November 8, 2024

Dear Peachtree Road Family,

I hope you are well. At the close of this note, I will offer a pastoral word concerning this week’s Presidential election. But I want to begin with a look back to last Sunday. It was a very good day at Peachtree Road UMC! In our celebration of All Saints Sunday, we called the names of 29 members of our church who have preceded us into death, lighted candles in their memory, and gathered at the Lord’s Table to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Hearing the Great Organ as we sang “For All the Saints” and Tom Walker playing “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes was just what I needed last week. It was a very good day!

This Sunday promises to be another very good day. For starters, “The Doves of Peachtree Road” art exhibit, which is a part of our centennial celebration, has been installed, and we will pause at the beginning of worship for its dedication. The doves will be in the sanctuary through next June, and I hope you will allow them to inspire you as you worship and then go out in service to others as members of our church have done for the last 100 years. It is not too late for you to sponsor a dove in honor or memory of a loved one. You may do so by following this link.

We will continue our “Give Thanks” series that we kicked off last week with a message entitled “We Are Grateful for the Church.” In preparation for the sermon, I encourage you to read from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, chapter 1, verses 3 through 11. We will sing two great hymns of the church (“Crown Him with Many Crowns” and “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord”), and the Chancel Choir will offer Mack Wilberg’s arrangement of Johann Schutz’s anthem “Sing Praise to Him.” I hope you will join us in person at 8:45 am, 10:00 am, or 11:15 am. If you are out of town, please worship with us online through the church website. 

​​On Sunday, we also will receive a special offering for our Turkey Drive. Your gift will provide a Thanksgiving meal for low-income families here in Atlanta. Your gift of $25 will provide them with a turkey, and a gift of $50 will provide a turkey dinner for an entire family. You may give on Sunday by making your check payable to Peachtree Road UMC and marked for “Turkey Drive” or give through the church app or website.

We held our Annual Charge Conference last Monday evening with our District Superintendent, Dr. Byron Thomas, presiding. We adopted a preliminary budget of $8.3 million for 2025, which is a 6.4% increase over this year’s budget. Unfortunately, this increase is not because of an increase in programs and ministries. As a result of inflation, it costs significantly more to do what we have been doing. I want to thank those who have returned a commitment card toward next year’s operating budget. Your commitment really matters, both in supporting our ongoing ministries and helping to establish a bright future for generations to come. Several years ago, a man brought his pledge card to me and said, “My giving to Peachtree Road UMC represents the best return on my investment of anything I do with my money. It brings me great joy to see the impact the church has on the lives of others – in this church, in the community, and around the world. And it helps me grow in my relationship with the Lord.” I pass this testimony along as an encouragement to everyone to join us in making a difference through giving.

We already have heard from hundreds of our families. If you have not yet turned in your pledge, we would love to hear from you this week. If you are in a Sunday School class, your pledge will be counted for the tabulation of the Parson’s Cup. This award goes to the Sunday School Class with the highest percentage of pledges and recurring gifts to next year’s church budget. For your convenience, you may pledge through the church app or online. 

Opportunities to Grow Deeper in Your Faith:

• Explore Membership in Peachtree Road UMC – this Sunday, November 10, at 12:30 pm in the Hospitality Suite for “Tea with the Clergy.” At this luncheon meeting, you will have the opportunity to meet with several members of our clergy staff, hear about the ministry of this great church, ask questions, and even have an opportunity to join at the end of the session. Please contact our director of evangelism and hospitality, Brittany Charron, at brittanyc@prumc.org for more information or to sign up. 

• Finding Peace of Mind Symposium – you are invited to the Carter Center on Friday, November 15, from 8:30 am until 2:30 pm to explore the significant and positive effects of spirituality on mental wellness. Keynote speakers Dr. Andrew Newberg and Dr. Cathy Snapp will offer individual presentations, and the symposium will conclude with a panel discussion. This event is being sponsored by the One Lamb Initiative of our church, and you may register here.

Finally, as promised, let me offer a pastoral word in the wake of this week’s Presidential election. Some of you may be feeling pleased with the results, while others of you are feeling even more anxious about the future. Obviously, there are deep divisions in our nation, and many are wondering, “Where do we go from here?” As we wrestle with that question here at Peachtree Road UMC, I want to make three observations:

• First, this is a time for prayer. I encourage you to pray daily for our nation, those elected to serve in our government, our church and its ministry, and yourself as you seek to grow into the likeness of Christ. I love the encouragement of the 19th-century preacher Edward Payson: “Prayer is the first, the second thing, the third thing necessary to a Christian. Pray then, my dear brothers and sisters; pray, pray, pray.” The first and best thing we can do in these days is to pray!

• Second, this is the time for us to focus upon that which unites us. Remember, we all are on the same team. We are not Democrats first or Republicans first. We are Americans first. It is vital for us to come together as a nation. And, while I’m on the subject, we in the church are all disciples of Jesus Christ. Now is the time for us to embrace the ties that bind our hearts in Christian love. 

• Finally, this is a time for us to intentionally look for ways to work together to make this a better world. Several years ago, I read an article by Eric Liu in The Atlantic in which he offered suggestions on how to improve our communities. One simple suggestion was “doing stuff together.” He wrote that if we can reach across the lines of race, class, and politics and work together, we will become less fearful of one another and discover our common humanity. Here at Peachtree Road UMC, let us recommit ourselves to reaching across the racial, economic, and political lines, taking down the walls of fear, and becoming peacemakers. 

As your pastor, I commend these three steps to you and encourage you to help others move beyond the bitterness and name-calling by acting constructively in these days. This is an opportunity for us to be the church Christ calls us to be!

In addition, I encourage you to attend the upcoming forum with Michael Wear on Wednesday, November 20, at 6:30 pm. He will be speaking about faith in the public square. I have been reading his book The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life. He is a thoughtful writer, and I find his approach to the intersection of faith and politics to be very helpful as he calls for healing over hatred and hope rather than despair. You may register for the forum here.

If you are feeling particularly anxious and need someone with whom to talk, do not hesitate to call on me or one of the other ministers on our church staff. We are here for you. I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we continue to gather in a spirit of thanksgiving here at Peachtree Road UMC!

Grace and peace, 

Bill