November 22, 2024
Dear Peachtree Road Family,
I hope you are well. Thanksgiving Day is less than a week away, and I really am looking forward to worshiping with you this weekend as we celebrate Harvest Sunday here at Peachtree Road UMC. It will be a special day as we sing, pray, and count our many blessings. A complimentary Thanksgiving luncheon featuring turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie will be served in Grace Hall after worship, and I hope you will plan to join your friends at Peachtree Road UMC for a day of giving thanks.
Over the course of the next week, I also hope you will take time to make a gratitude list of things for which you are thankful from the last year. To help prime the pump, let me share with you some things for which I am thankful.
I am thankful…
…for my first visit to the Grand Canyon and seeing the sun set on those majestic rock walls
…for the folks who were singing “How Great Thou Art” at sunrise at the Grand Canyon
…for a golf trip with minister friends I haven’t been with in nearly 20 years
…for a Wesley Heritage Tour to England with great folks from the church
…for a visit to the port city of Pill where the early Methodists departed England for America
…for the opportunity to offer a silent prayer in John Wesley’s prayer closet off his bedroom
…for a yearlong emphasis upon “Rekindling the Flame” at Peachtree Road UMC
…for the talented church staff members who lead our congregation’s vital ministries
…for The Preschool at Peachtree Road UMC where my grandson Billy attends
…for the “Doves of Peachtree Road” in our sanctuary as we celebrate our centennial year
…for 234 members who have joined our church so far this year, 74 on profession of faith
…for the privilege of officiating at weddings and baptizing babies
…for lighted candles in a dark sanctuary on Christmas Eve
…for joyous singing in a sunlit sanctuary on Easter morning
…for an altar overflowing with youth on Confirmation Sunday
…for the 29 saints we remembered three weeks ago on All Saints Sunday
…for the memories of family members who now are a part of that “great cloud of witnesses”
…for nights when our grandchildren spend the night with us…and the quiet days after
…for the blessings experienced in 41 wonderful years of marriage to my wife Wendie
…for the daily opportunities to worship and serve with you at Peachtree Road UMC
For these and many other blessings, I am thankful!
I hope that will inspire you to make your own list. And while we’re on the subject of being thankful, let me remind you of some wonderful opportunities in the near future:
- Family Advent Workshop – get into the Christmas spirit early by participating in our Family Advent Workshop on Sunday, November 24, 4:30 – 6:30 pm, in Grace Hall. Families are invited to prepare their hearts and homes for the Advent season by making crafts, participating in activities, and enjoying dinner together in Grace Hall. You may sign up here.
- Cascade Thanksgiving Giveaway – once again, we are teaming up with Cascade UMC on their annual Thanksgiving project to provide food for over 2000 people in our community. Cascade has been feeding those in need for over 20 years, and through our partnership with this great church, we have an opportunity to work side-by-side. If you are interested in being a part of this wonderful holiday project set for November 25 between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm, please contact Beth Spencer (beths@prumc.org).
- Christmas Kindness – volunteer registration is open for Christmas Kindness. Volunteer for this beloved tradition designed to provide Christmas gifts to the community in a dignified and festive manner. Our clients are surrounded by the care of loving volunteers who help them select and wrap their gifts. December 6-10. Sign up soon, as spots are quickly filling up.
Finally, to the men of the church, I want to invite you to join Geoff Beakley and me for a Men’s Spiritual Life Retreat early next year. The dates are Friday, February 28, until Sunday, March 2, at Camp Glisson in the beautiful North Georgia mountains outside Dahlonega. Our speaker will be Dr. Brent Strawn, professor of Old Testament studies at Duke Divinity School and one of my favorite teachers. The event is designed to help you grow deeper in your faith and enjoy spending time in a relaxed setting with other men in the church. The cost is $150, and you may request more information about this event from Geoff Beakley (geoffb@prumc.org) or register here.
Please know how thankful I am for you. Our thanksgiving leads to joy, and I pray that your joy may be full in this season.
Grace and peace,
Bill