Hi everyone,

Where has the summer gone? It’s hard to believe, but this Sabbath marks the start of August. With the Fall Feasts beginning in September, August reminds us the coming Feasts of Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, and the Eighth Day are not far away. While relatively few people know of these Feasts, you and I are blessed to know them and their importance. The Fall Feasts picture the return of Jesus Christ, the removal of Satan, the establishment of God’s government on earth for 1000 years, and, afterward, the offering of salvation to all who’ve ever lived. It’s an incredibly exciting plan! We are blessed to know it and review its parts by way of God’s Holy Days. This Sabbath, let’s be sure to thank God for this understanding.

1. Sabbath Services in Buford and Atlanta: 8/1. Tomorrow, we are in our two 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.

Combined Service: 8/8. We will have a combined Sabbath service on August 8 in Atlanta. Beforehand, we will have a Men’s Opening & Closing Prayer Workshop. After services, we will have a covered-dish meal. Our meal theme is Backyard Barbecue.

We are back in our two congregations on 8/15. 

2. Feeling ill this week? Tune in to 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. 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 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

4, Next UCG Atlanta Bible Study: 8/4. Our next Atlanta Bible Study takes place on August 4. Mr. Jerold Aust will deliver the study. John 6 will be covered. Below is information to attend online:

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

Meeting ID: 838 7167 7401
Passcode: 857315

5. Men’s Opening & Closing Prayer Workshop: 8/8. All baptized men who give prayers in Buford and Atlanta during Sabbath Servies are expected 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 Mr. Jerold Aust. Plan now to attend this important event.

6. Atlanta/Buford Covered-Dish Meal: 8/8. Atlanta and Buford will combine for Sabbath services in one week. Our location of meeting will be Unity Atlanta. Afterward, we will have a covered-dish meal. Our theme in August is Backyard Barbecue. Plan to bring your favorite summertime food and drinks. As always, we ask that you bring enough food for your family, plus one person.

7. Indianapolis Young Adult Weekend: 8/14-17. Young Adults, Join us for a young adult weekend at Camp Moneto in southern Indiana from August 14–17. We will spend the weekend in fellowship, diving deep into the practical application of the Bible, and exploring what it means to be Built to Serve. The cabins are secluded in the woods, offering a peaceful summer retreat. Hiking and other outdoor activities will be available, as well as organized group discussions and Bible studies.

Registration is $150 a person, which includes a 3-night stay and all meals. Each attendee will need to bring their own bedding. The deadline for registration is July 31. Sign up today!

8. Atlanta and Buford Annual Picnic: 9/13. Plan now to attend this year's Atlanta/Buford Summer Picnic. It takes place on September 13, the day after the Feast of Trumpets. Any questions you have about this year’s picnic may be directed to Sierra Briggs at sierra.gomperts@gmail.com or 760-917-7093 or Sarah Aust. We look forward to seeing you there.

9. Excused Absence Form for the Feast Days. If you need an Excused Absence Form for the Fall Holy Days, please contact one our elders: Mr. Jerold Aust, Mr. Charlie Graby, Dr. Steve Holladay, or me. We are happy to provide you this form.

10. Summary of Events

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

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 – Our theme? Backyard Barbecue.

8/15           Young Men’s Christian Club begins (Revised start date)

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

9/19           Sabbath School and Teen Bible Study begin 

9/21           Day of Atonement

9/26           Feast of Tabernacles begins at various Feast sites

10/3           Eighth Day kept at various Feast sites

That’s it for tonight. Happy Sabbath, friends!

In love,

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford, Georgia

Memory Verse

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?