 Welcome to our Founders' Day 2021 Drive-in Worship Service
We’re so glad that you’re with us this afternoon to celebrate our Founders’ Day! If you have the Facebook app on your phone, please “check in” to Peace Tree UMC. Share a photo, update your status, or simply post the hashtag #soles4souls to support our non-profit partner for the month of February: Soles4Souls - a non-profit based in Nashville that will donate one pair of shoes to a child living in a developing nation for every 10 of our check-ins. Come As You Are VERSE 1 Come out of sadness from wherever you've been Come broken hearted, let rescue begin Come find your mercy, oh sinner come kneel Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't heal Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't heal REFRAIN So lay down your burdens, lay down your shame All who are broken lift up your face Oh wanderer come home, you’re not too far So lay down your hurt, lay down your heart Come as you are VERSE 2 There's hope for the hopeless and all those who've strayed Come sit at the table, come taste the grace There's rest for the weary, rest that endures Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't cure REFRAIN BRIDGE Come as you are Fall in his arms Come as you are VERSE 3 There's joy for the morning, oh sinner be still Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't heal Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't heal REFRAIN Announcements
New Members Moment As members of Christ's universal church, will you be loyal to Christ through The United Methodist Church, and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries? If so, say, “I will." As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness? If so, say, “I will.” CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love. As members together with you in the body of Christ and in this congregation of The United Methodist Church, we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Beneath the Waters (I Will Rise) VERSE 1 This is my revelation Christ Jesus crucified Salvation through repentance At the cross on which He died VERSE 2 Now hear my absolution Forgiveness for my sin And I sink beneath the waters That Christ was buried in REFRAIN I will rise, I will rise As Christ was raised to life Now in Him, now in Him I live VERSE 3 I stand a new creation Baptized in blood and fire No fear of condemnation By faith I'm justified REFRAIN (x2) BRIDGE I rise as You are risen Declare Your rule and reign My life confess Your Lordship And glorify Your Name Your Word it stands eternal Your Kingdom knows no end Your praise goes on forever An on and on again No power can stand against You No curse assault Your throne No one can steal Your glory For it is Yours alone I stand to sing Your praises I stand to testify For I was dead in my sin REFRAIN (x3) Offering As we inch closer and closer to the official start of our building renovations, we’ve seen a lot of progress made in clearing out rooms and preparing the space for this important work. Please be in prayer for this ongoing process. Soon, we’ll be able to hold recitals, conferences, and children’s camps in our Sanctuary. Our Fellowship Hall and Gym will once again host meals and sporting events. Home school groups and youth athletic teams are interested in partnering with us, and small business owners have already inquired about rental office space. The possibilities are truly endless, so we continue to seek God’s vision and guidance as we look to the future. You can make a one-time gift to the church or set up a recurring donation by visiting peacetree.church/give. Use the online form and check out the link to our UPLIFT building renovations page. Bible Reading (Acts 2:42) They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. (The Message) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (KJV) The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. (Common English Bible) All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. (New Living Translation) Message “Win the Wait” Rev. Kristofer Roof (kris@peacetree.church) Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) VERSE 1 Amazing grace How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now I'm found Was blind, but now I see VERSE 2 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear And grace my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed REFRAIN My chains are gone I've been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy reigns Unending love, amazing grace VERSE 3 The Lord has promised good to me His word my hope secures He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures REFRAIN (x2) VERSE 4 The earth shall soon dissolve like snow The sun forbear to shine But God, Who called me here below, Will be forever mine. VERSE 5 When we’ve been there Ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’d first begun Go In Peace Stop by the South Entrance to pick up a Peace Tree t-shirt as our gift to you. Feel free to also pick up several Manna Bags and Face Masks to store in your car and hand out to those you see in need. Drive safely and stay healthy! See you on Saturday, March 6 for our next Drive-in Worship Service. Good evening friends! Welcome to Peace Tree's 6th Annual Carols and Candlelight outdoor worship service. I know that this looks very different from how we've celebrated Christmas with our neighbors when compared to the past five years. We love the tradition of gathering on the Square, but we value your safety and the health of your loved ones. So, we thank you for joining us on our church grounds for this special evening together. We invite you to stay warm and dry in your car tonight; tune your radio to 105.3FM to hear the service audio. We hope you'll sing along with us and catch the Christmas spirit. The song lyrics and Scripture passages are printed below for your use. If you brought rain gear and would prefer to stand near the front of our stage, then we simply ask that you wear a face mask and maintain social distancing. We plan to have a candlelight moment at the end of our service, weather permitting. We have Communion packets for you to take home and use during our Christmas Eve online worship service. We also have Peace Tree shirts on our Welcome Desk as a Thank You gift for newcomers. Lastly, feel free to take some Manna Bags to keep in your car so that you may pass them along to people you see in need. Thanks again for joining us for Carols and Candlelight as we worship God and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Stay safe and Merry Christmas! Rev. Kristofer Roof Peace Tree Church, Lead Pastor  Carols and Candlelight 2020 Opening Prayer 1st Carol “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear. (Refrain) Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, thou Root of Jesse’s tree, An ensign of thy people be; Before thee rulers silent fall; All people on thy mercy call. (Refrain) O come, Desire of nations bind All peoples in one heart and mind. From dust thou brought us forth to life; Deliver us from earthly strife. (Refrain) 1st Lesson Luke 1:26 - 38 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. 