Hi everyone,

I don’t think the spring weather could be prettier than on this preparation day for the Sabbath. Here’s hoping you took some time to enjoy it, even as you were anticipating God’s weekly holy day of rest and spiritual renewal. Below are this week’s announcements as we look forward to meeting for services in our two congregations. 

1. Local Sabbath Services in Buford and Atlanta: 5/16. Tomorrow, we are in our two local congregations. 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. Next Young Men's Christian Club of Atlanta: 5/16. The next Young Men’s Christian Club is scheduled for tomorrow after services in the chapel. Following this club meeting, we will have a summer recess. We will resume YMCC meetings in the fall. Questions regarding the club may be directed to Ryan Shallenberger.

3. Prayer Request for Brent Reynolds. I request that you pray for Brent Reynolds at this time. Brent has been dealing with swelling in his ankles that makes walking difficult. He's been working with his doctor to update his medication. Please pray that Brent gets the right medicine to address his condition and that God heals Brent, so he can return to services. Brent welcomes phone calls and emails. You may reach him at:

Phone number: 404-514-0885

Email address: jbr53@samobile.net

4. 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

5. UCG Atlanta Bible Study: 5/19. Our next UCG Atlanta Bible Study takes place this Tuesday evening, May 19 at 7 PM. Mr. Jerold Aust will guide the Bible Study. The next chapter we cover is 1 Peter 5. Below is information to attend the study online:

Join the Zoom Meeting here:
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83871677401?pwd=CSoupVrJ3qHxQQaq94jgeBnQZOajZ…

Meeting ID: 838 7167 7401
Passcode: 857315

See you there.

6. New Doctrine Paper from the Council of Elders. I’m pleased to share a new doctrine paper titled “The Resurrection at the Seventh Trumpet Within God’s Plan of Salvation.” While this paper is new, the Church’s teaching and doctrine on this subject have not changed. Rather, this paper is intended to support, clarify and more fully explain our understanding of God’s plan and the hope of the resurrection as revealed in Scripture. We hope it will be a helpful resource in reinforcing and supporting our longstanding teaching on this important biblical subject. Steve Myers, Ministerial and Member Services

7. Atlanta and Buford Sabbath Services on 5/23. Atlanta and Buford will hold their respective Sabbath service on 5/16 and 5/23.

8. Feast of Pentecost: 5/24. On May 24, the Atlanta and Buford congregations will meet at the Unity building in Peachtree Corners to observe the Holy Day of Pentecost (see Acts 2, and Leviticus 23:15-22).  The service will begin at 3:00 pm in the Sanctuary. [Note - Because the Unity church will be having their regular Sunday services before we arrive, please plan to enter after 1:30 pm].  

As customary on God's Holy Days, an offering will be collected (Deut 16:16).  Offering envelopes will be available.

After the services, we will have a covered dish meal in the Fellowship hall. As is our custom, we ask that families please bring food and drink for your family, plus one visitor. Visitors and guests are invited to stay and enjoy the food and fellowship.

If you are a visitor to Atlanta, the hymns are routinely projected on two large screens.  Also, please note that food and drinks (other than water) are not allowed to be brought into the Sanctuary area.

9. UYC Camp is Open! United Youth Camp registration is still open for many of our camps. There is room available at several of our teen camps, especially Camp Woodland and Southwest Camp. Parents, if your teen has not yet registered, we encourage you to prayerfully consider camp this summer. UYC is a tremendous opportunity for our young people to build godly friendships, grow spiritually and enjoy a positive environment centered on God’s way of life. If cost is a concern, please speak with your pastor about the possibility of a scholarship. Over the years, camp has been a powerful and positive influence in many young people’s lives—and we hope your teen will be part of it this summer. Steve Myers, Ministerial and Member Services

Application Deadline for Woodland: 6/1. This is a friendly reminder that the deadline to apply for Camp Woodland is June 1. Camp Woodland provides a wonderful opportunity for our young people to build friendships, enjoy wholesome activities, and grow spiritually in a positive Christian environment. We would love to see as many of our Southeast teens as possible take advantage of this opportunity. Applications can be completed online at UYC Camp Application Page. Jason Musgrove, Assistant Camp Director for Camp Woodland

10. 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. North Georgia Tubing Trip: 6/28. If you are interested in tubing in North Georgia on June 28 this year, here is what you need to know. Payments will be made on location by cash or check to Cartecay River Experience. Here are the details of this event.

What: Tubing & Kayaking 
When: Sunday, June 28 at 11:00 am
Where: Cartecay River Experience in Ellijay, GA
            2400 HWY 52 East 
            Ellijay, GA
            706-531-4746
https://www.cartecayriverexperience.com/index.html
Price:* Lazy River Experience *
Tubing
$15 cash
$18 credit card

Kayaking
$30 cash
$34 credit card

(Save $2.00 per person on the weekends if you show up the first hour and a
half of opening.)

**Payments will be made on location by cash or check to Cartecay River
Experience.**

Length of Trip: Approximately 1 hr. to 1.5 hrs. depending on if you are in a
tube or kayaking. (Trip is about 1.5 miles long.)
Waiver: All participants must sign a waiver.

FAQ: For further information and frequently asked questions please see this
website link:  https://www.cartecayriverexperience.com/faq.html. Additional questions may be directed to Sarah Aust, this event’s coordinator.

12. Activity Calendar: Upcoming Events

(Tues@7) UCG Atlanta Bible Study – see atlanta.ucg.org calendar

(5/23)          Graduate Recognitions

(5/24)          Feast of Pentecost in Atlanta @ 3 PM: Covered-Dish Meal

(6/28)          North Georgia Tubing Trip

(7/19–26) UYC Camp Woodland

(8/2)            Visit to the Michael C. Carlos Museum @ 12 PM (https://carlos.emory.edu/visit)

(9/12)          Feast of Trumpets

(9/13)          Atlanta and Buford Picnic

(9/21)          Day of Atonement

That’s it for this evening. Happy Sabbath, friends!

In love,

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford, Georgia

Memory Verse

Isaiah 14:12-15 How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! ¹³ For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; ¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ ¹⁵ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.