September 27, 2024
Dear Peachtree Road Family,
I hope you are well. I really am looking forward to Sunday as we bring our series of messages entitled “Being Christian in a Divided World” to a close. As I re-read Paul’s letters to the churches in Galatia and Philippi this month, I was struck by the way Paul addressed the divisions in the church. First of all, he addressed them. Over the years, I have discovered that many in the church avoid conflict at all costs. They ignore conflict and pretend like it doesn’t exist. Not Paul. He named it and invited the church to address it so it could move forward together.
Over the last month, we have discovered from the scriptures some tools that can help us have healthy, productive conversations with one another about difficult subjects:
- Be willing to stay at the table with folks who think differently than you do.
- Be curious about one another and less judgmental.
- You’ve got two ears and one mouth. Listen twice as much as you speak
- It’s not a debate. Don’t compare your best to the other person’s worst.
- Be willing to draw close to another person and ask, “What can I do to help?”
- Agreement is not the goal. Understanding is the goal.
Once you learn how to incorporate these into your everyday life, it becomes easier to deal with conflict and stand on uncommon ground with others. This week we will consider one more message: “United We Stand.” We will think for a few minutes about Paul’s advice to the church in Philippi:
“If then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” – Philippians 2:1-2
I look forward to Sunday as we think about Paul’s teaching on unity in the midst of diversity. The music in the services promises to be uplifting as we sing two of the great hymns of the church (“Come, Thou Almighty King” and “Jesus, United by Thy Grace”) and hear the Chancel Choir’s offering of Mendelssohn’s anthem “I Waited for the Lord” with solos by Juliana Bolano and Mary Allison Hamby. Please join us in person at 8:45 am, 10:00 am, or 11:15 am or online at www.prumc.org.
Kind30 Initiative for October:
- Kind30 Initiative – the One Lamb Initiative on mental health invites you to join in an October emphasis on kindness by taking on the challenge to offer one act of kindness to someone every day during the month. Researchers have discovered that this one simple exercise can have a life-transforming impact – upon the person offering the kindness as well as the recipient. It takes 30 days to instill a new habit in your life. Sign up today to be a part of the Kind30 initiative and experience the joy and peace you can bring to another person, yourself, and the world. To learn more and access materials and ideas, visit www.Kind30.org.
- Forum on the Power of Kindness – on Sunday, September 29, at 10:00 am, the One Lamb Initiative on mental health will kick off the Kind30 Initiative with a forum on kindness. Please join pastoral counselor Rev. Ron Greer in Heritage Hall as he shares a message on the power of kindness. For more information, contact Rev. Emily Miles at emilym@prumc.org.
- 3 Practices Workshop – in a recent sermon, I mentioned a book entitled 3 Practices for Crossing the Difference Divide. When it comes to having conversations with others about difficult subjects, our words can become unkind. We want to “win the debate” or convince others that our opinion is the right one. Well, as you have heard me say, the goal is not agreement. In fact, agreement is overrated. We are looking for understanding, not agreement. Peachtree Road UMC seeks to be a place where kindness is practiced. We want this to be a safe place for difficult conversations by teaching the three practices to as many of our leaders as possible. Therefore, we are offering a workshop designed to teach you the “3 Practices” so you can have healthy, productive conversations in your Sunday School classes, out in the community, or even in your own home. We are offering the workshop led by our own Claire Bowen on two different occasions (October 6 or November 3). Come discover these simple practices and learn to put them into place. To get more information or reserve your spot, please click here.
The installation of the “Doves of Peachtree Road UMC” exhibit is only a month away. As a part of our year-long celebration of our 100th anniversary, we will install a magnificent work of art in the sanctuary in early November that will capture the spirit of our people and our centennial. Watch the video linked here and visit www.prumc.org/doves to learn more about the project and how you can sponsor a dove.
Finally, as has become our tradition on the first Sunday in October, we will offer a “Blessing of the Animals” service at 5:00 p.m. You are invited to bring your pets to the church for a fun time of worship. This service celebrates the Feast of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals. We will gather in the sanctuary, sing praises to God, and approach the altar with our pets for an individual blessing upon each animal. In the past, participants have brought their dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, fish, and birds to receive a blessing. You also may choose to bring photos of your pets if it is difficult for the animal to attend the service (a picture of your horse will work just fine!). I hope you’ll take advantage of this community-wide service and invite a friend to join in the fun.
That’s it for this week. I am so grateful for your faithful service to Christ through Peachtree Road UMC. Please let us know if we can be of help to you in any way.
Grace and peace,
Bill
P.S. Please join us in prayer for all in the path of Hurricane Helene. The United Methodist Council on Relief is preparing to support relief efforts along the Gulf Coast. If you would like to help, please give to the special offering on Sunday. Make your check payable to Peachtree Road UMC and mark it for UMCOR. If giving online through the church website here select “Disaster Relief – UMCOR” as the fund.