Advent is

a time of both eager anticipation and deep reflection, as Christians worldwide

prepare to celebrate the coming of their Lord as an infant born in Judea.

Christ Our

Shepherd Lutheran Church will mark the four-week period with special worship

services on Thursday evenings, as well as by using alternative music in

the liturgies during weekend worship.

David Beecher,

minister of music for the Peachtree City congregation, said that the traditional

Lutheran liturgies used at Saturday evening and Sunday worship will instead

use hymns and responses from other sources.

"Martin

Luther substituted chorales in the language of the people for Latin liturgies

which had until then been sung only by the clergy and choir," Beecher

commented. "During Advent, we will use hymns and responses in place

of the liturgical music with which we have become accustomed."

In addition,

one candle on the church's Advent wreath will be lighted each week.

Midweek Advent

services will center around a dramatic presentation on Thursdays at 7

p.m. Rebecca McGuire and a number of the congregation's young people will

present several scenes and a monologue each week.

The themes

of these 30-40 minute presentations are: Dec. 6: No Peace at Church -

The Story of Zechariah and Elizabeth; Dec. 13: No Peace at Home - The

Story of Mary; Dec. 20: Know Peace.

"The

approach is visual, the atmosphere, interactive," Beecher said. "I

hope people will carve out short breaks from holiday stress and make a

point to attend."

The community

is invited to these informal services, he added. The church is at the

intersection of Ga. Highway 54 and Peachtree Parkway. For further information,

call 770-487-8717.

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