I want to begin this week’s note by letting you know that earlier this week our church was the host for a Leading Edge conference of Youth Leaders. The Leading Edge consists of the 100 largest United Methodist churches in the country, and about 70 leaders gathered under the theme “Better Together” for inspiration, fellowship, and the sharing of best practices. Our own Bill Curry was one of the keynote speakers, and he inspired the leaders with a message on being authentic and present disciples of Jesus Christ. You would have been proud of the leadership and hospitality our youth team brought to this conference.

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Let me begin this week’s note by thanking so many of you for joining us for an incredible Easter service last Sunday. Over 3,100 worshipers filled our sanctuary, and over 1,600 more participated online. An incredible amount of work took place behind the scenes to make Sunday a glorious day of celebration:

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Let me begin this week’s note by thanking all who participated in last week’s Palm Sunday celebration at Peachtree Road UMC. Our sanctuary was filled with worshipers; the ushers gave out all worship bulletins; 26 new members joined our church; and we just about ran out of food at the luncheon in Grace Hall. The day exceeded all our expectations! Thank you! What other church has a live donkey leading the procession? The energy you brought to worship made it a Palm Sunday to remember. We now are set up for an exciting Easter celebration.

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As I write these words, we are merely hours away from Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. This is one of our favorite Sundays of the year here at Peachtree Road UMC with the children entering the sanctuary waving their palm branches, the beautiful music offered by the choirs, and, yes, our favorite donkey “Jerusalem” leading the procession at the 11:15 am service. The passage we read at the beginning of worship sets the tone for the day:

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I really am looking forward to worshiping with you Sunday. Our Lenten theme this year is “Rekindling the Fires of Our Faith,” and this week we will think for a few minutes about the ministry of all believers. Think of it this way – ministry is not a spectator sport. In order to grow, you have to participate. We will focus upon that biblical concept this week. To prepare for the message, I encourage you to read Ephesians 4 and mediate upon Paul’s words to the early church.

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March 8, 2024

Dear Peachtree Road Family,

I hope you are well. Let me begin by sharing some great news with you – the Board of Ordained Ministry for the North Georgia Conference met earlier this week and approved our associate minister Josh Miles for ordination! He will be ordained as an elder in full connection in the North Georgia Annual Conference in June, and I know you join me in congratulating him. We look forward to Josh’s continued leadership at Peachtree Road UMC.

We are deep into the 40 days of the Lenten season, and I really am looking forward to worshiping with you on Sunday. I hope you are finding our series entitled “Rekindling the Fires of Our Faith” to be helpful. Each week I remind you that the church cannot make you grow spiritually, but the church can create an environment in which spiritual growth can take place. For example, when we emphasize the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives, take the Bible seriously, and seek the presence of God in worship, we are setting ourselves up to grow deeper in our relationship with God. I want to add another emphasis for consideration this week – being a part of the church as a covenant community. We will consider the impact of Jesus’ words to his disciples in John 15:

“I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.” – John 15:15

We will sing two of the church’s great hymns (“Lift High the Cross” and “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord”), and the Chancel Choir will offer a beautiful anthem entitled “Hymn to the Eternal Flame” with Mary Allison Hamby and Meredith Howard singing solo parts. I look forward to seeing you in worship this Sunday at one of our services: 8:45 am, 10:00 am, or 11:15 am. If you are unable to make it in person, please join us online for the livestream of one of the services here.

You are invited to the dedication of the church’s new parsonage this Sunday evening, March 10, at 5:00 pm. The new home at 3210 West Shadowlawn (right across the street from the soccer field) has been completed, and our District Superintendent Dr. Michael McQueen will be with us to offer the prayer of dedication. We are grateful that the house already is paid for, and our associate minister Josh Miles, his wife Emily, and their daughter Daisy will be the first family to move into this beautiful home. You are invited to the dedication and open house that is to follow.

