Registration for Confirmation 2021 is now open!
Calling at students, grades 6th through 10th, that have not yet gone through Confirmation...join us! Classes will begin Sunday, January 31st, and will meet every 1st, 2nd, and 4th Sunday of the month. Participants must register by Sunday, January 24th. To register, please click the link below. If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Elizabeth Pollard at epollard@benhillumc.org.
It's time again for ALL to participate in our Community Service Project for Martin Luther King Day here at Ben Hill. The pandemic has impacted our communities through job loss, and increased food insecurity. As a church community, we will work to stock the food pantry at Ben Hill. More information is forthcoming but we hope you will be a part of this effort. Food will be collected during normal Food Bank hours. If you have any questions, please call Eldridge Stephens at 404-542-1957.
****Please note: the food bank will be closed Saturday, January 16 in honor of MLK Day

We are experiencing unusual pickup hours during the holidays for the Atlanta Community Food BankIn an effort to support the growing need for food assistance during this difficult and unprecedented time, the Ben Hill Food Bank is reaching out to our church ministries. If your ministry budget permits, please consider purchasing items in the food donation list below. The highlighted items are needed most

The Food Bank is in URGENT need of canned goods and plastic bag donations.

FOOD DONATION LIST
  • Breakfast food- cereal, grits, oatmeal
  • Boxed or canned milk 
  • Canned Vegetables/peas/beans/corn
  • Canned Fruits 
  • Canned Meat
  • Rice/mashed potatoes
  • Pasta
  • Tomato sauce
  • Loaves of Bread 
  • Peanut butter and jelly
Ministries should bring the food items to the Food Bank Drive-Up on Wed. (10:30am-12:30pm) or Saturday (10:30am-12:30pm). Donating is simple: 1) Place the food in the trunk of your car.  2) When you arrive, call the Food Bank at (404) 344-0618 X 1115 or (404) 314-2241, and someone will meet you to take the food from your car. All donations are touchless--keeping our donors and volunteers safe.

OTHER WAYS TO DONATE:

PLASTIC GROCERY STORE BAGS
Also, we need (lots of ) plastic bags, the type used at grocery stores. 

MONETARY DONATION
In lieu of donating food items, please consider making a monetary donation by check or online as follows:

CHECK
Make payable to Ben Hill UMC and specify "Food Bank" in note area. Mail to
Ben Hill UMC, ATTN: Food Bank, 2099 Fairburn Road SW, Atlanta, GA 30331

ONLINE
Make your contribution at benhillumc.org/giving. Click "Food Bank" under the Select a Fund options.


We are thankful and grateful to ALL BHUMC Ministries, Families and Friends for your support. Your generosity and steadfast support of the Food Bank and the families who depend on the essential services it provides are appreciated. Please let us know if you are able to help by contacting Vicki Callaway at (404) 314-2241 or vcallaway@aol.com.
It is with a heart full of love and emotions that we are not able to host our yearly Angel Tree event due to Covid-19, but we trust God to restore all that has been lost during this season of unprecedented times. However, we will still be able to make a great impact. Ben Hill UMC has selected to join Fellowship of Prison Ministries and offer a Virtual Angel Tree. (VAT). When Christmas comes, prisoners' children often wonder.... does my mommy or daddy still love me? Do they even remember me anymore? Your generosity today will give a prisoner child a Christmas to remember.

And this year with a matching grant, $22 will be DOUBLED to serve TWO children this Christmas!

Angel Tree donations are still being accepted. You may make donations until the end of January. You may mail in your donations to the church. 

On your check, please designate ‘Angel Tree’ in the Memo field. After Christmas, Fellowship of Prison Ministries will provide a list of the children Ben Hill UMC helped to serve. We thank you in advance for your support of Angel Tree and making the lives of children merrier and joyous during this Christmas season. Continue to be hopeful and spread the love you have to someone else, especially during such a season as this.  If you have any questions, please contact Eden Mabry at edenjkz@yahoo.com.
Are you missing the faces of your Ben Hill family and friends? Do you know how to access Zoom but could use another round of training? Are you ready to dig deeper into what Zoom offers? No matter where you are with Zoom, we want to help!

