Hi everyone,

For those of us who knew Norma Holladay, the email from Mr. Jason Musgrove this week was difficult to read: With heavy hearts, we announce that Norma Violet Holladay died peacefully on August 4 at the age of 84. She was a devoted wife to her husband, Roy, for 63 years and a treasured mother to their five sons. Everyone who knew her will remember her sweet and gentle spirit, her kindness and the way she made others feel welcomed and cared for….While our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing that she lived a full and blessed life and passed peacefully with her family around her…We also take great comfort in God's plan and in the sure hope that we will see her again.

For those who knew Norma Holladay, she will be missed. Please keep Mr. Roy Holladay, and the Holladay family, in your thoughts and prayers. Cards may be sent to Roy at this address:

Roy Holladay

2500 Dexter Ave N, Unit A

Seattle, WA 98109

Here are our local announcements this Sabbath.

1. Combined Atlanta/Buford Sabbath Service: 8/8. We are scheduled for a combined Atlanta/Buford Sabbath Service tomorrow at Unity Atlanta. The Sabbath Service begins at 2:30 PM.

Upcoming services: We are in our two congregations for services on 8/15, 8/22, 8/29, and 9/5. We will have a combined service on 9/12 in Atlanta. That is the Feast of Trumpets.

2. Men’s Opening & Closing Prayer Workshop: 8/8. All baptized men who give public prayers in Buford and Atlanta during Services are expected to attend an Opening and Closing Prayer Workshop tomorrow, August 8, 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.

3. Atlanta/Buford Covered-Dish Meal: 8/8. We will have a covered-dish meal tomorrow after our combined service in Atlanta. Our theme is Backyard Barbecue. Plan to bring your favorite summertime food and drinks. We ask that you bring enough food for your family, plus one person. 

Please use the signup link below and let everyone know the dish you’ll be bringing. This will help us avoid duplicates and provide a great variety for everyone. 

Set-up and takedown volunteers are needed for our meal. To meet this need, I ask that the men in the Young Men's Christian Club be at Unity Atlanta tomorrow at 12:20. You are tasked with setting up tables for the covered-dish meal before the prayer workshop. Thank you, in advance, for addressing this congregational need.

https://tinyurl.com/aug26covereddishmeal

Thank you for helping make our Covered-Dish meal a success!

4. 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

5. Next UCG Atlanta Bible Study: 8/11. Our next Atlanta Bible Study takes place on August 11. Mr. Jerold Aust will deliver the study. We will continue forward in John 6. Below is information to attend online:

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

Meeting ID: 838 7167 7401
Passcode: 857315

See you soon.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Summary of Events

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

8/8             Men’s Sabbath Service Prayer Workshop @ 12:45 PM

8/8             Combined Service: Covered-Dish Meal – Theme: Backyard Barbecue

8/10-13    Council of Elders meetings in Cincinnati, Ohio

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

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

12/28         UYC Winter Camp: Now taking applications!

I’ve posted several additional announcements on our local Atlanta.ucg.org and Buford.ucg.org this week. Please go through them so you don’t miss out on any of the events occurring tomorrow or in the coming months.

Happy Sabbath,

Philip Aust

United Church of God, Pastor

Atlanta & Buford, Georgia

Memory Verse

Jeremiah 23:21-22 “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in My counsel, And had caused My people to hear My words, Then they would have turned them from their evil way And from the evil of their doings.”