2nd Carol “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. For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth! O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel! 2nd Lesson Matthew 1:20 - 23 ...An angel of the Lord appeared to [Joseph] in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” 3rd Carol “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; O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest; (Refrain) 3rd Lesson Luke 2:1 - 7 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 4th Carol “What Child Is This” What child is this who, laid to rest, On Mary’s lap is sleeping Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? (Refrain) This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary. Why lies he in such mean estate Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians fear, for sinners here The silent Word is pleading. (Refrain) 4th Lesson Luke 2:8 - 14 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” 5th Carol “Hark! the Herald 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 host 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 we no more may die, born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!” 5th Lesson Luke 2:15 - 20 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 6th Carol “Angels We Have Heard on High” Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains, And the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains. (Refrain) Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song? (Refrain) See him in a manger laid, whom the choirs of angels praise; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while our hearts in love we raise. (Refrain) 6th Lesson Matthew 2:1 - 8 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 7th Carol “The First Noel” The first Noel the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter’s night that was so deep. (Refrain) Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. They look-ed up and saw a star Shining in the east, beyond them far; And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night. (Refrain) And by the light of that same star Three Wise Men came from country far; To seek for a king was their intent, And to follow the star wherever it went. (Refrain) 7th Lesson Matthew 2:9 - 11 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 8th Carol “We Three Kings” We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar, Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star. (Refrain) O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light. Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, gold I bring to crown him again, King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign. (Refrain) Glorious now behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice: Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies. (Refrain) 8th Lesson John 1:1 - 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 9th Carol “Silent Night, Holy 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, heavenly 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! Closing Prayer Departing Carol “Joy to the World” Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let all 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.   Welcome to Drive-in Worship at Peace Tree
We’re so glad that you’re with us this evening! If you have the Facebook app on your phone, please “check in” to Peace Tree UMC. Share a photo, update your status, or simply post the hashtag #GiveMeals to support our non-profit partner for the month of November: feedONE - a campaign of Convoy of Hope. Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord VERSE (x2) Open the eyes of my heart, Lord Open the eyes of my heart I want to see you, I want to see you REFRAIN To see you high and lifted up Shining in the light of your glory Pour out your power and love As we sing holy, holy, holy VERSE (x2) REFRAIN BRIDGE (x2) Holy, holy, holy Holy, holy, holy Holy, holy, holy I want to see you VERSE (x2) Announcements
How Great Is Our God VERSE 1 The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty Let all the earth rejoice, all the Earth rejoice He wraps himself in light, and darkness tries to hide And trembles at his voice, trembles at his voice REFRAIN How great is our God, sing with me How great is our God, and all will see How great, how great is our God VERSE 2 Age to age He stands, and time is in his hands Beginning and the end, beginning and the end The Godhead Three in One: Father, Spirit, Son The Lion and the Lamb, the Lion and the Lamb REFRAIN BRIDGE (x2) Name above all names, worthy of our praise My heart will sing how great is our God REFRAIN CHORUS Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee How great thou art, how great thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee How great thou art, how great thou art REFRAIN (x2) Offering Thanks to your generous gifts this month, Peace Tree was able to partner with Capleville UMC and St. Marks’ UMC to provide 125 turkeys to local families through the Capleville Community Food Pantry. If you’d like to be part of the distribution this upcoming Tuesday, please contact us in the church office: office@peacetree.church or call 901-286-5532. You can make a one-time gift to the church or set up a recurring donation by visiting peacetreeumc.org/give. Use the online form and check out the links to our 2020 stewardship campaign: All You Can, and learn more about our planned building renovations on our UPLIFT page. Bible Reading (Psalm 136:1-3, 23-26) O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. Message “Give Thanks” Rev. Kristofer Roof (kris@peacetree.church) Jesus Paid It All VERSE 1 I hear the savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small Child of weakness, watch and pray Find in me thine all in all” REFRAIN Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe Sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow VERSE 2 Lord, now indeed I find Thy power and thine alone Came and changed the leper’s spots And melt the heart of stone REFRAIN VERSE 3 And when before the throne I stand in him complete Jesus died my soul to save My lips shall still repeat REFRAIN BRIDGE (x4) O praise the One who paid my debt And raised this life up from the dead REFRAIN TAG Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow He washed it white as snow Go In Peace Stop by the South Entrance to pick up a Peace Tree t-shirt as our gift to you. Feel free to also pick up several Manna Bags to store in your car and hand out to those you see in need. Drive safely and stay healthy! See you on December 19 at 5:00 for our drive-in Carols & Candlelight service.  On Monday, August 24, I had the honor of praying the invocation for the Board of Mayor & Aldermen Meeting at Collierville Town Hall. Below is the prayer that I offered for our leaders, our town, and for all those in attendance. Please join me in praying for all our elected officials, that God would give them the wisdom needed to navigate these trying times.
