Many of the churches serving the Peachtree Corners community are providing ways to help students develop spiritually, socially, physically and academically while school is out. In addition to Vacation Bible Schools, there are camps, sports clinics and other activities on the calendar.
Christ the King Lutheran — YeeHaw Weekend
YeeHaw Weekend Vacation Bible School at Christ the King Lutheran Church is a stampede of fun that celebrates God’s greatest gift — Jesus. The Vacation Bible School will be held Friday through Sunday, July 26-28. Friday, 5:30-8:30 p.m., and features a Chick-fil-A dinner. The Saturday afternoon program runs from 2 to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday morning, 9-11 a.m., includes a Waffle House breakfast.
Registration is open now, and there’s a free music CD/download for those who register by July 1. The cost is $5 per camper, with a family maximum of $15. For more information and to register, visit ctklutheran.org or call 770-449-1211.
Peachtree Corners Baptist — In the Wild
This year’s Vacation Bible School at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church is In the Wild. The free community event is open to children who have completed kindergarten through 5th grade. The program runs Monday through Friday, June 10-14, 8:45 a.m. to 12 noon each day. Registration is open and can be accessed through pcbchurch.org.
To accommodate working parents, After-VBS Camp is available Monday through Friday, June 10-14, 12 noon to 5 p.m. The camp is for students who’ve completed 1st to 5th grades at a cost of $150. There will be fun games, as well as trips to Glow Galaxy, Monkey Joe’s, West Gwinnett Aquatic Center and Chuck E. Cheese. Please note that limited space is available.
Several other kids’ events are offered at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church this summer, too. There’s a Sports Camps and Clinics for kids and teens in June and July. The list includes Basketball Camp (June 3-6 and July 22-25), Baseball Camp (June 24-26 and July 8-10), Pitcher and Catcher Day (June 27 and July 11), Dodgeball Day (July 26). For specifics on sports camps, go to pcbchurch.org, scroll over ‘Connect,’ click on ‘Sports’ and then ‘Camps and Clinics.’
Kids Night In, on Wednesday, June 19 from 6 to 9 p.m., invites students who’ve completed kindergarten to 5th grade for a movie night in the Collide Studio. After a pizza dinner, there will be popcorn to snack on while everyone watches the animated movie “The Lion King.” Children are encouraged to wear PJs and bring their pillow and blanket. Kids Night In is free and no registration is required.
Visit pcbchurch.org or call 770-582-2450 for information and to register for VBS, camps or special events.
Simpsonwood UMC—ROAR: Life Is Wild — God Is Good VBS
This summer, the theme of Vacation Bible School at Simpsonwood United Methodist Church is ROAR: Life Is Wild — God Is Good. The program is offered exclusively for children from 4 years old (as of Sept. 1, 2019) through students who have completed 5th grade.
ROAR runs Monday through Friday, July 15-19, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Simpsonwood UMC, 4500 Jones Bridge Circle, Peachtree Corners 30092. Go to simpsonwoodumc.org or call the church at 770-441-2181 for details or to register.
Mary Our Queen — Cool Kingdom Party
At Mary Our Queen Catholic Church, kids are officially invited to spend a royal week with the King and Queen of Heaven and Earth. Children participating in Cool Kingdom Party, a Catholic Vacation Bible School, will learn all about Mary and how she leads people closer to her Son, the King of Kings.
This royal week is offered for children aged 4 years old (by June 1) to 5th grade, and is offered Monday through Friday, June 24 to 28, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The cost is $40 per child; families of three or more children should contact the church for possible family discounts. Each child requires a separate registration. Mary Our Queen Catholic Church is located at 6260 The Corners Parkway, Peachtree Corners 30092. Call 770-416-0002 or go to maryourqueen.com to register and get additional info.
Landmark Church — Supernatural Kids: Bringing Heaven to Earth
An exciting and fun-filled Vacation Bible School, Supernatural Kids: Bringing Heaven to Earth will be presented at Landmark Church. It’s an awesome opportunity for children, aged 5 to 12 years old, to experience a supernatural encounter with God.
The week-long experience runs Monday through Friday, June 10-14, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Through Supernatural Kids, children will be able to discover who they are and connect with God through the Bible.
For older kids, aged 8 to 18 years, Landmark Church offers AOTM (All Over The Map) Drama Troup Camp Tuesday through Saturday, June 18 to 22, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. They’re invited to come to develop drama skills and discipline, experience teamwork and commitment and build friendships while enjoying games and learning to walk with Christ Jesus. The camp ends with a special cast party!
