June 30, 2023  Dear Peachtree Road Family, I hope you are well. Let me begin by thanking all who helped make Freedom Sunday a grand celebration. It was wonderful to see so many folks in church as we sang patriotic hymns, honored our veterans, and prayed for our nation. The music was especially moving as we welcomed a number of new persons to the volunteer choir, and I noticed more than a few tears as Timothy Miller led us in singing “God Bless America.” The fried chicken served at the luncheon following the service was delicious, and the fellowship at the tables made for a special day. Thank you to all who made the celebration possible.    And, while we’re on the topic of patriotic celebrations, I want to invite you to join us in front of the church on Tuesday, July 4, for our “Party on Peachtree” from 6:30 am until 8:30 am. The elite runners start in front of Lenox Square (women at 6:50 am and men at 7:00 am) and sprint past the church within 5 minutes. We will gather out front to enjoy a time of fellowship as we cheer on the 60,000 participants as they sprint/jog/walk past our church as a part of the Peachtree Road Race. The church bells will be ringing, and the large American flag will be flying! Come spend the early hours of the holiday with your church family.    Now, let me take a moment to look ahead. Of course, July means “Summer in the City” here at Peachtree Road. You are encouraged to dress “comfortably” for worship. Our services are a bit more casual, and lemonade and cookies are served each week in front of the church at the close of worship.  During the month we will offer a fun series of messages entitled “At the Movies.” Each week we will highlight a favorite family movie and reflect upon the biblical themes we find in them:

July 9 Romans 8:35-39 The Princess Bride July 16 John 1:9-18E.T. The Extraterrestrial July 23 Psalm 8:3-4 The Little Mermaid July 30 Judges 16:16-20 Tangled

Not only were each of these successful family movies, but they also offered a positive message for the way we should live. I hope you will plan “movie nights” for your family to watch the movie of the week and then join us in worship as we talk about them on Sunday. Please spend the month of July with us.    This Sunday, July 2, marks the continuation of our commemoration of Independence Day in America which we began last Sunday. The sermon is entitled “The Reward of Serving Others.” As I prepared for this message, I found myself encouraged as I think about the importance of our ministry of hospitality here at Peachtree Road UMC. Please consider reading the tenth chapter of Matthew, especially verses 40-42 in preparation for Sunday. Also, note that we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion at the close of Sunday’s service. I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday.  I mentioned in last week’s note that we have been notified that there are a few cabins still available for this year’s “Journeys of Paul Cruise” to Turkey and Greece. Jamie Jenkins and I will be leading a trip tracing Paul’s 2nd and 3rd missionary journeys this fall (October 20-30). I know this may seem last minute, but we would love to have you join us aboard the Azamara Onward for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the land of Paul with other United Methodists. The online brochure is here. For more information, please contact Jamie Jenkins at jamiej@prumc.org.   Finally, you are invited to participate in the Anniston Civil Rights Trail experience on August 26. This is a joint venture being sponsored by Cascade UMC and Peachtree Road UMC. Members of our two churches will travel together on Saturday, August 26, to Anniston, Alabama to commemorate the events of the American Civil Rights Movement and receive an introduction to the cultural changes that have transformed Anniston into the city it is today. Participants will leave Atlanta at 10:00 am, travel together via charter bus, eat lunch together, learn together, and return by 5:00 pm. The cost is $20 per person, and you may register here. We already have one bus nearly filled and are looking at adding a second bus. Join in the experience.  Many of you will be away this holiday weekend, and I pray that you will travel safely. As always, if you are unable to worship in person at Peachtree Road, please stay connected to your church family by worshiping online at www.prumc.org on Sundays at 8:45 am, 10:00 am, 11:15 am, Wednesdays at 12:00 noon, or downloading the service later in the week through the church app or website. Thank you for your faithful support.  Grace and peace,   Bill