Carol Hamill, coordinator of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RICA) at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Newnan, spoke to fellow parishioners about the RICA program at the church.

Several churches in the Fayette area will hold services on New Year’s Eve to usher in the year 2008.

Called “Watch Night” services by some, the Watch Night tradition began in 1732 with the Moravians in Germany. It was a time for giving thanks for the blessings of the previous year and praying for God’s blessings and good things in the upcoming year. People gathered in churches before midnight and continued their vigil into the new year.

Pastor Jennifer Turner, founder and president of Shepherd to Shepherd Ministries and founder and preacher of Tabernacle of Peace ministries, Inc., will be the special guest speaker at the January meeting of Peachtree City Aglow Monday, Jan. 14, at 6:45 p.m. at Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church on the corner of Ga. Hwy. 54 and Peachtree Parkway.

St. Paul Lutheran School in Peachtree City hosted parents and friends during Thanksgiving and holiday events. Shown above are Mrs. Lynette Hicks and her daughter, Tori Hicks. Photo/Special.

Evangelist William (Bill) Fay of Ft. Meyers, Fla. will preach at Woolsey Baptist Church Sunday morning, Jan. 6, in both the 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. services. That afternoon at 5 p.m., he will lead a seminar on “How To Share Your Faith.”

A special eight-week program entitled “Divorce and Beyond” will be offered at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in East Coweta County beginning Jan. 28 and running through Feb. 26. Participants will meet Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m. in the parish’s new facility Education Wing, room 105.

The Nativity of Christ was recently presented by members of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church on South Court Square in Newnan as part of the Main Street Newnan activities for Christmas. About 25 youngsters from the parish participated in the event.

Flat Creek PraiSing is Dec. 30
Flat Creek Baptist Church will have its fifth Sunday PraiSing this Sunday, Dec. 30, at 6 p.m. Flat Creek is at 161 Flat Creek Trail between Ga. Hwy. 54 and Tyrone Road. For information, call 770-487-4890.

Churches all over the south side will prepare for Christmas with religious services on Christmas Eve and some on Christmas Day. The following churches in the Fayette area have announced their holiday events.

Local high school students participated in a live Nativity held at Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City on Dec.

The Rev. Dr. John Skelly, a 32-year veteran Presbyterian Church minister, has assumed duties as interim pastor at Fayette Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville.

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Peachtree City recently joined with Toys for Tots and J93.3 for a successful toy drive.

A special 8-week program entitled “Divorce and Beyond” will be offered at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Newnan beginning Jan. 28 and running through Feb. 26. Participants will meet Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m. in the parish’s new facility Education Wing, room 105.

Gospel singing in Grantville set for Dec. 22
A gospel singing will be held on Main Street in Grantville next door to Sandy’s Ice Cream Parlor, on Saturday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. Featured singers will be One Accord from Columbus, The Christian Aires from LaGrange, the Carter Trio from LaGrange,and possibly others. Finger foods will be available. Everything is free. For more info call Roy Smith, 770-251-5621, or Dan Burdett, 770-583-2260, or e-mail depotsinging@yahoo.com.

Dickens Village, the old fashioned Christmas extravaganza hosted for the past seven years by Heritage Christian Church, will open tonight with a few new additions along with popular favorites from past years. Gates open at 6 p.m.

Christ’s Church at Whitewater’s children’s choir, “Whitewater Creek Kids” will present Celeste Clydesdale’s “Miracle on Main Street,” Sunday, Dec. 16 at the 11 a.m. worship service.

Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City will offer Love Feasts in Moravian Tradition on Saturday, Dec. 15, and Sunday, Dec. 16. A pre-service Musical Offering, featuring the church’s Clarinet Choir, Joyful Noise Handbell Ringers, Flute Choir, Brass Choir and Love Feast Consort, will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Introits are 30 minutes later.

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Peachtree City recently had a food drive to support the Fayette Samaritans. Church members went door to door to collect items. Pictured left to right, Monica Jamison, Abby Newman, and Lily Tran are given can food by Tricia Laskey of Peachtree City. Photo/Special.

St. Christopher Hellenic Orthodox Church of Peachtree City has announced special services in anticipation of the upcoming Nativity.

‘In a Manger’ to be performed at Woolsey
“Christmas At Woolsey” will be Saturday, Dec. 15 and Sunday, Dec. 16 at the church. “In A Manger” will be presented by the Celebration Choir and Drama Team at 7 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday. Woolsey Baptist Church is at 115 Hampton Rd. in Fayetteville. For more information, call the church office, 770-461-9618 or log onto the website: www.woolseybaptist.org.

Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City will offer a live Nativity on Sunday, Dec. 9, on the lawn at Ga. Highway 54 and Peachtree Parkway. Middle school actors will hold their positions from 4-6 p.m., with high school students taking over from 7-7:30. During this latter period the Christ Our Shepherd Brass will play carols.

Triumph Leadership Center, a new church in Peachtree City which was launched last September, is now meeting each Sunday morning at 10 a.m. at the Wyndham-Peachtree Conference Center on Ga. Hwy. 54. The pastors are Jeff and Cass Gray, formerly associate pastors of Living Way Foursquare Church in Stockbridge.

The United Methodist Men of Peachtree City United Methodist Church will host a free “Birthday Party for Jesus” Sunday, Dec. 9, at 2 p.m. for children up to fifth grade. The party will be held in the Children and Youth Center at 400 Windgate Road.

Catherine Ellenbeth McGee, daughter of Sean and Andi McGee of Newnan, received the sacrament of Holy Baptism at Christ the King Church recently. Bishop David Epps officiated. The maternal grandparents, Steve and Janet Harless of Fayetteville and the paternal grandparents, the Rev. Deacon Tony and Jeanie McGee. Newnan, were present for the service. The Rev. McGee and the baby’s father both assisted in the baptism. Photo/Special.

Covenant Presbyterian Church will host a dedicatory organ concert by Atlantan Richard Morris on Sunday, Dec. 16, at 4 p.m. A reception will follow.

Aaron Evans and Jim Driscoll of “The Emerging Daniel Company” will speak on “finding your destiny and purpose in God” on Friday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 8 during a two-day conference at Peachtree Christian Fellowship.