July 5, 2024

Dear Peachtree Road Family,

I hope this note finds you doing well. 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.

Of course, July means “Summer in the City” here at Peachtree Road. You are invited to come comfortably dressed and enjoy the special music and lemonade on the lawn after services. This year’s theme is “Lessons from Olympians.” No doubt you are aware that the Olympics will take place later this month in Paris. The Apostle Paul used metaphors from the games of his day to communicate spiritual truths to folks in the early church. This month we will consider some of those metaphors and ways we can apply them to our lives. The schedule for the coming weeks is as follows:

July 7Phillippians 3:13-14Press on Toward the Goal
July 14I Timothy 4:6-16Training Makes the Difference
July 21Romans 5:1-5Play as a Team
July 28II Timothy 4:5-8Pass the Baton

This week’s message envisions a runner finishing a race and running “through the tape” – Paul worded it this way: “straining forward to what lies ahead” and “press on toward the goal…” Jamie Jenkins will be preaching this Sunday, and we will be singing some of our favorite hymns: I Stand Amazed in the Presence, Victory in Jesus, and Fill My Cup, Lord. In addition, the choir will offer a sacred harp arrangement of an old Charles Wesley hymn (Hallelujah) as its anthem, and Rontray Miller II will sing When You Believe in response to the message. It will be a great day in worship, so plan to worship in person at 8:45 am, 10:00 am, or 11:15 am, or join us online.

Let me make you aware of several important changes that took place on July 1:

  • First, we have a new District Superintendent. For the last four years, we have been led by Dr. Michael McQueen. With the beginning of the new Conference year on July 1, Peachtree Road UMC became a part of a newly created district (Southwest District), and our new District Superintendent is Dr. Byron Thomas. We welcome Dr. Thomas and look forward to our work in ministry.  
  • As previously announced, we have two staff changes: our associate minister, Leslie Watkins, is now the director of our senior adult ministries, and our associate minister, Geoff Beakley, is the director of our young adult ministries as well as overseeing men’s ministries. We are excited to welcome them to new roles on our leadership team.
  • Our second campus, The Westside Table, which is located on the Westside of Atlanta, officially has merged with Collins Memorial UMC. We will begin to make plans to transition the Westside Table from its current rental space at Round Trip Brewing Company to the Collins church campus on Bolton Road. This marks a significant step forward for the ministry of our church, and we are delighted to welcome the 28 members of Collins Memorial UMC to our congregation. 

Finally, as we begin the celebration of our centennial year of ministry here at Peachtree Road UMC, I want to remind you of the online Storybook that contains historical reflections about our past. Anne Steward recently has written an informative and enjoyable account of The Preschool which has been a vital part of our church’s ministry since 1953. I’m so grateful for the nurture and care our children have received through The Preschool for the last 71 years. You may read the latest article here.

Thank you for your prayerful support of Peachtree Road UMC and its ministry in this community. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve with you!

Grace and peace, 

Bill