UCG Announcements (2/15/25)
Happy Sabbath,
Here’s hoping this update finds you well and looking forward to services tomorrow in Buford (Bethlehem) and Atlanta. After sunset tomorrow evening in Atlanta, a work party is scheduled to prepare for the 2025 Southeast Regional Weekend that is now two weeks away. (Wow!) I shared an announcement earlier today for this work party. It reads as follows:
The 2025 SE Regional Weekend is quickly approaching, and we need volunteers! We are looking for volunteers to support in any of the areas below. If you are able to volunteer, please write your name under the appropriate column on the volunteer sign-up.
+ Saturday, February 15 @ 6:30 PM: Decoration work party in the Fellowship Hall
+ Friday, February 28 from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (volunteers can come and go throughout the day as needed): SE Regional Weekend Setup
+ Saturday, March 1: Dinner service, flipping the room immediately following dinner, breakdown/cleanup
Thank you to those who volunteer to help make this event a success once more.
Here are the rest of this week’s announcements this Sabbath evening.
1. Atlanta and Buford Sabbath Service Locations and Times: 2/15. Tomorrow, Buford will meet in Bethlehem for services. We will meet at the Holiday Inn Express, Bethlehem. The address there is 775 Exchange Cir., Bethlehem, GA 30620. We are asked to enter the hall from the back of the building. Services begin at 10:30 AM.
The Atlanta congregation will meet at Unity Atlanta in Peachtree Corners. The address is 3597 Parkway Ln, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. The afternoon service begins at 2:30 PM.
2. Sick this week? Tune into the Atlanta Webcast. 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
3. Next Atlanta UCG Bible Study: 2/18. We covered Revelation 18 in our latest Atlanta Bible Studies. Our next Zoom study takes place on Tuesday, February 18, at 7 PM. Mr. Jerold Aust will go through Revelation 19. Below is the information to attend this study online.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83871677401?pwd=CSoupVrJ3qHxQQaq94jgeBnQZOajZ…
Meeting ID: 838 7167 7401
Passcode: 857315
For a list of United Church of God Bible Studies taking place this week, check the Calendar section of our local Atlanta and Buford websites.
4. 2025 Southeast Regional Formal Weekend. We are in the final stages of planning for this year's 2025 Southeast Regional Formal Weekend. All details regarding this year's weekend are offered below. Whereas today (2/14) is the deadline for registration for this year's formal weekend, we have room for additional attendees—and their families—as long as we receive notification and registration over the next few days. This year's formal dance includes a catered dinner, so we must have a definitive final count for food prep. Here is a description of this year’s event.
The Atlanta and Buford, Georgia United Church of God congregations invite those ages 13-19 and their families to celebrate our “Knights, Lords, and Ladies” at this year’s UCG Southeast Regional Formal Weekend.
The weekend includes Sabbath services, senior acknowledgment, a dinner and formal dance, and a Sunday morning bowling and arcade activity. Family members are encouraged to attend Sabbath services, the senior acknowledgment, and the bowling and arcade activity. See below for an agenda and additional details.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Saturday, March 1st
- 1:30 pm - Sabbath Services at Unity Atlanta, 3597 Parkway Ln, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 (All are welcome)
- 3:30 pm - Senior Acknowledgment the Sanctuary at Unity Atlanta (All are welcome)
- 6:30 pm - *Dinner in the Fellowship Hall at Unity Atlanta (ages 13-19)
- 8:00 - 11:00 pm - Formal Dance in the Fellowship Hall at Unity Atlanta (ages 13-19)
*Please plan to arrive before dinner to allow time for check-in. Attendees (per the age requirement) will be required to check-in for Saturday evening events, and once checked in, will not be permitted to leave until the event concludes or a parent checks them out early.
Sunday, March 2nd
- Hotel checkout at your leisure and per your hotel’s policy
- 10:00 am - 12:00 pm - Family bowling/arcade activity at Stars and Strikes in Stone Mountain, GA (All are welcome)
REGISTRATION
All formal and bowling/arcade participants are required to register here: 2025 UCG Southeast Weekend
Registration is open until February 14, 2024.
SENIOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Immediately following services, we will acknowledge our graduating seniors and honor their commitment to God through this milestone accomplishment. If you are a graduating senior attending the formal, please complete the senior bio form here: Senior Bio Form
FAMILY BOWLING AND ARCADE ACTIVITY
We will have a family bowling activity scheduled for Sunday morning from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Stars and Strikes in Stone Mountain located at 741 Mountain Industrial Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083. The activity will feature 1 hour of bowling (shoes included) and 1 hour of unlimited arcade games. All ages are welcome. The cost is $15.00 per person.
COST
The cost to attend the Southeast Formal Dance (ages 13-19) is $45 per person and includes dinner. If there are 3 or more attendees in a family, the cost is capped at $100 total. The cost to attend the family bowling activity (all ages) at Stars and Strikes is $15 per person.
PAYMENT
Payment for the formal and bowling/arcade should be made via credit card on PayPal (preferred) or check shortly after submitting registration.
- For check payments, please mail checks to Charlie Graby at 6925 Buckingham Circle, Cumming, GA 30040. Checks should be made payable to "United Church of God - Atlanta" and offer a breakdown of costs (i.e., amount for formal dance, amount for bowling) in the memo area of the check.
- For credit card payments via PayPal, please visit: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/UCGSoutheastFormal
LODGING
UCG has blocked a set of rooms at the nearby Hampton Inn by Hilton Peachtree Corners Norcross at a nightly rate of $85.00 plus tax. These rooms will be held until Feb 21st and are available on a first-come/first-serve basis. This exceptional rate is valid from Friday, February 28th through Sunday, March 2nd. Details are below:
- Hampton by Hilton Peachtree Corners Norcross
- 440 Technology Pkwy NW, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092, Phone: 770-729-0015
- The rate is $85.00, plus tax (room features 2 Queen Beds) per night.
- Please use the link to book: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=ATLPTHX&groupCode=CHHUCG&arrivaldate=2025-02-28&departuredate=2025-03-02&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT
ATTIRE
Dress for the dance is formal, semi-formal, or Sabbath attire.
If you have any questions about the Southeast Weekend, please email Sierra Briggs at sierra.gomperts@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you there!
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. 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 what we request each quarter from Home Office. If you would like to donate to local causes, you may do so by giving funds to Bob McCurdy, our local bookkeeper. 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
- (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
As I close, I spoke with Paola Brown earlier today. She offered that Bill’s condition has continued to decline. Your prayers for Bill and Paola continue to be needed. Please pray that God provides them both with comfort and peace. Thank you. They are unable to have visitors at this time. Cards and notes are welcome. Their address is:
Bill and Paola Brown
523 Golf View Dr
Peachtree City, Georgia 30269
Have a pleasant Sabbath evening.
In love,
Philip Aust
United Church of God, Pastor
Atlanta & Buford, Georgia
Memory Verse
Exodus 12:21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families and kill the Passover lamb.” (Institution of the Passover.)
Final note: To catch up on other announcements shared this week, go to our local UCG Atlanta and Buford websites. You may access each of them here: