Hi everyone,

The countdown is on! This evening at sunset we are two weeks from the Fall Feasts. I know some of us are still shoring up our Feast plans; however, before we set off for the Feast of Tabernacles in the various locations God has set His name, let’s not forget that God offers us two weekly Sabbaths and two High Days—the Feast of Trumpets and Day of Atonement—to observe before he head out. Each Feast day carries with it unique meaning most people do not know. (Should we keep the Feasts in Leviticus 23?) We, though, do! We have the honor and to know about these days and the privilege to keep them. As we anticipate learning more about God’s plan and our purpose in it, let’s make sure to ready ourselves for the learning that is offered to us during these Fall Feasts. They offer an incredible opportunity to grow! And let’s not just prepare ourselves physically for these Feasts, but let’s prepare ourselves spiritually for the training God has readied for us.

Here are this week’s announcements.

1. Sabbath Services in Buford and Atlanta: 8/29. 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.

We are in our two congregations for services tomorrow and next Sabbath (9/5), as well. We will have a combined service on 9/12 in Atlanta. That is the Feast of Trumpets.

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. Teen Bible Study Meeting Tomorrow: 8/29. Teens and parents, we will have a short meeting tomorrow after services in Atlanta in anticipation of the 2026-27 academic year. The purpose of the meeting is to solicit your ideas for topics that will be covered this year in our studies. Please meet to the front right of the stage (opposite the piano) 5 minutes after services for this meeting. See you there.

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

5. Next UCG Atlanta Bible Study: 10/13. We are taking a Fall Feast break from our Atlanta Bible studies. The next Atlanta Bible Study is scheduled for October 13. Mr. Jerold Aust will deliver that study. We will go through John 9.

6. UYC Winter Camp (12/28/26-1/3/27): Apply Now. Winter Camp is returning to the beautiful Lake Geneva area, offering a perfect winter setting packed with fun and adventure. The facility features two indoor climbing walls and a full-size gym for volleyball and basketball. If snow conditions allow, campers can also enjoy snowboarding, skiing, and tubing. Additional activities include broomball, field sports, dance class, Bible class, two dances, an escape room, an Amazing Race, arts and crafts, and team-building challenges. There’s also plenty of free time for socializing and connecting with friends.

The heart of Winter Camp is fellowship, fun, and friendship—strengthened by Bible classes and Christian-living instruction designed for teens. Campers build strong bonds throughout the week, especially during our evening indoor “campfire” sessions, where the whole group gathers to grow, reflect, and have fun together. Winter Camp offers a unique opportunity to create lasting memories with both campers and staff.

Our lodging is comfortable, and the food is excellent, complete with a fresh salad bar at lunch and dinner. Campers can look forward to a s’mores night, hot chocolate throughout the week, and nightly snacks to keep spirits high.

Campers, please arrive on Dec. 28, between 1:30–3:30 p.m. Staff should arrive the previous day (Dec. 27). Transportation will be provided from the Milwaukee and Chicago O’Hare airports (details provided upon acceptance). We look forward to seeing you at Winter Camp!

https://www.ucg.org/members/uyc/teen/WinterCamp

Application Deadline
Nov 15, 2026

7. Summary of Events

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

9/12           Feast of Trumpets w/ covered-dish meal. The theme is Fine Dining

9/13          Cancelled: Atlanta and Buford Picnic

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

12/22-27 Winter Family Weekend in Hamilton, Ohio

12/28         UYC Winter Camp: Apply Now!

Before I close, we learned this week that Helen Royster, who now resides at the Cherokee Center for Nursing and Healing, will move back near her family in Kentucky this Sunday. If you have opportunity to visit Helen before she heads north, I encourage you to do so. The address to the Cherokee Center for Nursing and Healing is:

150 Hospital Road

Canton, GA 30114

If you cannot visit her, I will share her new address for cards and letters once I receive it. In the meantime, please keep Helen in your prayers as she moves back to Kentucky. We will definitely miss her.

And with that, have a wonderful Sabbath.

Happy Sabbath!

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford, Georgia

Memory Verse

Ezekiel 8:23-26 Also I raised My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries, 24 because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols. 25 “Therefore, I also gave them up to statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they could not live; 26 and I pronounced them unclean because of their ritual gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate and that they might know that I am the Lord.”