Hi friends,

We are now days away from the Feast of Trumpets. Trumpets has very special meaning because it reminds us this present evil age will end. Once Christ returns, He will set up the government of God on earth for 1000 years (Isaiah 9:6-7). While we don’t know the exact date of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:36), we know the events that lead to that return (Matthew 24:4-13). The Fall Feasts remind of these upcoming events and the mindset God expects us to have as we keep His Feasts.

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Luke 12:40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Romans 13:11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done with love.

Let us rejoice in this great Truth and keep the Feast of Trumpets, Feast of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles, and Eighth Day with a zeal befitting these momentous days! Here are this week’s announcements.

1. Sabbath Services in Buford and Atlanta. Tomorrow, the Buford congregation will meet in the morning at the Holiday Inn Express, Bethlehem (Georgia) at 10:30 AM for services. In the afternoon, the Atlanta congregation will meet at Unity Atlanta at 2:30 PM.

2. Under the weather? Tune into our 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. Feast of Trumpets (9/23) and Day of Atonement (10/2). We will have a Holy Day Service at Unity Atlanta on the Feast of Trumpets (9/23) and the Day of Atonement (10/2). Both services are at 2:30 PM. As noted in scripture, we take up an offering each High Day. We ask that you use your green-indexed UCG Holy Day offering envelopes when you give your offering.

On the Feast of Trumpets, we are set to have a covered-dish meal after services. In that’s it’s a Holy Day, please plan for dishes befitting this special occasion. To ensure visitors may dine with us, we ask that you bring enough food and drink for your family, plus one person. Thank you for planning accordingly.

4. Sabbath of Oct. 4: No Local Service that Day. We are not having a service in Atlanta or Buford on the Sabbath immediately before the Feast of Tabernacles, October 4, 2025. Instead, you are encouraged to watch the Home Office Sabbath service. That service takes place at 2:30 PM. Here is a link for that Sabbath Webcast:

https://www.ucg.org/webcast/sabbath-webcast-cincinnati-east-pm-october-4-2025

If you are among those traveling to the Feast early, please see the separate announcement that offers a 2-page PDF of the UCG congregations scheduled for services on Oct. 4.

5. Cleanliness in the Meeting Hall for Services. Of late, we’ve not been keeping Unity Atlanta clean when there for services. To address this, we ask that parents pay closer attention to your children, especially when they are in the bathrooms. I ask that everyone take the time to wipe off the water around the sink after you’ve washed your hands and throw paper towels in the trash bin instead of dropping them on the ground. (We’ve also noticed that some are missing the toilet. Parents, please make sure your child focuses on the task at hand.) If you have a mishap, there are cleaning supplies to ensure the bathrooms remain clean for others. Thank you. 

As a reminder, food and drinks are not allowed in the Sanctuary. Only water may be brought into the Sanctuary.

6. Fall Feasts Excused Absence Form. If you need an Excused Absence Form for the Fall Holy Days, contact an elder: Mr. Jerold Aust, Mr. Charlie Graby, Dr. Steve Holladay, or me. We are happy to provide you this form.

7. Interested in the Harmony of the Gospels offered by Mr. Dan Dowd? Sign the sign-up list offered on the Church Literature table. We will work to get you an electronic or hard-copy version of Mr. Dowd's text.

8. Next Atlanta Bible Study: 10/21. Due to the Fall Feasts, our next UCG Atlanta Bible Study will take place on Tuesday, October 21, at 7 PM. The focus of these studies will be offered shortly.

9. Upcoming Sabbath School and Teen Bible Study Classes. Because the Feast of Tabernacles takes place the second Sabbath in October, our next local Sabbath School and Teen Bible Study classes will be offered in November. Here are the dates for our classes this year: 11/8, 12/13, 1/10, 2/14, 3/14, 4/11, and 5/9.

10. 2025 Winter Family Weekend. Get ready to be “Fueled by Faith!” Registration for the 2025 Winter Family Weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio is just around the corner. As in previous years, registration will open in phases. Please mark your calendars for this year’s dates:

• Sunday, Sept. 21: Registration opens for Team Captains ONLY.
• Thursday, Oct. 16: Early registration opens for attendees with special needs.
• Sunday, Oct. 19: General Registration opens for all attendees.

Hotel Information. We have secured blocks of rooms at a discount rate at two hotels. Please note that hotel booking will not be available until General Registration opens on October 19.

• The Warehouse Hotel (On-site at Champion Mill): The primary hotel for the event. Please note there is a required 4-night minimum stay for all reservations in our group block.
• Courtyard by Marriott (Nearby): For guests planning a shorter stay. This hotel does not have a minimum night requirement.

Important Reminder. The group booking codes and reservation links for both hotels will be released with General Registration on October 19. Registering as a Team Captain does not provide early access to hotel booking.

https://www.ucg.org/members/winter-family-weekend/winter-family-weekend-2025

As I close, I was happy to see the group who gathered together and sang at last Sabbath's Atlanta Hymn Sing. Thank you for making a joyful noise to God with hymns! Those are our announcements this evening. Wherever you are this Sabbath, make it a good one. 

Happy Sabbath!

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford, Georgia

Nehemiah 8:2-3 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. ³ Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. (The Feast of Tabernacles)