Friends,

Given the poor driving conditions in effect because of the winter storm in our area, we are officially canceling our local combined Sabbath Service this Saturday (1/11) at Unity Atlanta out of caution. In place of our local service, plan to view the Sabbath Webcast from Cincinnati East PM at 2:30 PM tomorrow. You may access that service here:

https://www.ucg.org/webcast/sabbath-webcast-cincinnati-east-pm-january-11-2025

As we stay home this Sabbath, here are several local announcements you need to know. 

1. Next Atlanta UCG Bible Study: 1/14. We’ve now covered Revelation 13 in our Atlanta Bible Studies. Our next Zoom study takes place on Tuesday, January 14, at 7 PM. Mr. Jerold Aust will go into Revelation 14 that evening. Below is the information to attend this online study.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83871677401?pwd=CSoupVrJ3qHxQQaq94jgeBnQZOajZ…

Meeting ID: 838 7167 7401
Passcode: 857315

2. Most Recent Home Office Bible Study. Mr. Rick Shabi’s Home Office Bible Study on Ezekiel from this past Wednesday is available. You may listen to it here: https://www.ucg.org/sermons/ezekiel-bible-study-january-8-2025-ezekiel-27-28

The next Home Office Bible Study is scheduled for Wednesday, January 15, at 7 PM. The announcement regarding that Bible study will be posted on the following website sometime early next week: https://www.ucg.org/group/894826/announcements I encourage you to check back periodically to ensure that you not miss this upcoming learning opportunity.

3. 2025 Atlanta Ski Trip: 2/1 – 2/2/25 – Reservations Due on 1/20 @ 12 Noon

The Atlanta UCG congregation is once more planning its annual ski trip. This year our ski and snow board event is scheduled for February 1 and 2, 2025. The trip will begin with Sabbath Services in Knoxville, TN on February 1. Then on Sunday, we will be on the slopes at Ober Mountain. Details for this year’s trip, including payment details, are listed below. 

Block off the first weekend in February on your calendar, reserve a hotel room (see the options below), and get ready for another year of fun, fellowship, and activities on the slopes in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee.

Costs - The cost for this year’s activity is shared below. These rates include equipment and lift ticket (and the added cost to the church for handling the payment via PayPal). 

   [ ]  $108 for skiers and 

   [ ]  $118.50 for snowboarders 

   [ ]  $63 for lift ticket only (without equipment) 

Your Payment (IMPORTANT) - To participate in this year’s ski trip, two actions are needed.

First - Complete the Reservation Form - Download the form (it is in the "Download" section in the upper right of this announcement). Fill it out with the name and ski/snowboarding package for each individual.  Be sure to include contact information on the form.  The form should be submitted before you pay for the equipment rentals. Then email the completed form to Bob McCurdy - ram19@bellsouth.net   

Second - Make Your Payment - Pay for the costs for skiing and snowboarding via PayPal (they must be paid in advance). Be sure to consider all your costs when paying for skiing or snowboarding using the prices shown above based on the type of equipment to be used (ski or snowboard).  Note - A small PayPal processing fee has been added to the ticket prices above. 

Payments for this year’s ski trip will only be made using PayPal. The PayPal payment link is listed here (Note - You will need to have a PayPal account and log into your account when you use the link): 

  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/UCGSoutheastFormal

(Note: To simplify UCG-Atlanta accounting, this PayPal URL is used for the Atlanta Ski Trip and the UCG Southeast Formal Weekend.) 

Payment Deadline - The deadline for payment is Wednesday, January 20, 2025. 

If you have questions about the Reservation Form or PayPal payments, you may email Bob McCurdy at ram19@bellsouth.net. We look forward to seeing you there!

2025 Atlanta Ski Trip: Recommended Hotels

1. The Hampton Inn

967 Parkway, Gatlinburg TN 37738

(865) 436-4878

2. The Hampton Inn – Gatlinburg Historic Nature Trail

520 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

(865) 436-4933

3. Hilton Garden Inn

635 River Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

(865) 436-0048

4. Holiday Inn Express in Gatlinburg

322 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

(865) 868-6200

5. The Quality Inn Creekside

125 Leconte Creek Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

(865) 436-4865

Note: Since the Atlanta Ski Trip is predicated on ample snow, please do not book a non-refundable hotel room in Gatlinburg at this time. In rare cases, we've had to cancel the ski trip because of lack of snow. You would not be able to get your money back if we were forced to cancel this year's trip.

