Hi friends,

My hope is that you are well this Sabbath, and you were able to get the items you need to ride out the snow, ice, and wind storm meteorologists say will begin sometime on Saturday. With several forecasters predicting the storm will begin tomorrow at 1 PM, I chose to cancel services in Atlanta and Buford out of an abundance of caution. Make no mistake, this is when prayers for protection are really needed (Proverbs 15:29, Psalm 34:17, James 5:16). Do not hesitate to ask God for His protection for those in our area and across the U.S. wherever and whenever this storm hits. Thank you.

Here are this week’s announcements as you stay warm and safe at home.

1. No Sabbath Services in Buford and Atlanta. Tomorrow, Sabbath services are canceled in Buford and Atlanta due to approaching weather. 

In their place, please tune into the one of the United Church of God webcasts for services. 

• The Cincinnati, (Home Office) webcast is offered here: https://www.ucg.org/watch/webcast No password is needed to view this webcast. It begins at 2:30 PM.
• Other options. A full listing of webcasts are offered here: https://www.ucg.org/webcast/all To view any of these services, enter the password tree of life (with no spaces) in the channel password box just as you would for our webcast. 

Whichever service you view, be sure to take into account the time differences as they impact Sabbath Service start times.

2. Next UCG Atlanta Bible Study: 1/27. Our next UCG Atlanta Bible Study takes place on Tuesday evening, January 27 at 7 PM. Mr. Jerold Aust will review Hebrews 6 and go through Hebrews 7. Below is information to attend the study online:

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

Meeting ID: 838 7167 7401
Passcode: 857315

See you there.

3. Final Call! 2026 Atlanta Ski Trip: 1/31-2/1. The UCG Atlanta Ski Trip is scheduled this year for January 31-February 1, 2026. We will be in Knoxville, TN for Sabbath services on January 31 and in Gatlinburg for skiing and snowboarding on February 1 at Ober Mountain (Ober Mountain Ski Area in Gatlinburg / Smokies).

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 options below), and get ready for another year of fun, fellowship, and enjoyable activities on the slopes in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

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

   [ ]  $144 for skiers and

   [ ]  $154 for snowboarders

   [ ] $87 for lift ticket only

Your Payment (IMPORTANT) - To participate in this year’s ski trip, you must do two things. 

First - Complete the Reservation Form - Download the form (it is located 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 (must be paid in advance). Be sure to take into account 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 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://paypal.me/UCGSoutheastFormal

Payment Deadline - The deadline for payment is Thursday, January 22, 2026.

If you have additional questions about the Reservation Form or PayPal payments, you may email Bob McCurdy at ram19@bellsouth.net.

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2026 Atlanta Ski Trip: Recommended Hotels

a. The Hampton Inn

967 Parkway, Gatlinburg TN 37738

(865) 436-4878

b. The Hampton Inn – Gatlinburg Historic Nature Trail

520 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

(865) 436-4933

c. Hilton Garden Inn

635 River Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

(865) 436-0048

d. Holiday Inn Express in Gatlinburg

322 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

(865) 868-6200

e. The Quality Inn Creekside

125 Leconte Creek Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

(865) 436-4865

Note: The Atlanta Ski Trip is predicated on reaching the group minimum of skiers or snowboarders (we need 15 participants to obtain the group rate) and sufficient snow. In rare cases, we've had to cancel the trip because we didn't meet these criteria. Please do not book a non-refundable hotel room in Gatlinburg at this time. You would not be able to get your money back if we were forced to cancel this year's trip.

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Schedule of Events 

  Saturday, January 31, 2026

• Sabbath Service in Knoxville, TN at UCG Knoxville. See https://www.ucg.org/congregations/knoxville-tn
• Covered Dish Meal after services
• Travel to Gatlinburg. Get together with fellow skiers/snowboarders at Ole Smoky Holler Moonshine Store at 8 PM in Gatlinburg. Enjoy complimentary outdoor live music. Form a group and explore some of the sites that Gatlinburg offers.
• Get in bed at a decent hour for skiing and snowboarding the next morning.

  Sunday, February 1, 2026

• 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 spot? The Sidewalk Cafe and now Daddy's Dogs (used to be The Snack Bar).
• Most skiers and snowboarders head home around 3-4 PM.

4. 2026 Southeast Regional Formal Weekend: 2/28 - 3/1. Registration is now open for the 2026 UCG Southeast Teen Prom! We are planning to have it Saturday evening, Feb. 28, at the beautiful Del’avant Event Center in LaGrange, Georgia. 

The weekend includes a pizza social Friday evening, a special Sabbath, followed by a formal prom that evening. Seniors will have a special recognition right before the dance that parents can join.

We are also planning to have a skating/arcade/laser tag family activity on Sunday, March 1 prior to departure, so we hope you’ll plan to stay a bit longer on Sunday to allow the teens this extra social time.

Cost for the Prom is $30 per person (ages 12-19).

Cost for the family activity is $25 per person.

Schedule of Events: For out-of-town guests staying at the hotel Friday evening, we will arrange a casual get together with pizza. Let us know if you are interested.

Friday night pizza drop-in social in the lobby of the La Quinta Inn & Suites 6:30-10:30 

Pizza delivered at 7:00.

Saturday morning

7:00-10:00 complimentary breakfast served at the hotel.

Saturday afternoon and evening

1:30 ~ Sabbath services at Del’avant Event Center – all are welcome

4:00 ~ Clear room to set up for dance

6:30 ~ Senior Recognition – all are welcome

7:30-11:00 ~ Dance – age 12-19

Sunday Morning

7:00 ~ Complimentary Breakfast served at the hotel

10:00 - 12:00 ~ Starlite Family Fun Center in Sharpsburg, Georgia

Link to Register: Register for Southeast Formal Weekend

Link for hotel: Reservations LaQuinta

Rooms must be booked by 01/27/2026 to receive the discounted rate of $103.70 per room per night + tax.

Dress for the evening is Formal, Semi-Formal or Sabbath attire.

Registration is open until Feb. 14, 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact: Matthew Blackwood at (706) 668-0714 or matthew@unlockmath.com

Those are our announcements for this Sabbath evening. Stay safe.

Happy Sabbath,

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford

Memory Verse

Isaiah 58:6-8 Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? ⁸ Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.