Hi friends,

I’m trusting you are enjoying the cooler temperatures of fall, especially on this Sabbath evening. Tomorrow—the second Sabbath following the Feast of Tabernacles and Eighth Day—we hold a Blessing of Little Children ceremony during services. As UCG President John Elliott writes in the opening letter to this week’s Home Office Update, there’s a lot of meaning to this tradition. If you’ve not read Mr. Elliott’s letter, I encourage you to do so now. He makes some valuable points concerning this annual event. (See the separate announcement featuring the new Home Office Weekly Update.)

As you enjoy a little peace on the start of God’s Sabbath, here are this week’s announcements.

1. Sabbath Services in Buford and Atlanta. Tomorrow, the Buford congregation will meet in the morning at the Holiday Inn Express, Bethlehem (Georgia) at 10:30 AM for services. In the afternoon, the Atlanta congregation will meet at Unity Atlanta at 2:30 PM.

2. Under the weather? Tune into our UCG Atlanta Webcast. If you are sick tomorrow, plan to watch the Atlanta webcast online tomorrow. To view the service, enter the password tree of life (with no spaces) in the channel password box. The URL location is: https://www.ucg.org/congregations/atlanta-ga

3. Next Atlanta Bible Study: 10/28. Our next UCG Atlanta Bible Study takes place this Tuesday evening, October 28 at 7 PM. Mr. Jerold Aust continues the Book of Philippians. We will review the background to Paul's letter to the church at Philippi and Philippians 1. Then we will cover Philippians 2. Below is the 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

4. The Atlanta congregation needs Stage Crew Volunteers. The Atlanta congregation needs Stage Crew Volunteers. The duties of the Stage Crew will be the setup and takedown of the curtain as well as decorations for the stage, such as flowers and special occasions, decorations for Holy Days and events. Other duties will be to dress symbols and various displays that Unity will have for their holidays so that it does not interfere with our services.

Note: This is a traditional "Stage Dressing" role. (This is NOT to be confused with Sound Crew Volunteers.)  The Stage Crew will be LAST to set up and the FIRST to take down. If you volunteer you will only need to be about 30 maybe 40 minutes early. Takedown is immediately at the close of services. If you are interested in helping, please see John or Eric Bryant tomorrow at services.

5. 2025 UCG Buford/Atlanta Thanksgiving Covered Dish Meal. We will be holding our annual Thanksgiving Covered Dish Meal on Sabbath, November 15, 2025. We hope you can join us after church for fellowship and food! Please take note of the following:

1. Volunteers Needed (Men & Women):
   We need help with setup and cleanup.
   → Go to https://tinyurl.com/3zndduuz and, about halfway down the page, mark that you are willing to assist.
2. Tell Us What You’re Bringing:
   Please indicate what dish(es) you plan to contribute so we can ensure variety and avoid duplicates.
   → Use the same link: https://tinyurl.com/3zndduuz.
3. Label Your Items:
   Label all serving dishes and serving utensils with your name.
   • If you purchased an item (e.g., cookies in packaging), please transfer your item to your own labeled serving dish and bring a labeled utensil (such as tongs or a serving spoon).
   •  
4. Take Everything With You After the Meal:
   Please take home all dishes, utensils, and any leftovers when you leave.
   • Do not leave containers—disposable or otherwise—on the tables. Cleanup volunteers cannot determine who items belong to or whether leftovers should be saved or discarded.

Thank you so much for your help in making this a smooth and enjoyable meal for everyone! Scott and Crystal Thomas

6. All aboard the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway! 11/16. Please join us for Fun, Fellowship, and Fall Foliage. Our departure date is 11/16/2025. Tickets are $54.56 for adults and $34.55 for kids 3-12. Two and under is free.

Please arrive by 9:15 am for our departure time of 10:00 am. The total trip time is 4 hours. We will disembark in Copperhill / McCaysville for a two-hour layover, where you can shop and eat lunch.

The address for the railway is 241 Depot St, Blue Ridge, GA 30513. Parking is free in the downtown area and certain other areas close to the Railway. There is paid parking that ranges from $5.00 to $11.00.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10ExvDKC2QP3pp9gzTb-cTQgIZK6ByqblqdY9BDcoCYE/edit?usp=drivesdk

Please see Sandy Usry, if you have any questions.

7. Upcoming Sabbath School and Teen Bible Study Classes. Because the Feast of Tabernacles takes place the second Sabbath in October, our next Sabbath School and Teen Bible Study classes will be offered in November. Here are the dates for our classes this year: 11/8, 12/13, 1/10, 2/14, 3/14, 4/11, and 5/9.

8. 2025 Winter Family Weekend. Get ready to be “Fueled by Faith!” Registration for the 2025 Winter Family Weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio is just around the corner. As in previous years, registration will open in phases. Please mark your calendars for this year’s dates:

• Sunday, Sept. 21: Registration opens for Team Captains ONLY.
• Thursday, Oct. 16: Early registration opens for attendees with special needs.
• Sunday, Oct. 19: General Registration opens for all attendees.

Hotel Information. We have secured blocks of rooms at a discount rate at two hotels. Please note that hotel booking will not be available until General Registration opens on October 19.

• The Warehouse Hotel (On-site at Champion Mill): The primary hotel for the event. Please note there is a required 4-night minimum stay for all reservations in our group block.
• Courtyard by Marriott (Nearby): For guests planning a shorter stay. This hotel does not have a minimum night requirement.

Important Reminder. The group booking codes and reservation links for both hotels will be released with General Registration on October 19. Registering as a Team Captain does not provide early access to hotel booking.

That’s it for this evening. Have a wonderful start to your Sabbath. See you soon at services in Buford and Atlanta.

Happy Sabbath!

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford, Georgia

Jeremiah 17:21-22 Thus says the Lord: “Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; ²² nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. (Instructions to not work on the Sabbath.)