November 28, 2024

Dear Peachtree Road Family,

Happy Thanksgiving! I am writing you on this Thursday morning to wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving and express my gratitude for your faithful support of the ministry of Peachtree Road UMC. As was clearly evident last Sunday, we as a church are abundantly blessed!

• We were blessed by the work of the Flower Guild – the arrangements of cornucopia on the altar and flowers throughout the narthex area were stunning!
• We were blessed by the spirit-lifting arrangement of “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” offered by the Chancel Choir and Doxology and accompanied by the Atlanta Brassworks
• We were blessed by the delicious meal of turkey and dressing prepared by Chef Bob and the warm fellowship in Grace Hall following worship
• We were blessed by the Family Advent Workshop that took place later that afternoon, helping families prepare for the upcoming season

My heart is full, and I am grateful for you. I hope you have a wonderful day with loved ones.

Let me remind you that the Advent season is upon us, and our time of preparation for the celebration of the coming of Christ is at hand. The Chrismon trees are in the sanctuary and narthex, and the Altar Guild has placed the Advent wreath in the chancel. We are ready for the season! Our theme for this year is “Believe!” When you read the Gospel accounts of the birth of Jesus, over and over you hear the challenge by the angel to believe. That’s the challenge I want us to focus upon this year in our worship services:

December 1	Luke	Zechariah: Don’t Be Dumbstruck
December 8	Luke 1:26-38	Mary: Anything is Possible with God
December 15	Matthew 1:18-25	Joseph: Set Aside Your Fears
December 22	Luke 2:8-20	Shepherds: I’ve Got Good News

Let me suggest several ways to get the most out of this Advent season:

• Worship with your friends at Peachtree Road UMC every Sunday. The first Sunday is about hope. Just as the world in Jesus’ day longed for light in a dark world, we also wait for the light of Christ to come upon us. We will light the first candle on our Advent Wreath, sing three of our favorite hymns of this season (“O come, O Come, Emmanuel,” “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” and “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”), and hear the Chancel Choir’s anthem (“And the Glory of the Lord” from Handel’s “Messiah”). I look forward to worshiping with you Sunday morning as we consider Zechariah’s encounter with the angel. Please join us for one of our services at 8:45 am, 10:00 am, or 11:15 am or online through the church website.

• Study the scriptures and reflect upon their meaning for your life by using the Advent Devotionals provided by our church. You can have these emailed to you each day by subscribing through our website.

• Serve others by participating in one of our outreach opportunities in this season. Christmas Kindness is set to begin on Friday, December 6, and I hope you will find an avenue to bless the lives of others through the sharing of your time. Please take note of some of the opportunities here.

• Give to support the ministry of the church in this season. You have been most generous this year, and, entering the last month of the year, we remain on track to meet our 2024 operating budget needs. Please help us finish the year strong. Also, take note that our Christmas Eve Offering once again will go to provide water filters for folks living in Kenya. If you have questions regarding making a contribution to Peachtree Road UMC, please contact Roger Laney in the business office: (404) 266-2373 or rogerl@prumc.org. 

• Share the joy of this season with others by inviting folks you know to one or more of our special services. This is one of the best times of the year to help others discover Christ and grow in their faith:

• Great Tree Lighting – Sunday, December 1, at 5:30 pm in the sanctuary. The children’s choirs will help us begin the season with a festive service that is the best way to begin the season with your church family. 

• Many Moods of Christmas – Sunday, December 8, at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary. Tickets for this classic Christmas concert are complimentary but may run out, so reserve your seat today, at the Dogwood Shop, or in the church office.

• Carols by Candlelight – Sunday, December 15, at 5:30 pm in the sanctuary. You are invited to join us as the Chancel Choir and Doxology Youth Choir lead us in a service of lessons and very familiar carols. The service closes with the lighting of candles as a symbol of our hope that “light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it.” 

• Christmas with the Georgia Boy Choir – Friday, December 20, and Saturday, December 21, at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary. Come hear all five levels of the Georgia Boy Choir, our ensemble in residence, as they perform sacred classics, traditional Christmas carols, and all your holiday favorites. You may purchase your tickets here.

Finally, I encourage you to take some time today to count your blessings. Name them one by one. Count your many blessings and see what God has done!

Thank you for your faith, hope, and love. I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we begin preparing anew for the coming of Christ.

Grace and peace,

Bill