Advent & Christmas
Join Us for Christmas Eve Services
Christmas Eve Services will be in the Sanctuary on December 24th at 12:30pm, 4:30pm, and 6:30pm.
Advent & Christmas at Christ Our Shepherd
Advent is the period of four weeks leading up to Christmas, observed by many Christian denominations as a time of spiritual preparation and anticipation. The term itself comes from the Latin word "adventus," which means "coming." During this season, Christians reflect on the three comings of Jesus Christ: his first coming as a baby in Bethlehem, his second coming in glory at the end of time, and his daily coming into the hearts of believers. Advent is a season of hopeful waiting, marked by special traditions like the lighting of Advent wreaths, which symbolize the passage of the four weeks and the growing light of Christ. It's a time for repentance and prayer, with a focus on preparing oneself spiritually to celebrate the Nativity and to await the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises.
During the Advent season, Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church prepares for Christmas in Peachtree City in a variety of ways. Below on this page, you will find descriptions and videos of some of the special services that we hold during the Advent and Christmas season.
In addition, Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church delivers messages of Advent to our email list to help members get into the spirit of the season. Links to the most recent series can be found here.
Advent Family Night
The 2025 Advent Family Night will be Wednesday, December 3rd, 5:30-7:30pm. Join us for a series of fun activities for families of all ages that explore the Advent season and the story of Jesus' birth. The line up changes each year, but past stations included nativity dress up, indoor snowball fight, Christmas karaoke, story time, crafts, dinner, hot chocolate bar, instrument exploration, writing letters to Santa, tie tying lessons, and Christmas Card writing. Christ Our Shepherd welcomes all families of all ages to this event, so come join the fun!
Annual Holiday Decorations Workshop
Join the experts from The Art of Landscaping for our Annual Holiday Decorations Workshop on Saturday, December 6th. The cost varies from year to year, but includes a basic container, greenery, other decorations, and lunch. Some items such as wreath bases are available at an additional cost, and you are welcome to bring your own favorite centerpiece container to decorate, or your own decorations to use. Come for the fellowship, the advice, and the expert bow tying skills of our hosts. Be sure to sign up in advance. This event always fills up fast!
Holiday Hops & Hymns
Join us at Line Creek Brewing Company in Peachtree City on December 7th, 2025 at 5:00pm for a pint and some Christmas carols at Holiday Hops and Hymns! Members of Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran's various Contemporary Service bands will lead the crowd in a selection of Christmas songs both religious and secular. Come, sing along, and request your favorite! It's like Christmas Caroling, but with chairs, climate control, and beer. Line Creek Brewing does not serve food, but you can bring your own to snack on!
Blue Christmas
This special annual service acknowledges that sometimes the Christmas season is hard for those that have experienced the loss of a loved one. In 2025, the Blue Christmas service will be on Wednesday, December 17th. In the meantime, enjoy the video of the 2024 service below.
Moravian Love Feast
The Moravian Love Feast is an ancient observance, dating from the early days of the Christian Church. You may find it mentioned in Acts, Chapter 2. It is a simple meal of the faithful in a service of worship. Christ Our Shepherd's Love Feast includes Christmas music in several styles. Sanctuary Choir will be accompanied by the Brass and Flute Choirs, handbells, Da Chiesa strings, percussion and timpani, musicians from the church’s contemporary worship service, and the Love Feast Consort. These groups play a musical offering/prelude 30 minutes before each Love Feast, beginning with carols by the combined “church band” outside the sanctuary. The congregation joins in singing beloved carols. All are welcome.
Assured Seating Cards are available in advance for the Moravian Love Feast a few weeks before the service.
In 2025, the Moravian Love Feast will be on December 13th and 14th. While you wait, enjoy this video of the 2024 service.
Breakfast with Santa
Though Santa has a very busy schedule in December while he and the elves get ready for Christmas, he will still take the time to visit Peachtree City. Christ Our Shepherd will host Santa for a simple breakfast. Stop by to have a bite to eat, do some Christmas crafts, and have a moment to talk to Santa.
Breakfast with Santa will be December 20, 2025 starting at 9:30am.
Christmas Eve Worship Service
A Lutheran Christmas Eve candlelight service is a deeply meaningful and contemplative worship experience. The service typically begins with traditional hymns, scripture readings that recount the Nativity story, and a sermon that focuses on the profound message of Christ's birth. The atmosphere is often one of quiet reverence, with a special emphasis on the theme of light overcoming darkness. The climax of the service is the singing of "Silent Night," during which the sanctuary lights are dimmed and the congregation lights individual candles, symbolizing the light of Christ being shared throughout the world. This communal act of lighting candles, often passed from person to person, creates a beautiful and moving visual representation of the Gospel spreading from one believer to another. The service concludes with a sense of peace and joy, as worshipers leave with the light of Christ's birth in their hearts.
In person Candlelight Christmas Eve Services will be at 12:30pm, 4:30pm, and 6:30pm in the Sanctuary on December 24th, 2025. Enjoy this recording of the 4:30pm service from 2024 to relive the Christmas spirit at any time of the year.
Yule Log Video
Enjoy our "Yule Log Video" featuring Christ Our Shepherd talent and fireplaces, at the link below.