UCG Announcements (9/5/26): Services in Buford and Atlanta
Hi everyone,
In anticipation of this year’s upcoming Feasts, the United Young Adult team has produced a well-designed tool to encourage growth in one’s prayer life during the Fall Feasts. Details of this resource are shared below.
The United Young Adults team has developed Follow Me: A Feast of Tabernacles Prayer Journal for distribution at this year's Feast of Tabernacles. It was created especially with young adults in mind and connects with the “Follow Me” theme used at United Youth Camps this year.
The journal gives a simple daily framework (and plenty of writing space!) for use throughout the Feast of Tabernacles and Eighth Day. Each day includes scriptures to read, a short reflection prompt, and a challenge to think more intentionally about drawing closer to God in prayer and following Jesus Christ during the Feast.
For those interested, I’ve attached a copy of the journal here for our young adults and anyone else who might benefit from this study tool. Enjoy!
Here are this week’s announcements for our area.
1. Sabbath Services in Buford and Atlanta: 9/5. 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.
Next Sabbath (9/12) is the Feast of Trumpets. We will have a combined service at Unity Atlanta that day at 2:30 PM. We ask that you bring and use the indexed offering envelopes sent to you by Home Office for your offering.
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.
2. Volunteers Needed for Meal on Trumpets: 9/12. We need volunteers for our Trumpets 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!
3. 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 webcast is available at: https://www.ucg.org/congregations/atlanta-ga
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. Sabbath School & Teen Bible Study Kick off: 9/19. We will officially kick off the 2026–2027 Sabbath School and Teen Bible Study academic year on 9/19. Our coordinators this year include Sarah Aust and Philip Aust, assisted by Brandon Graby. Questions regarding this year’s classes? Feel free to ask one of our academic coordinators.
6. 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. The study will cover John 9.
7. South Africa Camp: Staff Needed – Deadline 9/22/26. Good Works is seeking three volunteers to serve at the youth camp in South Africa. Preferably, the group will include at least one male and one female. Camp experience is required, either as a camper or as a staff member (though staff experience is preferred).
Dates: Dec. 20-27, 2026 (with about three days of travel)
UPDATED Cost: All necessary immunizations required by South Africa (scholarships available).
Deadline to apply: September 22, 2026
For more information, email Lena Van Ausdle at Lena_VanAusdle@ucg.org. To apply, visit: South Africa Youth Camp 2026.
8. Winter Family Weekend (WFW) Registration. 2026 WFW registration is now open. The dates for this year’s event run from 12/22 – 12/27 in Hamilton, Ohio. This year’s theme is “Household of Faith.” For those interested in attending this year’s WFW, details concerning this year’s activities, registration, and room reservations are here:
https://ucg.redpodium.com/2026-winter-family-weekend
9. UYA Online Bible Study: 9/10 @ 8:30 PM. A United Young Adult Bible study will be presented by David Rains this next Thursday at 8:30 PM. The study is titled, “Solomon’s Quest.” You may access the study via the link below.
Meeting ID: 293 847 5610
Password: 123456
10. Blessing of Little Children. 10/17. By tradition, the Blessing of Little Children takes place the second Sabbath after the Feast. This year that’s on 10/17. If you have a child you’d like to have blessed, please contact an elder so we can set aside time for this special ceremony during that service. As a reminder, this service is for little children whose parents or grandparent(s) attend church.
11. 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 Canceled: 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
10/17 Blessing of Little Children
12/22-27 Winter Family Weekend in Hamilton, Ohio
12/28 UYC Winter Camp: Apply Now!
I close with a prayer update for Makayla Thomas by way of her Dad and Mom, Scott and Crystal.
Makayla has been experiencing several neurological symptoms over the past few months that have greatly affected her daily life. Following continued evaluation, her doctors now suspect a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and possible hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. At this time, identifying and addressing a possible CSF leak is the most immediate concern. She has several upcoming MRIs that will hopefully provide clearer answers and help determine the next steps in her care. Please pray that God will guide her medical team, that the upcoming MRIs will provide clear answers, and that Makayla will be granted relief and healing.
Thank you for keeping Makayla and her family in your prayers.
Happy Sabbath,
Philip Aust
United Church of God, Pastor
Atlanta & Buford, Georgia
Memory Verse
Ezekiel 20:24-26 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. 25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live; 26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that opened the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord.