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God of Hagar and Ishmael, God of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus... We pray to you this night seeking guidance and wisdom, asking for you to reveal your path, for our town, state, and nation. We pray that you might direct the hearts of our Mayor and Aldermen, just as you channeled streams of living water within the hearts of your people. As Israel’s kings sought out the wisdom and counsel of prophets, may our leaders attentively listen to the prophetic voices you lift up this evening. Reveal to us brave visionaries who speak up and speak out on behalf of your people and draw our attention to the least of these, for we know that whatever we do for the least of these we in truth do for you, Lord. Help us to hear the concern of parents as their children return to school, show us the faces of those who have struggled financially over the last five months, and offer us solace as we mourn for the lives of those lost to COVID-19 as well as systemic and institutional racism. Remind us of this fact which theologian Tom Oden shares, “We do not live a solitary existence as if in an individualistic bubble, but in a community called to social accountability. The sin we knowingly do contributes to the burden of sin dispersed through the whole society.” Almighty God, we repent of our sin and the sins of our fathers; may we seek out your preferred future, and may you flood our atmosphere with oceans of justice and rivers of righteousness. You are a good and loving God, slow to anger and quick to love. Bless my neighbors and bless this meeting, so that right and equitable relationships might be built, that wisdom would be proclaimed as each tongue speaks justice and truth. We pray for this and much more in the name of the one true God: Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer. Amen.  Recently, I wrote an article for the May/June 2020 issue of Tour Collierville Magazine which I share below. I was asked to focus on current events and how to rely on God during times of uncertainty, doubt, and trouble. As we continue to see rising numbers of positive COVID-19 cases, small business owners struggling to stay afloat, and numerous protests for racial equality and police reform, I pray that these words may offer some comfort and assurance of God's protection. +Peace and Love from Pastor Kris.
So many things are happening in our world right now. It seems like we hear from federal, state, and local leaders on a daily basis as they present new guidelines and best practices for how to deal with COVID-19. There’s a growing concern around our economy and how long it will take for us to rebound. Many individuals have applied for unemployment benefits, some families are dipping into their emergency funds, and all of us have had to adjust our lives as we practice social distancing and follow “Safer at Home” orders. It would be very tempting to give in to fear. It’s taking more effort to keep thoughts of doubt or despair at bay given the current situation. If you find yourselves worrying more than usual, then I encourage you to look to God’s Word and discover joy and hope during this time. Turn your minds to the Easter story found in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 28. Here, we see two women discover the empty tomb. An angel instructs Mary and Mary to go and tell the disciples that Jesus has risen from the dead. They hurry away “with great fear and joy” before meeting the risen Christ on the road. These women demonstrate how it is possible to live a faithful, joy-filled life and still experience moments of fear, doubt, or anxiety. Earlier in the same Gospel, we see how Jesus’ followers had concerns and worries about their basic needs being met. Jesus, as their teacher and friend, points to God’s provisions. God supplies food for birds and dresses the wildflowers so that they’re more beautifully adorned than any runway model. If God cares about these living things, then how much more will God care for humankind—beings created in the image and likeness of God? Psalm 46 begins with some very powerful words: “God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble.” Our community, our nation, and our world is experiencing a time of great trouble, but I don’t think we’re alone. I believe that God’s Holy Spirit is present with each and every one of us, and I trust that God is guiding us through this pivotal moment in world history. Psalm 46 also references earthquakes and tsunamis, the rantings and ravings of nations, and the destruction of weapons used for war. In the midst of this chaos, the Psalmist does not fear. Through it all, her eyes are on God. The women at the empty tomb are filled with both fear and joy at the thought of Jesus overcoming death. The angel speaks a greeting, “Don’t be afraid,” and Jesus repeats these comforting words when he meets them on the road. Earlier in his ministry, Jesus says to his followers, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” Instead of worrying, the Messiah encourages his disciples to pay attention to what God is doing right now and to not get worked up about what might happen tomorrow. Friends, it’s completely natural to experience fear in times like these. Becoming worried about our health, our safety, and our finances is a very real, human response. Through it all, I pray that you will seek God first. Discover joy and hope in the Psalms and in the Gospel stories. Put your trust in the Lord, because God will protect and provide for us. God is always ready to help when we need Him most. Thanks be to God! 
