As we approach Father’s Day, like many of you, I have been thinking about my dad this week. He died over 17 years ago, and I miss him every day. I miss his witty sayings (“Bill, that is they business!” when he advised me not to judge another person) and his calm encouragement. Though he didn’t live to see his grandchildren marry and have children of their own, I sense that he is present with me every day. We call that the “communion of the saints.” I also have been thinking about other “good men” (former pastors, coaches, and teachers) who have been influential in my life. On Sunday, we take time to remember the “good men” in our lives and give thanks to God for their faith and the example they set for us.

I hope you are well. Let me begin this week’s note with a look back to last week’s Founder’s Day Celebration. It was a wonderful day as we remembered 98 years of ministry in this community and looked forward to staying true to our mission in the coming years. If you have not heard Ed Hamlin’s testimony from last Sunday, I hope you will take a few minutes to do so soon. He talked about how his faith has grown over time as he has become more connected with God and others here at Peachtree Road UMC – first, through his participation in Sunday School with the New Beginnings class, then as a teacher for third-graders, facilitator of Disciple Bible Study for adults, and, finally, as a participant in the church’s outreach in Kenya and the prison restoration ministry right here in Atlanta. You can hear Ed’s testimony here.

Let me begin this week’s note with the wonderful news that our associate minister Josh Miles and his wife Emily are the proud parents of a baby girl. Daisy Laine Miles was born on Monday, May 29, and both mother and daughter are well and are being well cared for by Josh. Please join me in offering a prayer of thanksgiving on behalf of the Miles family.

I wanted to begin this week’s note with some good news. Earlier this month, our beloved member Claire Yancey celebrated her 100th birthday. She has joined the most exclusive club in our church – the centennial club! I know that you join me in wishing her a happy birthday. She is hoping to be in church with us on Sunday!  Speaking of Sunday, it promises to be an eventful day in the life of the church:

Last Sunday was a great day at Peachtree Road UMC as we celebrated Mother’s Day. It warmed my heart to see so many families worshiping together as we paused to give thanks to God for those in our lives who have loved us and nurtured our faith. As a part of our worship service last week, we received a special offering for Wesley Woods, a ministry started by Methodists in the North Georgia Conference to provide for the needs of elderly persons who have outlived their financial resources. Wesley Woods communities offer residential services as well as health care, rehabilitation, nursing home care, and specialized care for those suffering with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Of course, this Sunday is Mother’s Day. I understand that $20.7 billion will be spent honoring mothers this holiday weekend – gifts, flowers, cards, and meals. It’s amazing what this day of recognition has become, especially when you consider how it all started.

Ann Reeves Jarvis was a member of Andrews Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. She taught Sunday School, organized other women in her church to work for better sanitation in her community, volunteered at the local hospital, and worked to support young mothers.

I also hope you know how blessed we are here at Peachtree Road UMC. Over the last few weeks, we have blessed the 51 babies who have been born to members of our congregation within the last year, confirmed the faith of 58 youth, celebrated the 70th birthday of The Preschool at Peachtree Road UMC, and offered a blessing upon the 54 seniors set to graduate from high school later this month. These all are signs of a vital church!

Last week was a wonderful day here at Peachtree Road UMC as we welcomed 58 members of the Confirmation Class into the full membership of the church. We also celebrated The Preschool at Peachtree Road UMC’s 70th anniversary, heard a wonderful testimony from Westminster senior Storey Abernathy concerning the impact The Preschool has had on his life, and listened as the preschool children in attendance shared songs of praise they have learned with us. It was a wonderful day, and I am grateful to those on the youth and preschool teams who made the day possible.