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THE LETTER OF JOHN

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. —1 John 1:1-4

Dear Peachtree Family and Friends, I want to be the first to welcome you to Christmas at the Fox! Over many decades, Peachtree Church has hosted hundreds of Christmas Eve services, welcoming thousands of worshippers to our Sanctuary each year. Tonight, as we gather at the historic Fox Theatre for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, we endeavor to make this room a sacred space in which the story of Christmas comes alive once more. Jesus—the incarnate Word made flesh, Emmanuel, God with us— is the One we gather to worship tonight, understanding that His birth occurred not just in one historical moment, but in a manner that transcends time and space, reaching into the core of our individual and collective human experience. Whether your heart is grateful and content or full of anxiety about an unknown future, my prayer tonight is that you will encounter the Savior who loves you and calls you by name. As we will sing together, “the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.” On that note, I want to extend a special welcome to those of you with young children and to unequivocally declare that this service is a celebration in every sense of the word—full of beauty, awe, and wonder. Our Christmas pageant, complete with live animals, will be a chance for the whole family to walk through the timeless story of Christ’s birth. So encourage your kids to lean in, sing out, and fully participate this evening. Thank you for joining us and blessings to each of you on this holy night.

Dr. Richard Kannwischer Peachtree Presbyterian Church Atlanta, Georgia

Prelude Selections from “The Nutcracker”

Opening Song Of the Father’s Love Begotten

arr. Brian Mann

Welcome Congregational Carol† O Come, All Ye Faithful

arr. Sir David Willcocks

Responsive Reading

PAGE A N T Congregational Carol† Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus

arr. Jakari rush

Annunciation Scripture Solo Mary, Did You Know?

Arr. Jack Schrader

Mary and Joseph Entr ance Congregational Carol O Little Town of Bethlehem

Birth Scripture Congregational Carol Away in a Manger

Shepherds and Angels Scripture Children’s Choir

Shepherd’s Joy

Mark Hayes

† Those who are able, please stand.

Congregational Carol† Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

arr. Sir David Willcocks

Wisemen Entr ance Congregational Carol We Three Kings

Song Jesus What a Wonderful Child

arr. Rollo Dilworth

CHR IST M A S PR AY ER Anthem † Festival First Nowell

Dan forrest

CHR IST M A S M E SSAGE

Dr. Richard Kannwischer · Senior Pastor

CA N DLE LIGHT I NG Anthem O Holy Night

arr. John Rutter

Congregational Carol Silent Night, Holy Night

arr. Wil brown

BEN EDICT ION Congregational Carol† Joy to the World

arr. Mack Wilberg

Postlude

† Those who are able, please stand.

LE A DI NG T H E WOR SHI P Dr. Richard Kannwischer

senior pastor

Dr. Jay Madden

executive Pastor

Rev. Vicki Harrington Franch Associate Pastor

Rev. Deanne Townsend Associate Pastor

Dr. Chuck Roberts

Rev. Scott Tucker

Rev. Wes Nichols

senior associate Pastor

associate Pastor

Associate Pastor

Thanks to a family of Peachtree Church for generously commissioning artist Steve Penley to commemorate this event with an original painting entitled “A Peachtree Christmas” which you will find on the front cover of tonight’s bulletin. Penley’s artwork has become an integral part of America’s visual identity, from the halls of the U.S. Capitol and the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery to art galleries and private collections across the country. We would like to express our appreciation for his unique contribution to our church family as we celebrate Christmas at the Fox.