The following is a transcript from a video I streamed earlier today via Facebook Live. Contained in this article are helpful links and updated information for how Peace Tree is continuing to address COVID-19 concerns in our community. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. God bless!
+Peace and Love from Pastor Kris Hey friends, I wanted to give y’all a quick update on how our faith community is currently addressing coronavirus concerns as we look ahead to the month of May. The last time I went LIVE over Facebook with an update, it was Friday, March 13 - that’s a little over 6 weeks ago. To put things into perspective, back on March 13, there were only two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Shelby County. With more testing being made available in the weeks since then, health officials quickly discovered that community transmission had occurred, and as of April 28 in Shelby County alone, there are 2,320 confirmed cases of COVID-19 including 45 deaths. Friends, now more than ever, we need to practice healthy habits, we need to remain at home if possible, and if we do go to a public place for work, or to pick up groceries and meals from local restaurants, or for any other reason, then we need to wear cloth masks or other face coverings to protect ourselves and others. For six weeks now, Peace Tree has encouraged our members to stay at home. We’ve gathered together as an online community through a number of different methods. We’ve premiered worship videos on Sunday morning at 10AM Central across three sites: YouTube, Facebook, and our church website: peacetree.church. We’ve also been hosting online Bible studies on Wednesday nights at 7:30 Central using Facebook Live. We have a dial in prayer call every Thursday at 2:00. House Groups have been keeping in touch with Zoom meetings, emails, group text messages, and phone calls. Our United Methodist Women circles and Peace Tree Kids have been calling and writing letters to our home-centered members, and our Congregational Care Team and church staff have done an excellent job of keeping us connected as well. Many of you watching this video may already have a church home, and we hope that you’re staying connected to your church family. But for those of you who don’t currently have a faith community, or for those who haven’t attended church in some time and are looking for a comfortable, casual way of getting plugged in, I invite you to check out Peace Tree. We’re continuing to foster community using these online opportunities and we’ve had friends and family members join us from places near and far including Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, Amsterdam, the Philippines, and Hong Kong just to name a few. Search for Peace Tree on Facebook and YouTube: I think you’d enjoy all the people you’ll meet during a Wednesday night Bible study, a Sunday morning worship service, a Tuesday night Book Club gathering, or during a Thursday afternoon dial-in prayer call. Back on March 13, the president declared a national emergency. He also proposed a 15 day plan for slowing the spread of COVID-19. That original 15 day plan got extended through the end of April. And now, there are guidelines from the White House that governors, mayors, and community leaders are referencing when making decisions regarding a phased re-opening of our cities, counties, and states. Our church’s leadership team is staying up-to-date on what local health officials and government leaders are advising, and we’re also looking to our denominational leaders, specifically our conference bishop and our district superintendent. On Friday, Bishop Bill McAlilly shared a blog post with United Methodist pastors stating that it’s in the best interest of the churches we serve in Middle Tennessee, West Tennessee, and Western Kentucky for public worship and other in-person gatherings to remain suspended through May 31. We at Peace Tree agree with the Bishop’s decision and we will continue to gather online and stay connected through mailed cards and letters, email blasts, social media posts, Zoom meetings, telephone calls, and Facebook Live videos. In these unprecedented times, the act of physically distancing ourselves from one another is an act of love. Doing so helps us protect ourselves and our families, it demonstrates care and concern for our neighbors (especially those who are most susceptible to this virus), and it could literally help save lives. If you’re isolated and you need someone to talk to, you can always reach out to me - message me directly over Facebook or Instagram, or email me at kris@peacetreeumc.org. If you have a prayer concern, send it to our Congregational Care Team at prayer@peacetree.church. If you need to contact our office staff, then email office@peacetree.church or call 901-286-5532. Lastly, if you’d like to financially support our online ministry, then text the word PEACE to 77977 or visit peacetree.church/give. I leave you with a thought from Psalm 82. In this Psalm, God is presented as the supreme Judge, and God is examining all of those who are in a position of responsibility. They were commissioned to defend the weak, to stand up for the powerless, to uphold the cause of the poor, and to deliver those who are being exploited. Friends, all of us, in some degree or another, hold a position of responsibility. Throughout every community around the world there live individuals who are immunocompromised, those who have underlying medical conditions, and those who suffer from chronic disease. They are your grandparents, your parents, your neighbors, your best friends. I’m staying home to help keep them safe, so that one day, I can see them again face to face. Remember to thank our frontline health care workers, our first responders, grocery store employees, restaurant owners, and other essential workers who are risking their health in order to keep society functioning. Wash your hands often, stay home as much as possible, and if you do go out in public, then please cover your mouth and nose with a mask or face covering. Stay in touch. Share the good news of Jesus. Be the good news by helping those in need. And remember that Church Can Happen Anywhere. Thanks for watching and God bless!  