Friends,

Welcome to God’s Sabbath. This Sabbath was made for you! (Mark 2:27) Glad you are able to observe it. Sabbath Services take place locally tomorrow in Buford and Atlanta. Here is what you need to know as we look forward to coming together (Hebrews 10:24-25) as the bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7).

1. We have Sabbath services tomorrow in Buford and Atlanta. The Buford congregation is set to meet at the Fairfield Inn, Mall of Georgia at 10:30 AM. The Atlanta congregation will meet at Unity Atlanta in the afternoon at 2:30 PM.

2. After-Service Meeting in Atlanta. We need to have a Southeast Regional Formal planning meeting tomorrow after services. Our theme this year is “Lords and Ladies.” To be involved in the planning process, plan to meet after services in Atlanta to the right of the stage (as you face the stage) for this meeting 5 minutes after services. Thank you.

3. If you are sick this Sabbath, plan to watch the Atlanta webcast tomorrow online. 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/webcast

4. We’ve now covered Revelation 12 in our Atlanta Bible Studies. Our next Zoom study takes place on Tuesday, January 7, at 7 PM. Mr. Jerold Aust will go into Revelation 13 that evening. Below is the information to attend to this study online:

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

Meeting ID: 838 7167 7401
Passcode: 857315

5. Winter Family Weekend takes place this next week on Dec. 24 - 28. Locally, on the Sabbath of December 28, the Atlanta and Buford congregations will meet together at the Unity Atlanta building. The service will begin at 2:30 pm in the Sanctuary. 

We will locally webcast the WFW Sabbath Service from Hamiliton, Ohio next Sabbath. The hall will be open from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm, so please arrive early and stay late for warm fellowshipping with the brethren. We generally have coffee and light snacks in the lobby. As information, if you’re a visitor to Atlanta, please note that food and drinks (other than water) are not allowed to be brought into the Sanctuary area.

Note - If you're unable to attend local services, the webcast can be accessed at - Webcast | United Church of God

6. Based on what’s taken place the last few years (e.g., 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 local “emergency” needs arise (e.g., sound equipment, local camp scholarships, etc.), and (2) to develop a fund for the eventual purchase of a local church hall. Note: This fund does not take the place of the tithes and offerings commanded by God that we send to Home Office (Leviticus 27:30, Malachi 3:9-10). Instead, this fund represents funding needs we have beyond the quarterly request we get from Home Office. If you would like to donate to this separate local fund, you may do so by giving donations 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"]

7. Important Upcoming Dates:

•    (2/1 - 2/2) - Atlanta Ski Trip at Gatlinburg, TN (Save-the-Date)

•    (2/28 - 3/2) - Southeast Regional Formal (Save-the-Date)

•    (3/30) - Golf Outing (TBD)

•    (4/11) - Passover

•    (4/13 - 4/19) - Days of Unleavened Bread

•    (6/1) - Feast of Pentecost

•    (7/17 - 7/27) - Woodland in Temple, GA

Finally, thanks to everyone who helped with last week’s Soup, Chili, and Bread Social, Feast of Tabernacles Slide Show, and 1^st Annual Great Cookie Bake-Off. If you didn’t hear, these were our cookie winners: Crowd Favorite--Josiah Beam, 3^rd Place—Linda Graby, 2^nd Place—Lydia Englehardt, and 1^st Place—Jasmine Aust. Congratulations to our winners!

See you tomorrow at services.

Happy Sabbath everyone!

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford, Georgia