, call 770-487-4890 or visit www.flatcreekbaptist.org.
• Members of the community are invited to join McDonough Road Baptist Church for the annual Christmas Eve Candlelight service Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 6 p.m. Carols, candles, special music and a brief message will highlight this special evening. The church is at 352 McDonough Rd. in Fayetteville, just past the department of drivers’ services building. Phone 770-460-5423 for more information.
• New Beginnings Praise and Worship Center, 1091 South Jeff Davis Dr, Fayetteville, will host its annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, Dec. 24, from 5 – 6 p.m. Members of the community are invited to drive by with the kids, sit, watch and listen from their cars as New Beginnings church members sing their favorite Christmas music outside under the “stars.”
For the New Year’s celebration, New Beginnings is offering an alternative to the typical New Year’s night festivities — something that the whole family can enjoy in a safe and fun environment. On Dec. 31, New Beginnings will host “Community Night” at the church. This is a family friendly event featuring a chili cook-off, acoustic worship, a bon fire with a host of other fun outdoor activities from 9:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. For more information, call 770-460-1346 or visit NewBeginningspraise.org
• New Hope Baptist Church will have Candlelight Christmas Eve Services on Dec. 24 at 5 p.m. at the North Campus location (551 New Hope Road, Fayetteville) and at 6:30 p.m. at the South Campus location (1563 Joel Cowan Parkway, Senoia). For more information, call 770-461-4337 or visit www.newhopebc.org.
• Peachtree City United Methodist Church, 225 Robinson Rd. in Peachtree City, will have a Family Candlelight Worship service without Holy Communion at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Childcare will be provided for infants through pre-K.
At 7 p.m., a Candlelight and Communion service will be held, with childcare provided for infants through pre-K. Another Candlelight and Communion service will be held at 9 p.m. Childcare will not be provided. For more information, call the church office, 770-632-3777.
• Prince of Peace Lutheran Church will have a Family Friendly Living Nativity Contemporary Candlelight Service on Wednesday, Christmas Eve, at 4 p.m. featuring Chester the Camel and his friends.
At 8 and 11 p.m., Prince of Peace will hold Traditional Candlelight Communion Services in the sanctuary. Prince of Peace is at 257 Ga. Highway 314, Fayetteville. For information, call 770- 461-3403.
• Providence United Methodist Church invites the community to any or all of its three Christmas Eve services. The 4 p.m. Family Service is child-friendly service with familiar Christmas carols and a short message. The 6 p.m. Contemporary Service is led by a full praise band singing contemporary versions of familiar Christmas music and ends with communion and candlelight. The 8 p.m. Traditional Worship Service includes choir, Christmas hymns, communion and candlelight. Free nursery and childcare is provided during all worship services and the Conversation Cafe is open for free coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
This Sunday, December 28, the community is invited to Brunch and Worship. Childcare will be provided beginning at 9 a.m., free brunch at 9:30 a.m. and one worship service at 10:30 a.m. Friends and family in town for Christmas are encouraged to attend. Dress is casual and children can wear their jammies.
Providence is at 592 Bernhard Road in southern Fayette County between Redwine Road and Ga Highway 85. Visit provumc.com or call 770-719-8800 for more information.
• Senoia United Methodist Church will have two services on Christmas Eve, a Children’s Nativity with Holy Communion at 5 p.m. and a Candlelight Service with Holy Communion at 11 p.m. The church is at 229 Bridge Street in Senoia. For information, visit www.senoiaumc.org.
• St. Andrew’s in the Pines Episcopal Church will have Christmas services beginning with a Children’s Pageant and Holy Eucharist on Wednesday, Dec. 24 at 4:30 p.m. This is a no rehearsal pageant and all children are welcome to participate. A traditional Christmas Eve service with a full choir and Holy Eucharist Rite II will begin at 10 p.m. with Carols and Instrumentals.
On Christmas Day Holy Eucharist Rite I will begin at 10 a.m.
On Sunday, Dec. 28, the church will hold a service of Lessons and Carols with Holy Eucharist beginning at 10 a.m.
St. Andrew’s is at 316 N. Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree City. For information, call 770-487-8415, email office@standrews316.org or visit www.standrews316.org .
• St. Christopher Hellenic (Greek) Orthodox Church, 313 Dividend Drive in Peachtree City, will observe Great Hours of the Nativity of our Lord on Christmas Eve from 4 – 5:15 p.m.,Vespers for the Nativity of our Lord from 5:15 – 6 p.m.,and Divine Liturgy of St. Basil for the Nativity of our Lord from 6 – 7:30 p.m.
On Thursday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day, the church will observe Orthros from 8 – 9 a.m. and the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom for the Nativity of our Lord from 9 – 10:15 a.m. Church members will feed the homeless at St. John the Wonderworker Church in Atlanta from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• St. Paul Lutheran Church will have a Family Christmas Eve service at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 24 and a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7 p.m.
On Christmas Day, one service will be held at 10 a.m.
A combined service will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28. No Bible classes for children or adults will be held that Sunday.
A New Year’s Eve service is planned for Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 6 p.m.
St. Paul Lutheran Church and School is at 700 Ardenlee Parkway, Peachtree City. For information, call 770-487-0339.
• The Summit Church (PCUSA) will have a Christmas Eve Service at 7 p.m. The church is at 1373 Ga. Highway 92 South, Fayetteville. For more information, call 770-460-3335. or visit TheSummitPC.net.
•Woolsey Baptist Church will host a Candlelight Christmas Eve service on Dec. 24 at 6 p.m. This service is for the entire family, so no childcare will be provided. Woolsey Baptist is at 115 Hampton Rd. in Fayetteville. For more information, call the church office, 770-461-9618, or visit www. woolseybaptist.org
• Word of God Lutheran Church in Peachtree City will have its Christmas Eve Candlelight services with Holy Communion and special music on Dec. 24, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. A nursery will be available. On Christmas morning at 10:30 a.m. there will also be a traditional worship service with Holy Communion. Word of God is at 303 Kelly Dr., Suite 10, Peachtree City. The pastor is Larry Lystig. For more information call 770-897-4508 or visit www.woglutheran.org.