LE A DI NG MUSIC I N WOR SHI P Mary Hoffman

Senior Director of Music

Steven Wooddell Senior Organist

Meredith Baker

Music Associate, Children Music

Sarah Dempster

Senior Music Associate

Mark Miller

Interim Contemporary Director

Jason Maynard pianist

Jakari Rush pianist

Angelica Bias

guest soloist

Timothy Miller guest soloist

MUSICI A NS VOCAL TEAM

Debi Dixon-Trahan Alison Turner Adina Trahan Debra McDavid Clarence Bell Wendel Stephens Timothy Parham Sean Savage

FLUTE

Sarah Ambrose Kelly Bryant

OBOE

Christina Gavin Alexandra Shatlova

CLARINET

Mace Hibbard Seth Kuehn

HORN

Jason Eklund Mackenzie Newell

TRUMPETS

HARP

Jonathan Swygert John Bryant

Diedre Agustin-Henson

TROMBONES

Jessica Wu Helen Kim Sheela Iyengar Ginny Respess-Fairchild Nina Fronjian Martha Gardner

Ed Nicholson Jason Robins Hollie Lawing-Pritchard

TIMPANI

Joel Morris

PERCUSSION Paula Williams

DRUMS

Paul Barrie

VIOLIN

VIOLA

Yinzi Kong Josiah Coe Meghan Yost

CELLO

ELECTRIC BASS Rex Crawford

Guang Wang Martin Gueorguiev Nan Kimberling

GUITAR

DOUBLEBASS

Josh Brundage

Emory Clements Daniel Tancredi

O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL 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! Refrain: 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 heav’n above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest![Refrain] Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n! Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! [Refrain]

COME THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; By thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.

O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM 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.

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

HARK! THE HER ALD ANGELS SING 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 hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!” Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

WE THREE KINGs 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 light, star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light. Glorious now behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice: Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies. O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.

FESTIVAL FIRST NOWELL Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord, That hath made heaven and earth of nought, and with his blood mankind hath bought. Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel.

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. Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar, heav’nly hosts sing, “Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born!” Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth! Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth! 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.”

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. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders of His love.

HA BITAT FOR HUM A NIT Y And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. — Luke 2:7

Imagine preparing for the birth of your child and having nowhere to go, and the relief that comes when you have a place you can call your own. Through our congregation’s generosity, we have been able to provide first-time home ownership to multiple families through our partnership with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. We are proud to share that we have fully funded our 161st Habitat build that will take place in 2024. Help us continue to support this initiative by giving today and volunteering during our build next year. Let us prepare room for our neighbors!

3 WAYS TO GIVE

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CHILDR EN’S ACTIV IT Y

Shepherds Jesus the Differences Compare theTold pictureof on the top with Spot the picture on the bottom.

Circle 11 things that are different. Compare the picture on the top with the picture on bottom. Circle the 11 things that are different.

See the answer at PeachtreeChurch.com/ChristmasManger

2024 In 2022, our church read through the Bible together during Quest. In 2023, we spent the year diving deep into the books of Matthew and Romans. In 2024, we will strive to become more like Jesus by rediscovering the ancient practices of prayer, study, sabbath, celebration, and many more. Our knowledge of scripture, coupled with studying how Jesus lived his life while on earth, will help us become people who Overflow with the goodness of God.

PeachtreeChurch.com/Overflow

Sermon Series | Groups | Videos Podcasts | Journals | Family Resources

THE PEACHT

PENT

SPEAKER SE

CONVERSATIONS CHRIST AND CULT

Peachtree Church is excited to welcome John Mark Comer as a Pentz Series Speaker. To enrich our Overflow initiative, Peachtree will gift the congregation with Comer’s newest book Practicing the Way. The book focuses on how the first followers of Jesus developed a Rule of Life, or habits and practices based on the life of Jesus himself. As they learned to live like their teacher, they became people who made space for God to do his most transformative work in their lives.

WOR SHIP WITH US ON SUNDAY MORNINGS Traditional Worship: 8:45 and 10am Contemporary Worship: 11:15am

CONNECT WITH US We are glad you joined us today at Peachtree! We want to know more about you, and are happy to answer any questions you may have.

Text Connect to 50700 PeachtreeChurch.com/Connect

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Peachtree Presbyterian Church

@PeachtreeChurch

3434 Roswell Road NW | Atlanta, Georgia 30305 PeachtreeChurch.com | 404.842.5800