April 19, 2024
Dear Peachtree Road Family,
I hope you are well. This promises to be a great weekend at Peachtree Road UMC with two very special events taking place:
- Children’s Musical – tomorrow morning, April 20, our children’s choirs will present their spring musical at 11:00 am in the Harp Student Center. This year’s musical is “Promise University” and will introduce some of the most famous followers of Christ over the last 2,000 years. Come and enjoy the program as choristers from pre-K through 5th grade sing some of your favorite spirituals and hymns. Admission is free.
- Confirmation Sunday – on Sunday we will receive members of the Confirmation Class at a special service in the sanctuary at 10:00 am. Approximately 60 students have been meeting together since last August to learn about the basic tenets of the Christian faith and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. On Sunday they will have an opportunity to publicly profess their faith in Christ, kneel at the altar to have their faith confirmed, and become full members of Peachtree Road UMC. I am grateful to Chris Mucha and his team in student ministries for the leadership they have provided our youth over the course of the last year. The service is open to all.
In our regular services this Sunday we will continue celebrating Easter and the resurrection of Jesus. Churches throughout the world will be celebrating “Good Shepherd Sunday” as we reflect upon that comforting metaphor of Christ as our shepherd. I encourage you to read John 10:11-18 in preparation for worship and plan to be present at Peachtree Road UMC. We will sing two great hymns of the church (“Come, Thou Almighty King” and “Savior, Luke a Shepherd Lead Us”), and the Chancel Choir will offer a beautiful arrangement of “The Lord Is My Shepherd” by Rutter. Please note that the regular Communion Service in the Moore Chapel at 10:00 am will be held, and Rev. Josh Miles will be preaching. I hope you will join us in person at 8:45 am, 10:00 am, or 11:15 am, or online at www.prumc.org.
Also on Sunday, we will begin Teacher Invitation for children’s Sunday School for the summer and school year. If you love children and would like to share God’s love with them, please contact Martha Christopher for more information (marthac@prumc.org) or sign up here.
Upcoming Special Sundays:
- Graduate Recognition – on Sunday, April 28, we will set aside time at the close of the 11:15 am worship service in the sanctuary to recognize and honor our high school graduating seniors. I hope you will be present to hear them as they share their plans for the coming year and join us in a prayer of blessing upon them.
- Music Sunday – our church is known for “heavenly music,” and on Sunday, May 5, musicians will be spread throughout the sanctuary as we highlight their talents and contributions to our worship. The Atlanta Brassworks, Peachtree Carillon, combined children’s choirs, Doxology Youth Choir, and Chancel Choir will share music with us.
Have you heard about the Doves of Peachtree Road UMC? In June of this year, we will begin a year-long celebration of our 100th anniversary! As a part of our celebration, we will install a magnificent work of art in the sanctuary that will capture the spirit of our people and our centennial. Watch the video linked here and visit www.prumc.org/dovesto learn more about the project and how you can become a sponsor.
Finally, let me remind you that the General Conference of the United Methodist Church will meet in Charlotte, North Carolina from April 23 until May 3. This is the first time the official policy-making body of the denomination has had an opportunity to meet since 2019. I encourage you to pray for the delegates as they meet to discern God’s will for our denomination. Also, I encourage you to read secular media reports about the conference with a healthy dose of skepticism. They tend to lack an understanding of the nuances of ecclesiological matters and often sensationalize the news to gain clicks. After the conclusion of the General Conference, we will provide you with an update concerning the decisions they made and how our church might be impacted in the future.
Thank you for your support in so many ways. I look forward to celebrating with you this weekend and in the coming days through the ministry of this great church!
Grace and peace,
Bill