UCG Announcements (3/28/26)
Hi everyone,
Happy Sabbath! In that we are just a few days from the start of the Spring Feasts, most of us are in full “de-leaven” mode. This is fitting. In God’s infinite wisdom, He requires that His people annually examine themselves prior to the Passover and be reminded of the tremendous sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Additionally, God requires that we remove leavening from our homes, reflect on the prevalence of sin in our lives, and focus on our need to replace it with that which is unleavened: the living Christ. Those who complete these steps are few; nevertheless, the learning that accompanies them produces big rewards! As God’s people, thank you for taking these instructions to heart and acting on them! God promises to bless those who do.
Here are this week’s announcements.
1. Sabbath Services in Buford and Atlanta: 3/28. Tomorrow, the Buford congregation will meet 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 for services.
2. Under the weather this Sabbath?Tune into our Atlanta Webcast. If you are sick this week, plan to watch the Atlanta webcast 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
3. Passover for Atlanta & Buford: 3/31. The Passover takes place this year on the evening of March 31 (Tuesday). Baptized members are expected to attend one of the two local services offered below. You must contact Dr. Aust if you have an extenuating circumstance that prevents you from taking the Passover in one of these two locations. The Passover Service is for baptized members only.
In terms of service locations, Atlanta will meet at Unity Atlanta in the Fellowship Hall for the Passover. The service takes place at sunset. This year sunset for Atlanta occurs at 7:57 PM. Because of this solemn occasion, everyone is expected to be quietly seated at 7:35 PM for scripture reading.
Buford will be at the Holiday Inn Express, Bethlehem. Sunset is set for 7:55 PM. Because of the solemn occasion, everyone in Buford is also asked to be quietly seated at 7:35 PM for scripture reading.
In terms of scripture reading immediately before the Passover service, I share the passages below for your notes.
Christ Foreshadowed the Passover
Exodus 12:1-4, Exodus 12:21-36, Exodus 12:43-49, Psalm 22, Isaiah 52:13-15
Christ Institutes the New Testament Passover and Dies Later that Day
John 13:1-17, Matthew 26:26-30, Matthew 27:27-50, Mark 15:1-38, Luke 23:1-48, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Symbolism
John 6:4, John 6:22-71, 1 Corinthians 10:14-22
4. Night to Be Much Observed: Sign-Up List. The Night to Be Much Observed (NTBMO) this year takes place on Wednesday evening, April 1. If you have not yet made plans to attend this gathering with other brethren, please do so now. If you’d like to find a place to attend this meal with others, please sign the list below. Likewise, if you or your group have room for others for the NTBMO, please indicate that on the list too. Here is a link to the sign-up list:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DFxtep8bHkX0q_e9FT6qDU80ol8CmqOwy7H6Q10h9x8/edit?usp=sharing
Note: If you signed the list that was out last Sabbath, please sign this one too. This will ensure that we have a list accessible from anywhere via the web.
5. The First and Last Day of Unleavened Bread: 4/2 & 4/8. The First Day of Unleavened Bread takes place on Thursday, April 2. The Last Day of Unleavened Bread takes place on Wednesday, April 8. The location of services for both Holy Days is Unity Atlanta in Peachtree Corners.
Offerings. According to scripture (Deuteronomy 16:16), we take up an offering on the First and Last Day of Unleavened Bread. Please use the green envelopes sent to you by the Home Office. This expedites the processing of these offerings.
On the Last Day of Unleavened Bread, we will have a covered-dish meal. The theme for the meal is An Unleavened Gourmet Gathering.
6. Combined Sabbath Service on 4/4. The Sabbath that takes place during the Feast of Unleavened Bread will be a combined service for Atlanta and Buford. We will meet at Unity Atlanta on this Sabbath. The time of servo will be 2:30 pm.
7. Next Atlanta Hymn Sing: 4/11. Our next Atlanta hymn sing takes place on April 11. Charlie Graby is coordinating the event. If you are a song leader who wants to lead songs during the hymn sing, contact Mr. Graby. We need 5 song lead volunteers. Each song leader will lead 2 songs.
Additionally, we need pianists. If you can play hymns for the hymn sing, be sure to contact Mr. Graby.
8. Sabbath School and Teen Bible Study Classes: 4/11. Our next local Sabbath School and Teen Bible Study classes take place on April 11. Parents, please be sure your child has a Bible for classes when they meet.
9. Next UCG Atlanta Bible Study: 4/14. Our next UCG Atlanta Bible Study takes place on Tuesday evening, April 14 at 7 PM. Our next book of the Bible is forthcoming. Stay tuned!
10. Feast Planning Brochure. The Festival Planning Guide is available online and in the center pages of the March-April United News. Please note, the latest information about Feast sites is available at http://feast.ucg.org, where you can download an updated version of the brochure that has been posted since the planning guide’s initial printing.
Key Dates for United States and Canadian Feast Attendees
Sunday, April 19: Preliminary registration begins at 12 p.m. EDT for those who must attend their closest site.
Sunday, April 26: Registration is open at 12 p.m. EDT for all United States and Canadian Feast sites (except if a site has reached capacity).
Need help with Feast of Tabernacles Registration? Our local Feast Advisors are here to help with questions and registration. Contact Steve Holladay in Buford and Bob McCurdy in Atlanta for this help. If you need Festival Assistance, you may contact them in person or by phone.
11. Upcoming Calendar Events
Mar. 31 Passover (Tuesday Evening, March 31)
Apr. 1 Night to Be Much Observed: Kept as Families (Wednesday Evening, April 1)
Apr. 2 First Day of Unleavened Bread @ Unity Atlanta (Thursday)
Apr. 8 Last Day of Unleavened Bread @ Unity Atlanta w/ Covered-dish meal (Wednesday)
The theme for the meal is An Unleavened Gourmet Gathering.
Apr. 11 Atlanta Hymns Sing (before services)
Apr. 11 Sabbath School and Teen Bible Study classes
Apr. 14 UCG Atlanta Bible Study begins again
Apr. 18 Young Men’s Christian Club
Those are our announcements this Sabbath evening. Have a wonderful start to God’s Sabbath. See you tomorrow in Buford and Atlanta.
In love,
Philip Aust
United Church of God, Pastor
Atlanta & Buford, Georgia
Memory Verse
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