During this holy season of Lent, we as a congregation are engaging in seeking to make a difference in our community in a couple of important ways:

• Season of Service – a great way to serve others and make an impact in our community. I hope you will join us in this year’s emphasis. You may find a list of projects and sign up here. Pick one and join your fellow members of Peachtree Road UMC in being the hands and feet of Christ.

• Lenten Offering – once again this year our special giving during the season of Lent will be used to support the agencies and ministries in the Greater Atlanta area with whom we partner. This year’s theme is “We Help the Helpers.” As a part of your Lenten discipline, I hope you will consider giving a gift to this offering. If each of us gave just $20 a week or $120 for the season, it would make a tremendous impact on the lives of others. Please give through the church website here.

During the pandemic in 2020, we were all sheltering in place and couldn’t go to church on Palm Sunday. To witness to our faith, many made crosses from flowers in their yards, placed them on their doors, and took pictures to post on social media. That might be a good practice to bring back this year. You may also want to know that the Dogwood Gift Shop is sponsoring a trunk show this Sunday, and crosses for your door will be available to purchase. Remember, all proceeds from sales at the Dogwood go to global missions.

Are you or someone you know interested in becoming a member of Peachtree Road UMC? Then join us for “Tea with the Clergy” this Sunday, March 10, at 12:30 pm. This will be an opportunity for you to meet our ministerial staff, hear about the history and ministry of the church, ask questions, and discover where you fit into the ministry of this great church. You even will have an opportunity to become a member of the church at the close of the session. For more information, please contact Brittany Charron at brittanyc@prumc.org.

Our search team charged with recruiting our next Director of Children’s Ministries needs your help. They are inviting parents with young children to a listening session on Sunday, March 24, from 9:45 am until 10:45 am in the Hospitality Suite. They are interested in getting feedback from folks concerning the current strengths of our program as well as anticipated challenges in the future. Come share your feedback and insights so that our ministry with children can thrive well into the future.

Finally, I remind you this Sunday marks the beginning of Daylight Savings Time. Be sure to set your manual clocks and watches forward one hour before you go to bed on Saturday evening so you will be on time for Sunday School and worship on Sunday.

Thank you for your prayerful support of the ministry of this great church. I hope to see you Sunday in worship.

Grace and peace,

Bill

At the close of this note, I will share some news with you about an important development for our second campus on the Westside. However, I want to begin this week’s note by thanking the Deep Waters Class for sponsoring Wednesday evening’s forum in Grace Hall on the current conflict in the Holy Land…I really am looking forward to Sunday as we continue our Lenten series entitled “Rekindling the Fires of Our Faith.” This week’s message will highlight the importance of worship for our spiritual growth. I believe it was Harry Emerson Fosdick who observed: “Within each of us there is a little plant called reverence that needs to be watered at least once a week.”

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As you read these words, I am on my way back from a conference attended by the senior ministers of the largest churches in our denomination. It has been a good time of comparing notes, sharing best practices, and encouraging one another. I come away grateful that, like our congregation at Peachtree Road UMC, the members of so many of these churches are praying for spiritual renewal – renewal of our churches, communities, and nation. Please continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to move in us and through us during these days. 

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On Wednesday we began our forty-day journey known as the season of Lent in preparation for the celebration of Easter. Throughout the centuries, Christians have used these days as a time of spiritual reflection, letting go of some of the things that distract them from following Christ, and intentionally adding some new “holy habits” to their lives. Traditionally, these have included prayer, fasting, study, and service to others.

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We brought our mental health series to a close last Sunday, but our emphasis upon mental wellness will continue throughout the year. Over the course of the last four weeks, we looked at some of the root causes of stress and anxiety and how our faith can enable us to cope with them. I hope you found these messages helpful. I particularly want you to know that, if you find yourself struggling to maintain mental wellness, you do not have to go it alone. You can find hope and help through your friends at Peachtree Road UMC and the One Lamb Mental Health initiative team.

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