September 16, 2022

Dear Peachtree Road Family,

I hope you are well. Let me begin this week’s note with the news that one of our members, Jane Murray, celebrated her 100th birthday on Wednesday afternoon in the Hospitality Suite. Jane is doing very well and stays connected with our church family online. Happy birthday, Jane! You are a treasure.

It was good to see so many of you back in church last Sunday as we kicked-off the fall season here at Peachtree Road UMC. It was a wonderful day of worship and fellowship. I don’t know about you, but I especially was moved when the ushers came forward to receive the offering. It was the first time in 30 months we have passed the plates during worship, and I was so glad to see the ushers back in place – greeting folks and serving in worship. I would be remiss if I didn’t express my gratitude to each of you for your faithful giving over the last two-and-a-half years. You have enabled our church’s ministry to thrive through some of the most challenging days in our nearly 100-year history. Thank you!

Of course, last Sunday was September 11, and our worship included a litany remembering the events of 21 years ago. We sang, prayed, and reflected upon the promises of God during that service. I left church with the words of St. Francis of Assisi in my heart:

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy 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; and where there is sadness joy. O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

This Sunday we will continue our series of messages on Christian hospitality entitled “Bring Back the Table.” Last week we remembered that what is said and done at the tables in our lives make all the difference, and there is room at the table for everyone. This week we will remember Jesus’ words about who we should invite to join us at the table. The message is entitled “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” and I encourage you to read Jesus’ teaching found in Luke 14. Please join us in person at 8:45 am, 10:00 am, or 11:15 am or online at www.prumc.org. 

At the 8:45 am service, we will present Bibles to our third graders. This is one of those holy moments in the life of our church as we celebrate with the 120+ children we have on roll in the third grade, give them their first Bible, and begin to teach them how to use this book of our faith. I will challenge them to memorize ten particular passages in the next year, and we will celebrate with two fourth graders who have accomplished that feat last year. Then, Sallie Cox, one of our third graders, will come forward to read our scripture lesson for the day. This will be an inspiring Sunday.

On Sunday evening, the Friends of Music here at Peachtree Road UMC invite you to this season’s signature concert in the sanctuary at 7:00 pm. This concert features the voices of Kinnara offering an acapella version of the mystical and incredibly moving “Path of Miracles.” Our very own Associate Organist Dr. Oliver Brett will offer a pre-conference lecture on this music (upon which he wrote his doctoral thesis) beginning at 6:30 pm. We hope you will join us. 

October 10th marks the 30th anniversary of World Mental Health Day, which was founded in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health to raise awareness. Our very own One Lamb Initiative is a proud partner in helping to expand the purpose of the day to include charitable giving of $10 (or more) to organizations working in the mental health space. This year you can honor 10.10 World Mental Health Day by giving $10, $110, or even $1,010 to our One Lamb Initiative. This important and timely ministry offers programming and resources to promote mental wellness including education, supportive programming, and more. Whatever amount feels right for you, your generosity will help others heal. Click here to give and mark your gift “One Lamb”. You also may find mental health educational resources, connection, and hope on Peachtree Road UMC’s One Lamb Initiative webpage.

Finally, our campus will be the site for a Red Cross Blood Drive on Thursday, September 22. The drive is taking place in the Harp Student Center, and appointments are available between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. You can make your appointment here, or contact Haley Gerlofs with the Red Cross if you have questions. Blood supplies are low in our community and your help would be greatly appreciated. 

Please call on me if I may be of help to you in any way. 

Grace and peace,

Bill