Photo by Joshua Rawson-Harris on Unsplash We are in an unprecedented time as we deal with COVID-19 and adjust how we go about our normal activities. There are many changes happening, and this can overwhelm our capacity to cope. The news media continually monitors the spread of this virus, government officials regularly put out new community restrictions, events are being cancelled, stores cannot keep shelves stocked with basic supplies, and some friends are losing their jobs. All of this leads to an increase in stress, anxiety, depression and/or grief during a time of uncertainty and social distancing. People handle situations like this in different ways. Some may be more irritable, some may be more emotional and cry, and still others may isolate and close themselves off from their loved ones. We need to remember there is no right or wrong way to navigate or cope with stress and that everyone is doing their best. The good news is that you are not alone even while social distancing. Having a connection with others is innate in each human being. All of us need to know we are valued and loved. It can be challenging to stay connected when we are supposed to limit our exposure to others, but it is not impossible. Here are few ways you can stay connected with others:
Along with staying connected to others, remember to practice self-care in order to regulate and handle the stress associated with issues related to COVID-19. There are many ways to practice self-care. A few examples include:
Amid uncertainty, please know you are unique and amazing. There is no other person like you who can fill your shoes. Be a courageous person…talk with someone about how you feel and what you are experiencing. If you want someone who will talk with you and help you find resources, the people of Peace Tree are here to assist. You can start by messaging our Congregational Care Team at prayer@peacetree.church or by filling out the Prayer Form on our Connect page. Hang in there! We will get through this together. HELPFUL RESOURCES Behavioral Health Safety Net Insurance for those without mental health insurance and do not qualify for TennCare. (further details can be provided) -Contact Leigh Ann Pray by calling 615-804-7164 Memphis-Area Food Curbside and Pick-Up Options via I Love Memphis Blog: https://ilovememphisblog.com/2020/03/memphis-restaurants-offering-curbside-pickup-and-takeout/ United Way Community Response and Recovery Fund https://www.unitedway.org/recovery/covid19?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=covid19&utm_content=learnmore# Memphis Food Industry Emergency Worker Assistance GoFundMe organized by Edible Memphis https://www.gofundme.com/f/memphisfoodworkers Talkspace Coronavirus Resource Hub https://www.talkspace.com/blog/coronavirus/ Free Resources for Mindfulness and Meditations https://www.calm.com/blog/take-a-deep-breath?utm_source=lifecycle&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=difficult_times_nonsubs_031720 RELIEF FUNDS AND ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE https://www.cfgm.org/give-now/covid-19-regional-response-fund/ MEALS FOR SENIORS Members of City of Memphis Senior Centers will still receive a daily meal from their respective seniors. Members registered to receive MIFA meals can opt to pick up their meal from the center they attend or have it delivered using the van service. Members at other senior centers have the option to pick up their meals at their respective center for their regular nominal fee.  Leigh Ann Pray has worked in mental health in Tennessee for over 20 years. She has a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and is a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist. During her career, she has worked as an In-home Counselor, a Case Manager, a Case Management Supervisor, a partial hospitalization Program Director, a Director of Quality Assurance and Training, a Chief Clinical Officer and a West TN Regional Director. Leigh Ann has been a part of implementing trauma informed care with Foster Parents, as well as developing trauma informed curriculums for clinicians. She has trained counselors, therapists and community partners on a wide variety of topics such as effective discipline, communication, trauma informed practices, and many more. She was a cohort leader with the National Council for Behavioral Health, in a collaboration to create trauma informed communities. The Collaboration focused on creating sustainable trauma-competent environments to allow children and families to thrive. Leigh Ann has spoken at events in multiple states on topics such as secondary traumatic stress, cross generational trauma, how to create trauma informed communities and trauma informed foster parenting. Leigh Ann believes in empowering people to identify and develop their strengths and abilities so they can maximize their potential.
The following is a transcript from a video I streamed earlier this evening via Facebook Live. Contained in this article are helpful links, practical advice, and updated information for how Peace Tree is addressing COVID-19 concerns in our community. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. God bless!
