Hi everyone,

Happy Sabbath! I am writing to you following another successful year at Camp Woodland. I’m pleased to share that this year’s version of Woodland came off without a hitch! The weather, although warmer at times, was highly cooperative. Other than a desire for a little more sleep due to last night’s final dance and slide show, everyone I talked with said they had a great camp experience! Thank you again for your prayers. God answered them. 

I will share more about the camp tomorrow at services. In the meantime, here are this Friday’s announcements.

1. Sabbath Services in Buford and Atlanta. 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 meets at Unity Atlanta at 2:30 PM.

2. Under the weather? 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. Next Tuesday Night UCG Atlanta Bible Study: 7/29 @ 7 PM. Our next Atlanta Bible Study takes place this next Tuesday evening, July 29. Mr. Jerold Aust will go through the Book of Jude. Below is information to attend the next study online.

Join Zoom Meeting

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

Meeting ID: 838 7167 7401
Passcode: 857315

We look forward to seeing you then.

4. Latest Update on Mr. Rick Shabi. Many of you know about the prayer request regarding Mr. Rick Shabi due to the heart attack he had last Sabbath. The last update is here.

Prayer Request Update - Rick Shabi
From Richard Kennebeck, pastor, Jacksonville and Orlando, FL:

From Rick's wife Deborah: "Thank you again, brethren, for your heartfelt prayers for Rick. Doctors indicate a slow but positive recovery. They were able to remove the breathing tube yesterday, and Rick is breathing and talking on his own. Today, they will be working on getting him up into a chair. He continues to have some issues with pain, so we appreciate your prayers in that regard.

Please pray for God to continue to strengthen his heart as he heals. We know our great God hears your continued prayers. We deeply appreciate and know how much you care!"

Rick and Deborah Shabi
1422 Pelican Bay Trail
Winter Park, FL 32792

5. Service locations in Buford and Atlanta from July to mid-August. We will have Sabbath Services in both Buford and Atlanta on the following dates this summer: 7/26, 8/2, and 8/9. 

Our next combined service takes place on 8/16. We will have a cover-dish meal that day. The theme for the meal will be a Taco Bar. Olé

6. First Sabbath Coffee and Fellowship on 8/2. For a variety of reasons (the summer schedule, covered-dish meals, etc.), we’ve not had a Coffee and Fellowship Social in Buford and Atlanta of late. August 2, though, gives us the opportunity to enjoy one. Please plan to bring light snacks and drinks for this event, which will take place after services in Buford at the back of the hall at the Holiday Inn Express, Bethlehem, and in the lobby of Unity Atlanta. Plan to attend and share snacks, a beverage, and most importantly fellowship with your Spiritual family members that Sabbath.

7. Combined Service: Atlanta Hymn Sing on 9/13. It’s been a little while since we last did an Atlanta Hymn Sing. (The Pandemic short-circuited our hymn-sing routine.) This is all the more reason to give our Atlanta Hymn Sing another go. We are scheduled for a combined service on September 13. On that day, we will try our Atlanta Hymn Sing once more. The hymn sing will take place on 9/13 from 1:30 – 2 PM.

That is all I have this evening. Have a peaceful beginning to your Sabbath. See you tomorrow in Buford (Bethlehem) and Atlanta.

In love,

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford, Georgia

2 Samuel 12:4-7a Now a traveler came to the rich man, who refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest. 5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6 Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over. 7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man!" (Consequences of adultery)