Landmark Church, 3737 Holcomb Bridge Road, Peachtree Corners 30092. Find out more and get registered at landmarkchurch.org or by calling 770-449-5956. ■
Photographs from last year’s Saint John the Baptist birthday celebration, taken by members of Mary Our Queen Parish in Peachtree Corners.
Mary Our Queen Catholic Church in Peachtree Corners invites everyone in the community to attend a special evening Mass and outdoor festivities on Friday, June 23 in celebration of the eve of Saint John the Baptist’s birthday.
Saint John the Baptist, one of the most important figures in Christianity, is the cousin of Jesus and is known for preparing the way for Jesus’s public ministry.
Photographs from last year’s Saint John the Baptist birthday celebration, taken by members of Mary Our Queen Parish in Peachtree Corners.
Mary Our Queen will honor the saint with a Mass at 7 p.m. Following that, there will be a blessing of Saint John’s bonfire in his memory.
Everyone is invited to bring their lawn chairs and beverages to enjoy outside while listening to live music on our church plaza. Other festivities include outdoor games for children and teens, like the dunking booth — Saint John was known for baptism, after all — and eating crickets — Saint John actually ate locusts.
Mary Our Queen’s Knights of Columbus will serve watermelon, and there will be some fireworks towards the end of the evening.
For more information on this event, visit maryourqueen.com or call 770-416-0002.
City Council Member Phil Sadd extended an initiation to the choir to visit Peachtree Corners City Hall on April 7, 2:30 p.m. for a special event that will include introductions, a proclamation presentation and a challenge coin presentation.
For more about the United States Military at West Point Gospel Choir, visit westpoint.edu/military/directorate-of-cadet-activities/diversity-clubs/gospel-choir. Get details about Salvation and Deliverance Church at facebook.com/SalvationandDeliverance.
In a clearing in the woods of Georgia stands a church known as Simpsonwood United Methodist Church (UMC). Over the past 40 years, the city around it has grown and so has the church — from a humble trailer to an interactive campus where young and old do the Lord’s work.
A glorious gift
The church’s history began in 1971 with a generous gift of land, bestowed by a local Christian benefactor. In 1910, Anna Louise Simpson, “Miss Ludie” to her many students, began her teaching career in the Atlanta and Gwinnett County School systems. Her career had spanned 35 years and she retired at age 70.
Founding Pastor, Rev. George Freeman with founding member Carolyn Barr
Originally the family farm, the land is a beautiful tract of some 277 prime acres located on the Chattahoochee River. Miss Ludie attended a small circuit church in nearby Mount Carmel, serviced by both Presbyterian and Methodist circuit ministers. She happened to join the church during one of the Presbyterian “alternate” Sundays. Still, she remained close to both denominations.
Faith Meshida, violinist at service
In 1971 at the age of 84, Miss Ludie shared her vision that her land be kept intact so all people could enjoy God’s beautiful creation. The land was first offered to the Presbyterian Church. However, the Presbyterians preferred to establish churches in more populated areas other than the small, rural community which later became known as Peachtree Corners.
Miss Ludie then approached Bishop John O. Smith, who asked Dr. Candler Budd to visit with her and discuss the offer. Within 24 hours, Dr. Budd assured her that the United Methodist Church wanted the land and would faithfully honor her conditions, including the construction and maintenance of a small chapel dedicated to the memory of her mother, Elizabeth Jane Sanders Simpson.
In 1973, the North Georgia Annual Conference took the first steps to develop the land into a retreat and conference center. Many years later, the retreat center was sold and is now maintained as a park by Gwinnett County.
Miss Ludie passed away on April 29, 1975, without seeing the development of the beautiful conference center that bears her name. She is buried with her mother in the Mount Carmel United Methodist Church cemetery in Norcross.
Faith and vision
By 1981, Simpsonwood UMC’s first minister, Dr. George R. Freeman, Jr., the son of a Methodist minister, was approached to develop a new congregation near the property. At the time, George was the Associate Pastor of the East Point First Methodist Church in East Point.
George initially approached Jim Cowart, the developer of Peachtree Station, the first upscale subdivision in Peachtree Corners. Jim had allocated land to develop neighborhood churches at the intersection of Peachtree Corners Circle and West Jones Bridge Road, the current locations of the Peachtree Corners Baptist Church and the Fowler YMCA.