+Peace and Love from Pastor Kris Hey friends, I hope everyone is having a blessed day today! It is March, Friday the 13th in the year of our Lord 2020, and I wanted to take a moment to share some information about Peace Tree and what our congregation is doing to address recent COVID-19 / coronavirus concerns. We’ve recently received word from Bishop McAlilly, the resident bishop of the Nashville Episcopal area, advising churches across West Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, and Western Kentucky to consider suspending worship and other large gatherings for at least two weeks in order to slow the rate of transmission of the coronavirus. So, after consulting with several of our church leaders and office staff, we’ve decided to suspend our Sunday morning large group worship services at Peace Tree for March 15th and the 22nd. Following this period of time, we’ll regroup and decide on whether to hold future in-person worship services on a week to week basis. Even though we will not be gathering as a large group for worship on the 15th and 22nd, a small group of worship leaders will meet with me on Sunday mornings to broadcast a worship experience online via our Facebook Live video stream. We hope you’ll participate in this online worship service by asking questions in the Comments section, Liking and Sharing the video to your profile, and sending us Prayer Requests through Messenger or the form on our website. The easiest ways to access this live stream is to visit our church website, peacetree.church, and click on the box that says Worship Online. You can also log onto Facebook and search for Peace Tree UMC. If you’re on our Facebook page at 10AM Central Time on Sunday morning, you’ll be notified that the Live Stream is in progress. For my friends who live in other states, and even for local friends whose churches don’t offer a live stream service, we invite you worship with us on Sundays at 10:00AM Central Time. Leave a comment on the video to let us know where you’re watching from. As we continue to respond to the situation, please know that office hours at our Shelby Drive location may change in the upcoming weeks. We encourage you to call ahead if you plan to stop by office. The best number to use is 901-286-5532. If you do come by the office, please know that we have several hand sanitizing stations throughout the church building as well as flyers from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization with helpful information for the public. We’re encouraging everyone in their everyday lives to practice “social distancing” by not shaking hands with your friends & co-workers. Instead you may simply smile, nod, and wave to your neighbor as you greet them. Since we won’t be meeting in person for the next couple of weeks, we won’t be passing an offering plate. However, if you’d like to support the work and ministry of Peace Tree, you can make a donation to the church from your smart phone by texting the word PEACE to 77977 or by visiting the website peacetree.church/give. Not only are we suspending our Large Group in-person worship services, but we’re also asking Small Group leaders and their participants to suspend their in-person meetings for the next two weeks. This includes our Sunday school classes, UMW Circles, House Groups, and our various monthly gatherings. If you’re a member of one these groups, please reach out to your hosts and leaders to see if there are ways to share prayer concerns, conversation, and other interactions via group text, email, or video chats & online hangouts. We’ve also been in touch with outside groups who utilize our church facilities, specifically our gym. We’re here to support them in their decisions, and each group leader is communicating with their members letting them know whether their regularly scheduled events are still being held or if they’re being cancelled. There is no outbreak of the Coronavirus in the Memphis area, and right now there are only two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Shelby County. We’re trying our best to take responsible steps and to do what we deem necessary in order to keep our church family and community members safe from the potential spread of this disease. You may already know that the symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to severe and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, and since the age of our church family spans a wide range from a newborn only a couple of months old to someone who is over 90 years old, we want to ensure everyone’s safety and prevent unnecessary risks for our older church members. We’re continuing to monitor the situation, staying up to date with announcements from the CDC, the Shelby County Health Department, and the Memphis Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Just earlier today, President Trump held a press conference declaring a national emergency. As I understand it, certain federal regulations will be put on a temporary hold to allow hospitals to make decisions that are swift and in their patients’ best interest. The government is also partnering with the private sector to make testing kits for this virus more readily available at drive thru testing locations. You can learn more about these protocols at coronavirus.gov. We will keep the lines of communication open with you, sharing information through your small group leaders, social media posts, email blasts, text message groups, and newsletters which we will mail to our home-centered church members. If you have any concerns or questions, you can message me directly over Facebook and Instagram. You can also email me at kris@peacetreeumc.org, and you can reach our office staff at office@peacetree.church. Remain vigilant, practice healthy habits, and be kind to one another. Stay safe and God bless! 
The following article was shared by Pastor Kris during Vision Sunday on January 26, 2020 which concluded our "2020 Vision" sermon series. Architectural designs and concept art were shared with our congregation at a special meeting following the 10AM worship service that day. During the meeting, church leaders guided table discussions as we dreamt and imagined how a potential building renovation would impact our ministry and extend our missional outreach into the community.
