Good evening, friends:

The countdown has begun. We are now officially four weeks from this year’s Spring Feasts, Passover being the first. (Calendar on Congregation | United Church of God) The Pre-Passover Bible Reading Program is in full swing. Here is the announcement that Home Office has asked that we share with you regarding this program:

As God’s people united by God’s Spirit and truth and led by our Savior and soon coming King, Jesus Christ, let’s together, everyone around the world, join in reading some Scriptures together as we prepare for the Passover this year.

Beginning March 7 and continuing through April 10, we have created a website landing page showing scriptures to read each day—along with passages from our own United Church of God Bible Commentary where available.

Be sure you read the words from your Bible as well as from our commentary, and include your children in this, as we all read and meditate together on God’s word. Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity for daily Bible reading and study. The reading schedule is available by going to https://www.ucg.org/news/daily-bible-reading-pre-passover-scripture-readings.

Let’s take advantage of this special activity as the entire Church throughout the world reads and meditates on the same passages each day.

The messages going forward will, by and large, focus on Passover and The Feast of Unleavened Bread. The aim is to prepare God’s people for Passover: the most solemn annual memorial of Jesus Christ's sacrifice. Here then is this week’s update as we anticipate Sabbath services tomorrow in Buford and Atlanta.

1. Atlanta and Buford Sabbath Service Locations and Times: 3/15. Tomorrow, Buford will meet in Bethlehem for services at the Holiday Inn Express, Bethlehem. The address there is 775 Exchange Cir., Bethlehem, GA 30620. We’ve been asked to enter the hall from the back of the building. Services will begin at 10:30 AM.

The Atlanta congregation will meet at Unity Atlanta in Peachtree Corners. The address there is 3597 Parkway Ln, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. The afternoon service begins at 2:30 PM.

2. Under the weather this week? Tune into the Atlanta Webcast. If you are sick this Sabbath, 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/webcast

3. Next Atlanta UCG Bible Study: 3/18. We’ve now moved through all of Revelation. Our next Zoom study will revisit Revelation 6 before we move on to our next Bible Study series. Plan to tune in this Tuesday, March 18, at 7 PM with Mr. Jerold Aust and review this important chapter once more. 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

4. 2025 French Feast Site (Ministerial & Member Services Announcement). Your French brothers and sisters in Christ are pleased to welcome you back to Roquebrune-sur-Argens, France, for the Feast of Tabernacles in 2025! The Feast will be held on the beautiful French Riviera at Club Miléade La Gaillarde, near the well-known tourist destinations of Saint-Tropez and Saint-Raphaël. We have enjoyed the Feast in this region of France for many years, and this will be our fourth time celebrating the Feast at this seaside location.

Located an hour south of the Nice airport, Club Miléade La Gaillarde is situated just across the street from the beautiful Mediterranean Sea with 180-degree ocean views and an underpass walkway to the well-known beach of La Gaillarde. The outdoor heated pool and children’s play area overlook the water and the hotel’s main building has a restaurant and bar, a playroom for children and a spa where visitors can schedule a massage, enjoy a sauna or relax in the indoor jacuzzi overlooking the sea.

The auditorium for church services is located next to the main building and the hotel accommodations—many with ocean views—are a short walk from the main complex. This site’s room-and-board package provides the opportunity to experience full-course buffet-style French meals while enjoying fellowship with other brethren from around the world.

We plan to offer three afternoon excursions to nearby points of interest.

Registration will open at 12 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 17, 2025. For further details, visit www.ucg.org/members/feast-of-tabernacles and the 2025 UCG Feast of Tabernacles Locations Facebook page.

5. 2025 Italian Feast Site (Ministerial & Member Services Announcement). Your Italian brothers and sisters in Christ are pleased to welcome you back to our historical site. We have enjoyed the Feast in this region for decades and the staff will welcome us as family.

The hotel is divided into two parts by the road. One part, Kufra Sea, is facing the sea while the other one, Kufra Lake, is facing the lake of Paola, which divides the shore from town. They are basically one big venue that all share the same services and access to the beach. Everyone will eat meals together in the mail dining hall.

Registration begins on Wednesday, March 12, at 12 p.m. EDT.  There are about 300 available spots for overseas brethren. However, for those who applied in 2024 and couldn’t get in, they will have first priority and should have already received an email with instructions on how to proceed. If you were turned down in 2024 and did not already receive an email, please immediately send an email to feast@ucgitaly.org and let us know what your plans are so you will be reserved a spot.

To register on Wednesday, March 12, at 12 p.m. EDT, go to: https://www.ucg.org/members/feast/sites/sabaudia-italy

6. Video Message from Chairman Pebworth. Council of Elders chairman, Tim Pebworth, has prepared a six-minute video for United brethren to view on YouTube in advance of the spring Holy Days. Please watch this video over the next few days.

      https://youtu.be/GVvung0jgCc

For our non-English speaking congregations, a transcript is under the video description on YouTube, which could be used to make a non-English letter to share if necessary. And, YouTube also provides an auto-generated subtitle option in hundreds of languages by turning on closed captioning, and then select "settings" / subtitles / auto-translate / [language].

7. Important Upcoming Dates

•    Atlanta Bible Studies: Tuesday's Online @ 7 PM
•    Home Office Bible Studies: Wednesday's Online @ 7 PM
•    (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

Finally, I was asked by Edma Briggs to share an announcement regarding Edma’s knee surgery yesterday. She writes:

I had a right knee replacement yesterday, Thursday. The next day, today, I had my first therapy session. According to the surgeon, my surgery went well. I’m not the best patient, especially being limited and not able to do much. Please ask God to give me patience, healing, and a smooth recovery, so I’m able to get my left knee replaced soon. Pray also for my dear hubby who has to deal with me. He’s doing an awesome job taking care of me. Thanking my church family in advance!

Thank you for keeping Edma and Robbie in your prayers.

Have a peaceful Sabbath evening. See you tomorrow in Bethlehem and Atlanta. Safe travels everyone!

Happy Sabbath!

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford, Georgia

Memory Verse

Exodus 23:25 So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. (Healing Covenant for Obedience)

To catch up on other announcements shared this week, go to our local UCG Atlanta and Buford websites. You may access them here:

https://www.ucg.org/congregations/atlanta-ga

https://www.ucg.org/congregations/buford-ga

Good reading!