Guppies Choir
An 11-acre tract of land on the corner of the Simpsonwood property and across Jones Bridge Circle was designated for the construction of the new church. The Conference New Church Development Committee allocated $150,000 for the church construction. Most of the money would be used to excavate and develop the sloping, rocky lot into a usable foundation.
In those days, metal buildings were typically erected to begin the development of a church. Once a congregation was formed and the new church had adequate financing, a permanent sanctuary would be constructed.
George strongly felt that given the potential upscale development of Peachtree Corners, people would be more inclined to notice the new church if a more appropriate wooden building could be constructed and painted to compliment the natural surroundings.
George approached a builder of modular and manufactured homes in Gainesville to price plans and specifications for the new building. He requested a large open area, unobstructed by center supports, that would seat at least 200 people, with two offices in the back and a large, double-door entranceway. George also wanted taller, narrow windows and exterior siding constructed of wood and painted to match the natural surroundings.
40th Anniversary dinner in the Henry and Barbara Howard Family Life Center
Constructed at a cost of $35,000, the completed building was delivered and set up. Financing for the cost of the project was obtained through the Conference Ten-Dollar Club, a large group of Methodist members who donated the sum of $10 twice each year for the future construction of new churches.
With the “trailer” completed, Simpsonwood UMC had its official beginning on Sunday, March 14, 1982, followed by the Service of Constitution on May 30, 1982. Thirty-seven charter members of the first congregation made their oral petition for Charter.
A covered dish dinner at the picnic pavilion celebrated the new Christian fellowship. Simpsonwood UMC was on its way!
Solid and continued growth
The congregation grew in size, laying a solid foundation while building for the future. Phase One of the master plan called for a magnificent 15,000-square-foot building that was to become the new sanctuary.
On February 10, 1985, the congregation triumphantly walked across Jones Bridge Circle for the groundbreaking ceremony of its permanent church home.
The new sanctuary was completed in time for the church’s first service on Sunday, August 24, 1986, followed by the consecration service three weeks later on September 14, 1986.
The “trailer,” as the temporary building came to be known, was transported across the street and located behind the Sanctuary, where it served the church’s Christian Youth Ministries for many years.
Years later, the congregation held its collective breath as the old trailer was moved a third time to its present location on the east side of the sanctuary and in back of the parking lot.
Through the years, Simpsonwood UMC has continued to grow in size and in membership, creating the need for additional space. In the spring of 1995, the church launched its “Standing on the Threshold” campaign to raise funding for the construction of an education building.
It was finished and dedicated on December 14, 1997. The building currently houses church staff and contains a library, classrooms and the Simpsonwood UMC preschool.
The new millennium brought continued growth, along with the realization that additional space would be required as the congregation grew. In 2004, the concept of a family life center was born.
A building committee was appointed, and in 2005, the “Building in Faith” campaign was launched. The church’s initial financial goals were met in September of that year and construction of the Howard Family Life Center was completed in the fall of 2007.
Many more blessings to count
Simpsonwood UMC has been blessed over the years. Under the leadership of its present and past ministerial staff, the church has grown from a handful of charter members in 1982 to a congregation of over 1,600 members today.
Beginning with Founding Minister George R. Freeman, Jr., the church grew from a concept. George served the church from his appointment in June 1981 until June 1988. That month, Dr. Robert Brown continued the Simpsonwood ministry, serving its congregation until June 1990.
At that time, the conference appointed Dr. Laurence McCullough, Jr. as the church’s third pastor. Through his 20 years of leadership, the church greatly expanded its membership, facilities and programs to include local, national and international missions.
In June 2005, Simpsonwood UMC was blessed again by the appointment of The Reverend Keith Lawder as Associate Pastor. A member of the congregation since February 1989, Keith became Student Pastor in June 2002 while completing Seminary.
Simpsonwood UMC’s future is bright. In 2021, a husband-and-wife team was appointed as co-senior pastors. Susan and Dave Allen Grady are the current pastors and have a long-range vision for the church’s continued growth and mission.
The church continues to honor its long-standing mission: “To Know Christ and Make Him Known.” Within 40 years, Simpsonwood UMC has moved from a simple trailer to a magnificent sanctuary and surrounding campus that serves a growing, faithful congregation.