The season of Advent has begun. Christians around the world, in keeping with ancient tradition, prepare with solemnity and contemplation for the coming of the Savior.

At Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City, this year's observation is more significant th an usual, as it marks the beginning of a year-long celebration of the congregation's 25th anniversary.

Last week the congregation used the same liturgy and hymns chosen for its initial worship service Dec. 1, 1974, in the Glenloch Recreation Center.

Mission-developer Rev. John Weber led 88 worshippers in that first service. In six months, the congregation formally organized with 96 adult members and 62 children.

Today, a quarter century later, after helping establish new Lutheran missions in Fayetteville and White Oak, the congregation numbers about 1,700 active members, and is the second largest in the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Weber is still senior pastor; the Rev. Miriam Beecher is associate pastor.

Mid-week Advent worship at Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church will be led this year by vicar Jennifer Hepler. The service will be Evening Prayer which includes the Service of Light, and will take place each Thursday evening —Dec. 2, 9 and 16 —at 7 p.m.

"I hope for it to be a time in which we can slow down, quiet ourselves, and find God in the silence," Hepler said. "We are waiting for the Son of God to come in glory and judge the world. We live in the in-between time, between the first coming of Christ and his return."

Themes for the weeks of Advent will center around waiting, repentance and remembrance, and worship, the intern said. The community is welcome to join in this time of prayer and reflection.

The church is located at 101 Peachtree Pkwy., Peachtree City. For further information: 770-487-8717, or www.coslutheran.org.

The choirs, handbells, and other instrumentalists of Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, conducted by music director David Beecher, will present a special Christmas cantata entitled "Fear Not!" on the evenings of Dec. 18, at 7 p.m., and Dec. 19, at 6 p.m. Beecher said the community will be welcomed to participate in these worship services, which he described as "a Christmas celebration of hope in music and scripture," in the sanctuary . For further information, call 770-487-8717 or check the congregation's Web site at www.coslutheran.org.

Here's the 1999 Advent and Christmas calendar at Christ Our Shepherd:

Weekend worship services: Saturdays at 7 p.m., Sundays 8:30 and 11 a.m., and at 6 p.m.

Dec. 2, 9, and 16, 7 p.m.: Mid-week Advent series

Dec. 12, 6 p.m.: "A Lamb's Tale" -- Sunday School children's Christmas program

Dec. 18, 7 p.m.; Dec. 19, 6 p.m.: "Fear Not!" -- Choir Cantata with instruments

Dec. 19, 7 p.m.: Live Nativity scene by church youth in front of the church

Dec. 24, 4:30 p.m.: Carol service

Dec. 24, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.: Candlelight services

Dec. 24, 10:30: Candlelight worship and Holy Communion -- nursery available at 4:30, 6:30

Dec. 25, 10 a.m. Worship with Holy Communion

Pastors John Weber and Miriam Beecher said the community is welcome to join the congregation for any and all of these times of worship.

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