If you'd like more information about the renovation proposals, please visit us in person at 9315 E Shelby Dr and pick up a copy of our FAQ document. You can also take a look at the design boards displayed in the main lobby with images of the entrances, hallways, chapel, and signage. Questions? Email us at office@peacetree.church. These are exciting times! God is at work with the people of Peace Tree, and we have sought to live into God’s vision for our growing congregation. What began in the summer of 2015 as a dream for a new church led by a church planter with a launch team of 12 people, soon became a network of house churches which met in neighborhoods, apartments, and restaurants touching dozens of lives. Our mission was simple back then, and it remains our focus to this day: To Love God by Loving Others. As a new church plant, we sought to love those who had left the church for one reason or another, to welcome back those who had fallen away from the community of faith, and to reach those who had never been exposed to Christianity or encountered Jesus in their lives. Instead of asking people to “come to church,” we worked tirelessly to “take the Church to them,” and to “meet people where they are.” We accomplished this through community events and weekly House Groups. As God grew Peace Tree during the course of our first year, our church leaders saw a need for a Sunday morning worship service. 
“Church Can Happen Anywhere,” so we decided to rent space in a non-traditional location for our Sunday morning Large Group Worship Celebration - we believed this would make us more approachable and that it would clear any hurdles for individuals who were weary of walking into a traditional church building. After considering the YMCA at Schilling Farms, Collierville Schools, and the Malco Collierville Towne Cinema, the best value for our money was the local movie theater.
The Malco Collierville Towne Cinema provided us with a large lobby to greet families and neighbors, Safe Sanctuary compliant classrooms for our Nursery and children’s church, and an auditorium that could seat over 250 people comfortably. The staff was wonderful and we included them as fellow team members. The Sunday morning worship service introduced us to people who had not yet encountered Peace Tree, and it also welcomed others who could not attend a mid-week House Group. These individuals came with talents, gifts, and ideas for new monthly gatherings like Family Fun Night and Book Club. They helped us live out our core values: Love All, Serve All, Live Together, Follow Christ. 
The Malco Collierville Towne Cinema was planning a number of renovations and this ultimately caused us to move locations to the Malco Forest Hill Cinema in Germantown. New families discovered us because of the change in location, and we saw the number of people involved in House Groups and Sunday morning Large Group steadily grow.
We were pushing up against our maximum capacity in the Malco Forest Hill Cinema during big worship services (Easter, Christmas Eve, Founders’ Day, etc.) and we started looking for a larger space to rent that would also be accessible during the week for other programs and ministry opportunities. We looked at buildings and office suites that other churches had previously occupied - one in an office park and another off of Highway 72. We toured spaces that were available for lease in shopping centers and at Carriage Crossing. We even found an online listing for a church building & parsonage in Collierville priced at $2 million. God continued to grow our church and we continued to look for a new home, and that’s exactly when the pastor of CrossRoads Church reached out to me about a potential church merger. The Peace Tree Leadership Team proposed the “baby step” of renting the gym from CrossRoads while their congregation continued meeting in the chapel with their pastor continuing to serve the CrossRoads congregation. But after meeting with the lay leaders and committee chairs from CrossRoads, it was clear that they wanted to merge with Peace Tree. 
During the merger process, we learned a lot about CrossRoads - how many of its members had once been part of St. James UMC and decided to move out to Collierville and re-charter as CrossRoads Church, how the people of CrossRoads worshiped in a warehouse for several years while the building on Shelby Drive was constructed, and how worship took place in the gym while the chapel was being built. Wherever we go, God is already there! So whether we gather for worship in a warehouse, a movie theater, a coffee shop, someone’s home, a chapel, a gymnasium, or a restaurant - we know that God is with us. Since we shared the same spiritual DNA with this sister congregation, we decided to proceed with the church merger. The leaders of Peace Tree emphasized our desire to renovate the building, updating signage, replacing carpet, painting the walls, and transforming the chapel into a space that could function in many different ways, welcoming community organizations and outside groups into our sacred space. 
CrossRoads had opened their doors to outside groups in the years leading up to the church merger. The YMCA had hosted Y Camps in the children’s wing during the summer months; fitness classes, team sports, and pickle ball take place inside the gym; and Cub Scout Pack 37 was chartered and continues to meet inside the building.
We hope to build upon this important work and to open the doors of this church facility even wider. There is so much potential for this space, and there are plenty of opportunities to reach new people whom other churches have missed in the past.
I had absolute trust that the church merger would help our congregation grow and that moving into this building would give us a safe space for individuals and families to call home - and by all accounts, that’s exactly what’s happened.
