Page 8 | Peachtree Road United Methodist Church

It’s Time!

Let me begin my message to you this week with a call to prayer. Earlier this week, another school shooting occurred. This one was close to home at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. We pray for the families of those who are grieving the death of loved ones, for victims who are recovering from their wounds (both physical and mental), and for those who are caring for folks in that community. I am grateful that Peachtree Road UMC’s own Rev. Beth Sanders is the district superintendent of that region and is walking with the people through this tender hour. Let us continue to pray and work for the safety of all students everywhere, especially now for our brothers and sisters in Barrow County. “Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.”

The Key to Great Ministry

This holiday traditionally marks the end of summer and the beginning of the fall routine at Peachtree Road UMC. As you read these words, some of you may be making your tailgate preparations for your college football team’s opening game while others are heading to the mountains or lake for one last long weekend away. Please know we look forward to seeing you back in your place here at church very soon.

Spirit of Unity

Let me begin this week’s note by thanking you for making last Sunday such a great day at Peachtree Road UMC. You showed up in great numbers as we celebrated “Heaven Sunday.” The music from the Chancel Choir, the congregation singing “When We All Get to Heaven,” and the fellowship luncheon that followed in Grace Hall made the day feel a bit like a family reunion. I am grateful to all who worked behind the scenes to make the day possible and to you for your presence. It was so good to see you in worship!

Life Everlasting.

I want to begin this week’s letter by inviting you to our End of Summer Celebration this Sunday morning. It begins with worship as we continue our series on Methodist beliefs with a message entitled “Heaven Now…and Later.” Every week, when we affirm our faith by reciting the Apostles’ Creed, we affirm: “…I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.” Have you ever wondered what it means to believe in the “life everlasting?”

Grow Together in God’s Grace

I am looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday as we continue our series on Methodist beliefs entitled “And Are We Yet Alive.” Last week, we considered John Wesley’s encouragement to live a life of holiness of heart and life by loving God with “all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-40) In the words of the author of Revelation to the church in Ephesus, “Remember…repent, and do the works you did at first.” (Revelation 2:5) As we observed last Sunday when we live this way, our lives have both meaning and purpose.

Vitality of Our Spiritual Lives

Wendie and I have returned from a stay at the beach, where we enjoyed being with our extended family, spent time resting and relaxing in the sun, and made plans for the coming busy fall season. I really am looking forward to being with you on Sunday for worship. We are set to begin a new series on Methodist beliefs during the month of August that is designed to help us remember some of the basics of our faith:

Summer in The City

The Olympics are set to begin in Paris, and we have been using this time as an opportunity to remember the spiritual lessons we learn from Olympians. The Apostle Paul often used sports as illustrations in his letter to the churches in the first century. We already have considered three of these:

Statement from Rev. Bill Britt: A Call for Prayer

Now is the time for all Americans to step back from the divisions that grip our nation and threaten to tear us apart and use this tragedy as a sobering moment to move toward that more perfect union envisioned by our founders. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi, let us pray: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light…”

Share Our Spiritual Truths

Yesterday was the Fourth of July, and I hope you had a wonderful day with loved ones. I am grateful to Brittany Charron and her team for making our “Party on Peachtree” a success as we cheered on the runners in the Peachtree Road Race. Congratulations to all of you who ran/jogged/walked in this year’s event. It was a good day.

Freedom & God’s Gracious Power

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. We welcomed new members into the life of the church (this brings our total of new members over the last year-and-a-half to 400!) The music was especially moving as we welcomed a great many new persons to the volunteer festival choir, and I noticed more than a few tears as Will Green led us in singing “God Bless America.” We had over 500 folks stay for lunch and enjoy the warm fellowship in Grace Hall. Chef Bob and his team served fried chicken until there wasn’t even a chicken’s gizzard left! Thank you to all who made Sunday’s celebration possible.