December 2, 2022
Dear Peachtree Road Family,
I hope you are well. I also hope you are planning to join us for worship this Sunday on the second Sunday in Advent. This is the best time of year at Peachtree Road UMC as we gather in our beautiful sanctuary to light candles, sing our favorite Advent hymns and Christmas carols, and hear beautiful music from our choirs. This week’s hymns include Heralds of Christ, Angels from the Realms of Glory, and It Came Upon the Midnight Clear. In addition, the Chancel Choir will sing Glory to God from Handel’s Messiah, and we will light the second candle on the Advent wreath.
Our theme for this season is “Deck the Halls,” and we will be considering a spiritual practice that leads to peace. I’ll give you a clue – we learn it from the preaching of John the Baptist found in Luke 3:1-6. I hope you are planning to join us for worship this Sunday at 8:45 am, 10:00 am, or 11:15 am or online through the church website.
Speaking of services, let me remind you of our special services scheduled for this season:
- Carols by Candlelight – Sunday, December 4, at 5:30 pm in the sanctuary. You are invited to join us as the Chamber Singers and members of the Chancel Choir lead us in a service of lessons and very familiar carols. The service closes with the lighting of candles as a symbol of our hope that “light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it.”
- Many Moods of Christmas – Sunday, December 11, at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary. Tickets for this classic Christmas concert featuring music from Handel’s Messiah and other traditional songs are now available. Tickets are complimentary but may run out, so reserve your seat today – online here, at the Dogwood Shop, or in the church office.
- Christmas with the Georgia Boy Choir – Friday, December 16, and Saturday, December 17, at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary. Come hear all five levels of the Georgia Boy Choir, our ensemble in residence, as they perform sacred classics, traditional Christmas carols, and all your holiday favorites. You may purchase your tickets here.
- Longest Night Service – As the days grow shorter, we are approaching the longest night of the year. For many of us, the grief of loss makes these days even more difficult to manage. On Sunday, December 18, please join us in the Moore Chapel at 5:30 pm for our Longest Night Service. It is designed to help us find hope in the midst of our grief. Rev. Darren Hensley will offer the message.
Thank you to all who have volunteered and supported Christmas Kindness this week. This ministry provides Christmas joy for some in our community who are struggling financially and reminds us of the gracious gift of love that God bestows upon all of us. This year our 700 Christmas Kindness volunteers have served 2750 persons, including 1600 children and 615 families. Thank you to all who have volunteered. If you would like to give a financial gift to support this ministry please follow this link.
Thank you for making your commitment to the 2023 operating budget. Your giving in the name of Christ through the ministry of Peachtree Road UMC will help fulfill our mission of transforming lives and changing the world. We are delivering a gift to every household that has made a commitment as a token of our appreciation for your support. If you haven’t made your commitment yet, you can do so anytime online or by placing it in the offering plate this Sunday. Please fill out the card completely so we can get you your gift. Thank you!
| Finally, let me offer a quick word about year-end giving. You have been most generous this year in your giving, and as we come to the last month of the year, we remain on track with our budget. Please help us finish the year strong. With inflation at a 40-year high, you can imagine what the economy has done to our budgeted projections for spending. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. If you have questions regarding making a contribution to Peachtree Road UMC, please contact Roger Laney in the business office: (404) 266-2373 or rogerl@prumc.org. Thank you for your faith, hope, and love. I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we continue our preparations for the coming of Christ. Grace and peace, Bill |