Happy Sabbath!

After a dip in our March temperatures, the forecast looks like we may finally be moving toward consistent warmth. Our weather for tomorrow looks to be ideal with full sunshine and mid 60s. What a great day to be outside in nature and enjoy safe travels to services! With the Spring Feasts three weeks away, God’s calendar once more perfectly aligns with the weather. It’s one more sign of God’s greatness!

Tomorrow, we have services scheduled for Buford and Atlanta. I share details of both services below. Further, there are two announcements: one from the Council of Elders regarding a church-wide survey and one from Ministerial and Member Services regarding the Bible Reading Program. Scroll down to see more.

1. Atlanta and Buford Sabbath Service Locations and Times: 3/22. 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

3. Night to Be Much Remembered: Sign-Up List. The Night To Be Much Remembered (NTBMR) this year will be on Sabbath evening, April 12^th. If you have not yet made plans to attend this gathering with other brethren, please begin to do so. If you’d like to find a place to attend this meal with others, please sign the list on the Literature Table in the Lobby in Atlanta and on the back right counter in Buford. Likewise, if you or your group will have room for others for the NTBMR, please indicate that on the list too. Thank you.

4. Our Next Atlanta UCG Bible Study: April 22 – Spring Holy Day Recess. We reviewed Revelation 6 this past Tuesday evening. After discussing with Mr. Jerold Aust when and how to proceed, we’ve decided to have a short recess of Atlanta Bible Studies until Tuesday, April 22, at 7 PM. This will allow us to focus on the Bible Reading Program before the Passover. Look for an announcement in the future regarding the next studies.

5. Pre-Passover Bibel Reading 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 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.

6. UCG Member Survey: Open Till April 10 - From the Council of Elders. As members of God’s household of faith, it is important we assess the state of our flock and God’s Church. In recent years, the United Church of God has used a survey of its members and attendees to measure progress toward the goals and objectives stated in our Strategic and Operation Plans. Once again, we would appreciate your help and feedback on how we are doing.

The online survey (intended for people of all ages who are associated with the United Church of God) will be available through April 10, 2025 at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2PWTHNH. We welcome your honest, anonymous input as fellow workers in this building of God’s spiritual temple.

Please note, this survey is open to everyone (not just one per household) and we are looking for participation from all ages. As in prior years, the Council of Elders and home office administration will take the statistics and suggestions from the results to help develop a comprehensive Strategic Plan. We will also share the results through United News and a members website video presentation later this year.

The survey should only take 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Thank you so much for sharing your input and help.

7. 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].

8. United Youth Camp Registration is Open. Online registration for all UYC teen and preteen camps has begun. Campers and staff may apply at uyc.ucg.org. Parents and campers, camper scholarships are available for those who need financial assistance. See your pastor about applying for a scholarship, if needed. Len Martin, UYC Coordinator

9. 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

That’s all I have this evening. Have a wonderful start to God’s Sabbath. See you tomorrow at services in Buford and Atlanta.

In love,

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford, Georgia

Memory Verse

Exodus 31:13-14 Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. ¹⁴ You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. (Sabbath as Sign of God’s People)

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!