I believe that the proposed renovations will extend our reach into this community and the surrounding areas. As we take our next faithful steps together, I hope you’ll pray for me and for our church family as we continue to seek God’s vision for Peace Tree. +Peace and Love from Pastor Kris  Thank you for joining us at this year’s Carols and Candlelight outdoor service. We are so happy that you’re here! Please use this Guide to follow along with each Bible reading. We’ve also provided lyrics for each carol that we’ll be singing this evening. Near the end of the event, children in the crowd will be invited to light their candles under the gazebo. They, in turn, will light the candles of the other attendees. After lighting their candles, children and youth are welcome to join our music team up front as they lead us in singing “Silent Night. If you prefer to view this Guide as a PDF, then click the button below. There’s also a link for a PDF of the Song Sheet. You are welcome to take your candle home, or you may drop off your candle at any of the tables to be reused at next year’s Carols and Candlelight. Thanks again for joining us tonight. We hope you have a blessed evening! Rev. Kristofer Roof Peace Tree Church - Lead Pastor Carols and Candlelight 2019 Opening Prayer 1st Carol “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear. (Refrain) Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, thou Root of Jesse’s tree, An ensign of thy people be; Before thee rulers silent fall; All people on thy mercy call. (Refrain) O come, Desire of nations bind All peoples in one heart and mind. From dust thou brought us forth to life; Deliver us from earthly strife. (Refrain) 1st Lesson Luke 1:26 - 38 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. 2nd Carol “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. For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth! O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel! 2nd Lesson Matthew 1:20 - 23 ...An angel of the Lord appeared to [Joseph] in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” 3rd Carol “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; O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest; (Refrain) 3rd Lesson Luke 2:1 - 7 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 4th Carol “What Child Is This” What child is this who, laid to rest, On Mary’s lap is sleeping Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? (Refrain) This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary. Why lies he in such mean estate Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians fear, for sinners here The silent Word is pleading. (Refrain) 4th Lesson Luke 2:8 - 14 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” 5th Carol “Away in the 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. The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes; I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me, I pray; Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there. 5th Lesson Luke 2:15 - 20 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 6th Carol “Angels We Have Heard on High” Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains, And the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains. (Refrain) Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song? (Refrain) See him in a manger laid, whom the choirs of angels praise; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while our hearts in love we raise. (Refrain) 6th Lesson Matthew 2:1 - 8 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 7th Carol “The First Noel” The first Noel the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter’s night that was so deep. (Refrain) Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. They look-ed up and saw a star Shining in the east, beyond them far; And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night. (Refrain) And by the light of that same star Three Wise Men came from country far; To seek for a king was their intent, And to follow the star wherever it went. (Refrain) 7th Lesson Matthew 2:9 - 11 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 8th Carol “We Three Kings” We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar, Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star. (Refrain) O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light. Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, gold I bring to crown him again, King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign. (Refrain) Glorious now behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice: Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies. (Refrain) 8th Lesson John 1:1 - 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 9th Carol “Silent Night, Holy 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, heavenly 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! Closing Prayer Departing Carol “Joy to the World” Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let all 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.  Peace Tree is a new church in the Collierville/Memphis area, and we believe that Church Can Happen Anywhere. We gather throughout the week as a network of House Groups which meet in people's homes, college campuses, and restaurants. These groups are located in East Memphis, Southaven, Germantown, and Collierville. On Sundays, we come together for a weekly Large Group worship celebration at our new church facility located at 9315 E Shelby Dr in Collierville. The doors open at 9:30 a.m. for free coffee & donuts, and the service begins at 10:00 a.m. We offer a nursery staffed by trained & background checked workers as well as a children's time at 10:30 a.m. called Peace Tree Kids. Email us at peacetreeumc@gmail.com to learn more about Peace Tree's weekly House Groups, our Sunday morning Large Group celebrations, and our other community events. You can always connect with us 24/7 on our website (www.peacetreeumc.org) or by searching for us on social media (@PeaceTreeUMC). Thank you for joining us during our 5th Annual Carols & Candlelight. God bless you, and Merry Christmas! |
Peace Tree
Follow the journey of a new church as we answer the call to reach people in Collierville, Memphis, and the Mid-South. Archives
February 2021
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House Group Gatherings
Sun | Peace Begins w/ Justice Sun | Adult Sunday School Mon | Mellow Mushroom G'town Tue | RAP (Retirees at Play) Tue | Leadership Meeting Tue | Book Club Wed | Whole Foods G'town Wed | Winleaf Dr House Wed | Emmas Cir House Wed | Avenue Coffee E. Memphis Thu | W Crestwood Dr House Thu | Whole Foods Memphis Fri | University Center (UofM) Fri | Music Jam Fri | Family Fun Night |
Large Group Celebrations
Sundays at 10:00 AM (doors open at 9:30 AM) Peace Tree at Shelby Drive 9315 E Shelby Dr Collierville, TN 38017 Office Hours Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. |
Mailing Address
Peace Tree UMC 9315 E Shelby Dr Collierville, TN 38017 |