Hello friends,

We are now two weeks from the start of God’s Spring Feasts, Passover being the first Feast (Leviticus 23:4-5). For those reading the Pre-Passover and Unleavened Bread Scripture Readings, as of today, we are in Matthew 26. A link to this content is here: https://www.ucg.org/news/daily-bible-reading-pre-passover-scripture-readings. If you’ve fallen a bit behind the reading schedule, this Sabbath and Sunday present an ideal time to catch up on the reading or simply join in and read the rest of the way in preparation for the Spring Feasts. You can never go wrong reading God’s Word: 2 Thessalonians 3:16-17.

Given the many events that take place around the Spring Feasts, I’ve got quite a few announcements for you to read this Sabbath. Please take the time to go through all of them.

1. Atlanta and Buford Sabbath Service Locations and Times: 3/29. 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. Ill 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. Passover Service Meeting, Atlanta. The Passover is rapidly approaching, to be held here in the Fellowship hall on the evening of April 11th. There will be a short preparation meeting in the Fellowship Hall immediately after today’s worship service to discuss the Passover plans. All those individuals that were notified by e-mail earlier this week should attend.

4. 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 do so now. 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 have room for others for the NTBMR, please indicate that on the list too.

5. Passover Service(s) for Atlanta and Buford: 4/11. The Passover takes place this year on the evening of April 11. 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 8:06 PM. Because of the solemn occasion, everyone is expected to be quietly seated at 7:40 PM for scripture reading.

In terms of Buford’s Passover Service, those baptized members in the Buford congregation will meet at Holiday Inn Express, Braselton. The address of that Holiday Inn, Braselton West is 2958 Braselton Crossing Ln, Braselton, GA 30517. This year, sunset for Braselton occurs at 8:04 PM. In Buford/Braselton, everyone is expected to also be seated at 7:40 PM for scripture reading. Refer to the list below for scripture reading immediately before the Passover Service.

 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

6. Combined Atlanta/Buford Service + April’s Sabbath School and Teen Bible Study Classes: 4/12. Our local Sabbath School and Teen Bible Study classes for April take place on April 12. (We have back-to-back Sabbaths that weekend.) Parents, please be sure your child has a Bible for classes when they meet.

7. The First and Last Day of Unleavened Bread: 4/13 & 4/19. The First Day of Unleavened Bread takes place on Sunday, April 13. The Last Day of Unleavened Bread takes place on Saturday, April 19. The location of services for both Holy Days is Unity Atlanta in Peachtree Corners.

Offering. According to scripture (Deuteronomy 16:16), we take up an offering on both the First and Last Day of Unleavened Bread. Please use the green envelopes sent to you by the Home Office. This greatly expedites the processing of these offerings.

8. Covered Dish Meal on the Last Day of Unleavened Bread: 4/19. On the Last Day of Unleavened Bread, we will have a covered dish meal after services. Please plan to bring enough food and drink for your family, plus one person. Thank you.

9. Domestic and International Feast Sites are Posted. All the U.S. and International Feast of Tabernacles sites for 2025 have been posted. Instructions on how and when to register and make housing reservations are available on the Feast website. You may access this information here: https://www.ucg.org/members/feast

Need help with Feast 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 Feast Assistance, contact them in person or by phone.

10. 2025 United Youth Camp. Online registration for both teen and preteen camps is open! Campers and staff can register at uyc.ucg.org. Parents and campers, scholarships for teen camps are available for those who may need financial assistance. Please ask your pastor for details. We are really looking forward to another enjoyable camp season in the Zone. Apply now.

11. Our Next Atlanta UCG Bible Study: April 22 – Spring Holy Day Recess. The Atlanta Bible Studies are on a short recess 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.

12. UCG Atlanta Greeter Team: Opportunity to Serve. If you are looking for an opportunity to serve in our local church area, consider the UCG Atlanta Door Greeter team. A new schedule is being prepared. Please see Scott Thomas this Sabbath if you are interested in serving in this capacity.

13. List of Upcoming Dates

•    Atlanta Bible Studies: Tuesday's Online @ 7 PM
•    Home Office Bible Studies: Wednesday's Online @ 7 PM
•    (4/11) – Passover
•    (4/12) Combined Atlanta and Buford Service, Sabbath School and Teen Bible
•    (4/13 - 4/19) - Days of Unleavened Bread
•    (5/2 – 5/5) General Conference of Elders
•    (6/1) - Feast of Pentecost
•    (7/17 - 7/27) – Camp Woodland in Temple, GA

I’ve given you a lot to review this evening. Thank you for keeping this information in mind. Here’s trusting you have a peaceful Sabbath. You are in my prayers.

Happy Sabbath!

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford, Georgia

Memory Verse

Exodus 34:22 Three times (or seasons) in the year all your men shall appear before the Lord, the LORD God of Israel. (Command to appear before God on His Feast Days)