Happy Double Sabbath,

This weekend we have rare back-to-back Sabbaths with a weekly Sabbath and the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost (Acts 2) is when God gave humanity a most precious gift: His Holy Spirit. While most people have no idea what God’s Spirit is, we do! Once given, the Holy Spirit empowers those who receive it (Micah 3:8). It helps us the receiver. It comforts us (John 14:26), and God’s Spirit leads us in truth (Ephesians 3:5). With these gifts come responsibility. We are called to live in a way that glorifies God. (1 Peter 2:12) What a priceless opportunity. Let’s be conscious of these things as we observe both Sabbaths. Here are this week’s announcements. 

1. Local Sabbath Services in Buford and Atlanta: 5/23. 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. 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. 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 - As the Unity Church will have be having their weekly worship services in the morning before we arrive, we request that you not enter the hall until 1:30 pm to allow them time to finish their fellowshipping and leave the building).

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.

Please label all dishes and utensils with your name. If bringing packaged items, transfer them to a labeled serving dish and bring a serving utensil. Please take home all dishes, utensils, containers, and leftovers after the meal.  

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.

4. Volunteers Needed for Meal on Pentecost. We need volunteers for our Pentecost covered-dish meal! Please visit https://tinyurl.com/ATL52426 to sign up to help with setup and/or cleanup. Thank you for your help — many hands make light work!

5. UCG Atlanta Bible Study: 5/26. Our next UCG Atlanta Bible Study takes place this Tuesday evening, May 26 at 7 PM. Mr. Jerold Aust will guide the Bible Study. The next chapter we cover is 2 Peter 1. 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. 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

7. 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 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.

8. Upcoming Events: Activity Calendar

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

7/19–7/26   UYC Camp Woodland

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

9/12           Feast of Trumpets

9/13           Atlanta and Buford Picnic: Riverside Day Area on the Etowah River

9/21           Day of Atonement

As an update on Brent Reynolds, he was hospitalized on Wednesday at Emory Saint Joseph Hospital in Atlanta. His doctors have been adjusting his medicine to help with his heart and to eliminate water retention in his legs. Please pray that God heals him, so he can return to services. 

Brent welcomes phone calls and emails. You may talk with him in his room by calling phone number: 678-843-4322.  Thank you for doing so.

Happy Double Sabbath!

In love,

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford, Georgia

Memory Verse

Isaiah 28:9-10 Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will He make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little."