Friends,

I trust this update finds you well this preparation day. The occasional rain shower has been a welcome site as it had kept everything green and cool as we’ve moved into July. While there looks to be rain in the forecast tomorrow, multiple weather sites note that Saturday’s rain will not occur until after sunset tomorrow evening. That’s good news for you and me as we travel to and from Sabbath services. Here are this week’s announcements prior to meeting together in both service locations.

1. Local Sabbath Services in Buford and Atlanta: 7/11. Tomorrow, we are in our two local congregations. The Buford congregation will meet at the Holiday Inn Express, Bethlehem at 10:30 AM for services. In the afternoon, the Atlanta congregation will meet at Unity Atlanta at 2:30 PM for services.

Note: On 7/18, we are scheduled to combine for services in Atlanta.

2. Feeling ill this week? 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. UCG Atlanta Bible Study: 7/14. Our next UCG Atlanta Bible Study takes place this Tuesday evening, July 14 at 7 PM. Mr. Jerold Aust will deliver the Bible Study. We are in the book of John. John 4 is next. Below is information to attend online:

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83871677401?pwd=CSoupVrJ3qHxQQaq94jgeBnQZOajZ…

Meeting ID: 838 7167 7401
Passcode: 857315

Week Off due to Woodland. Because Camp Woodland takes place from July 19 – July 26, we will not have an Atlanta Bible Study on July 21. We will resume our Atlanta Bible Studies once more on July 28.

4. Teen/Young Adult Regional Weekend: 10/30 – 11/1 Survey. The Charlotte, NC congregation is excited to host a Teen/Young Adult regional weekend from Oct 30^th to Nov 1^st. The weekend will include workshops focusing on how to use your unique spiritual gifts, dealing with stress and how to strengthen your faith in a world full of doubt. Following Sabbath services, there will be a dance on Saturday night. Sunday there will be an opportunity to enjoy the day at the Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark.

To better plan, we are asking that you take a brief survey at the link below. More details on activities, cost and location are provided in the survey.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwBtwS1Qk2UrEvAIUnttNegycon_8plYmQRqNVkl9fL-pWSw/viewform

Dan Preston, Pastor – Charlotte and Hickory, NC and Columbia, SC

5.  Camp Woodland: 7/19-7/26. United Youth Camp Woodland runs this year from July 19 to July 26; that’s Sunday to Sunday. To share a sense of what teens and staff will experience this year at camp, here is this year’s write-up for Woodland:

Imagine waking up surrounded by 120 acres of Georgia woodland, with a peaceful lake as the heart of it all—that’s life at Camp Woodland. This year, we’re thrilled to welcome you back for the third time to the west (Heritage) side of the grounds for an unforgettable summer.

Camp Woodland will focus on helping campers build a closer relationship with God, Jesus Christ and other teens. Drawing from God's word, campers will develop new life and leadership skills through the camp experience. This year’s theme, “Follow Me,” will explore what it really means to walk with Jesus in everyday life—helping campers discover what it means to be a disciple.

Dorms are grouped by age and will have multiple counselors to oversee, guide, direct and mentor the campers. This dorm structure provides campers with the opportunity to create lifelong friendships and allows for a more tailored learning experience based on maturity level. All campers will sleep in bunk beds—just remember to pack your own sheets, blanket, pillow and towel!

Adventure awaits at every turn: we plan to again offer archery, basketball, canoeing, dance class, arts and crafts, fishing, high and low ropes courses with a zip line over the lake, kayaking, paddle boats, speed-away, softball, swimming, adventure course, ultimate frisbee and volleyball.

Prayers Requested for Woodland. While we are not all able to attend Woodland, your prayers are requested and appreciated for camp this year as we seek God’s oversight and protection for camp. Thank you adding camp to your prayer list. 

6. Michael C. Carlos Museum Visit: 8/2. We will visit the Michael C. Carlos Museum on August 2. Located on Emory University’s Atlanta campus, the museum houses the largest collection of ancient art in the Southeast. The museum offers an engaging educational and cultural experience for all ages.

Cost for a museum visit is $10 for Adults and $8 for Seniors and children ages 6-17. Children 5 and under are free. Since the museum opens at 12 PM on Sundays, let’s meet in front of the museum at 11:45 AM. 

Every Sunday at 2 p.m., museum docents lead drop-in tours, which are open to the public. These tours are free with museum admission. No prior registration is required.

Parking (by car or van). If coming in cars, please park at either the Fishburne Deck or Oxford Road Visitor Decks. 

The address to the museum is:

571 South Kilgo Circle
Atlanta, GA 30322

You can find information about the museum here https://carlos.emory.edu/visit

7. Men’s Opening and Closing Prayer Workshop: 8/8. All baptized men who give prayers in Buford and Atlanta during Sabbath Services are asked to attend an upcoming Opening and Closing Prayer Workshop to be held on Saturday, August 8, at Atlanta Unity. The workshop will begin at 12:45 pm. The workshop will go through what a high-quality Opening and Closing Prayer entails. The workshop will be conducted by Jerold Aust. Plan now to attend this important event.

8. Summary of Events

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

7/19–7/26   UYC Camp Woodland (No Atlanta Bible Study on 7/21)

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

8/8             Men’s Sabbath Service Prayer Workshop @ 12:45 PM

8/8             Combined Service: Covered-Dish Meal in Atlanta

9/12           Feast of Trumpets

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

                  https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251867

9/21           Day of Atonement

That’s all I have this evening. Have a great start to your Sabbath! 

In love,

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford, Georgia

Memory Verse

Isaiah 66:23 And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord. (The Sabbath is kept in the Millenium.)