 --------------------------------------------

Schedule of Events

Saturday, February 1, 2025

• Sabbath Service in Knoxville, TN at UCG Knoxville. See https://www.ucg.org/congregations/knoxville-tn
• Travel to Ober Gatlinburg. Get together with fellow skiers/snowboarders at Ole Smokey Moonshine Store in Gatlinburg and enjoy complimentary (outdoor) live music. Form a group and explore some of the sites that Gatlinburg has to offer.
• Get in bed at a decent hour for skiing and snowboarding the next morning.

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Hotel check-out – Based on the policies at your hotel.

• Skiers and snowboarders meet at the Ober Mountain Tramway Mall Office at 8 AM for processing. The address of the Ober Mountain Tramway Mall is 1001 Parkway #2, Gatlinburg, TN 37738.
• Enjoy the day skiing and snowboarding. Partner up with others and enjoy your ski and snowboard adventure with one or more friends.
• Stop for lunch and refuel with others (between 11:30-1:30 PM). The affordable dining spots are the Sidewalk Cafe and Daddy's Dogs.
• Most skiers and snowboarders head home around 3 - 4 PM.

4. 2025 Southeast Regional Weekend in Atlanta, March 1–2, 2025. The Atlanta and Buford, Georgia United Church of God congregations invite those ages 13-19 and their families to celebrate an evening of “Knights, Lords, and Ladies” at this year’s UCG Southeast Regional Formal Weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. The weekend includes Sabbath Services, a dinner, a Senior Recognition, and a Sunday morning activity. Dress for the formal dance is formal, semi-formal, or Sabbath attire.

REGISTRATION

Registration will begin January 14 and be open until February 14, 2025.

SENIOR BIO FORM

We plan to honor graduating high school seniors who will be in attendance. 

LODGING

UCG is reserving a block of rooms at the Hampton Inn by Hilton Peachtree Corners Norcross near the main event venue. Details are below:

Hampton Inn by Hilton Peachtree Corners Norcross

440 Technology Pkwy NW

Peachtree Corners, GA 30092

Phone: 770-729-0015

Details about the weekend will be shared in the coming weeks at http://atlanta.ucg.org. Once there, click Announcements for more information. If you have any questions about the Southeast Weekend, please email Sierra Briggs at sierra.gomperts@gmail.com.

5. Local Atlanta and Buford Church Fund. Based on what’s taken place the last few years (the pandemic), a while back we established a (local) Atlanta/Buford Church Fund for two purposes: (1) to ensure we are prepared if and when a local “emergency” arises (e.g., sound equipment, local camp scholarships, etc.), and (2) to develop a fund for the eventual purchase of a local church hall at some point in the future. This local church fund does not take the place of the tithes and offerings commanded by God which are sent to Home Office (Leviticus 27:30, Malachi 3:9-10). Instead, this fund represents needs we have locally that fall outside of the per view of what we request each quarter from Home Office. If you would like to donate to these causes, you may do so by giving funds to Bob McCurdy, our local bookkeeper, and specifying what those funds are for. Thank you. [Note - Any local donation checks should be made to - "United Church of God - Atlanta"]

6. Important Upcoming Dates

•    Atlanta Bible Studies: Tuesday's Online @ 7 PM
•    Home Office Bible Studies: Wednesday's Online @ 7 PM
•    (2/1-2/2) Atlanta Ski Trip in Knoxville and Ober Mountain, TN
•    (3/1-3/2) SE Regional Formal Weekend in Atlanta, GA
•    (4/11) - Passover
•    (4/13 - 4/19) - Days of Unleavened Bread
•    (6/1) - Feast of Pentecost
•    (7/17 - 7/27) – Camp Woodland in Temple, GA 

In closing, Britney (McGarity) Hynes shares this about Deanna, her mom, regarding Deanna’s condition at this time. 

The speech therapist evaluated mom today and determined she could swallow well enough to go on a liquid diet. This is a huge blessing as she had not gotten any food or water since going into the hospital, and now she won't need to get a feeding tube! The hospital is working with us on getting her transferred to an inpatient rehab facility to help her regain mobility in her face and limbs on the right side of her body. Right now we're not sure which facility she will go to. As you can imagine, she has a very long road of recovery ahead so continued prayers are appreciated. She is quite frustrated with not being able to speak clearly, so prayers of encouragement and strength are also needed. Thank you to everyone who has been praying and who has reached out to check in. We feel very loved!

Please continue offering prayers for Deanna’s healing. Cards and notes of encouragement may be sent to:

101 Poplar Way

Dallas, GA 30157

Have a peaceful Sabbath evening.

Stay warm,

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford, Georgia

Bible Verse of the Week

Genesis 1:26-27 ²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them

BTW – If you want to attend virtually any of United’s congregations for services, you may use the same password you use for our website on theirs. Be sure you check the time of services and consider different time zones for services. Here is a list of UCG Sabbath Webcasts to access: https://www.ucg.org/webcast/all.