Everyone is welcome to join and learn the basics of security, meeting setup, and other features of Zoom. We will offer several dates, time options for small group training on Zoom. All sessions will be offered virtually and will give you an opportunity to get your questions answered. Click the link below and register for the time and date that works best for you. Select the course level that best describes where you are. We look forward to seeing you.
The Prison Ministry would like to send cards, words of encouragement, to those who are currently incarcerated. Perhaps you have a loved one or know of someone who would appreciate receiving a card. The Prison Ministry offers a safe nonjudgmental space to seek prayers and support. Please contact Gloria Parker, gloriaparker3790@comcast.net or Cynthia Holland at cythinam@msn.com with the name and mailing information of your loved one.
The Prayer Ministry will host Corporate Prayer every Wednesday from 6:15 pm - 6:45 pm. Weekly Corporate Prayer will feature a prayer of thanksgiving, a reading from the Upper Room Daily Devotional, and intercessory prayer. We will be inviting Clergy and Laity to pray the intercessory prayer. 

To attend Corporate Prayer, please call: (712) 770- 4936, Access Code: 627746. When calling in, please mute your cell phones. If you call in on a landline please turn the volume down on televisions, radios, etc. We look forward to everyone calling in and praying together. To submit Prayer Requests, please visit: benhillumc.org.
During this season, we want to remind you of the benefits of Stephen Ministry. Stephen Ministry is a collection of specially trained lay people who are trained to listen and provide Christian care for people during the most challenging parts of their lives. It is confidential, one on one, and gender specific. Stephen Ministers are assigned to an individual for about an hour a week. This is especially meaningful for individuals who may be alone during the pandemic, who are grieving, who have a challenging health diagnosis, and who are finding it hard to deal with the challenges in their life.

If this sounds like you, please contact us via email: annex@benhillumc.org and we will be happy to walk along side you. You can also call the church office and ask to speak with Beverly Register or Rev. Tillman.
Sympathy
May our Lord bless and comfort you and your family during this time of grief.
Please accept our sincere condolences.

Amelia Tucker-Shaw and Artie G. Shaw (M) on the loss of their sister-in-law and Atif Shaw on the loss of his aunt
Deborah Middlebrooks DuBose (R) 

Jonathan and Estelita Simmons (M) on the loss of their son,
Johnnie and Carolyne Simmons (M) on the loss of their grandson,
Justin & Tarneshala Simmons (M) on the loss of their nephew,
Cara Simmons Green & Breon Green (M) on the loss of their nephew
Jalen Simmons (M)

Willard and Ralencia Howard (M) on the loss of her mother and his mother-in-law
Berta M. Shaw (R)

Iona Walker (M) on the loss of her aunt
Elvia Spear (R)
93 years old


Words of Appreciation
Your kind expressions of sympathy, love, and friendship extended during the illness and passing of our loved one, Brenda Ware (R) will always be remembered. Each gesture served as a source of comfort. Thank you for your love and thoughtfulness. 
 
The Ware Family (Larry, Belinda, Brandon, and Courtney Ware Lett)

Community Events and Resources
Senior Food Assistance Program
vegetable_basket.jpg
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms launched the City of Atlanta Senior Food Assistance Program to support seniors with food insecurity during COVID-19 by partnering with meal and grocery delivery organizations. Seniors who reside in the City of Atlanta and are struggling to receive access to food during this time may apply to be a part of this program by completing this survey found here. You may also contact ATL311 for information or help with filling out the survey by dialing 311 within the city limits or (404) 546-0311.

Specific program eligibility requirements are listed below:
  • Reside in the City of Atlanta;
  • Age 60 or older;
  • Low income (household income at or below 80% of the AMI);
  • Not participating in any other senior food assistance program and meet one of the following criteria:
  • Unable to leave home;
  • Unable to prepare meals for themselves; or
  • Unable to procure or utilize commercial home delivery services.
* Completion of the survey does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

Health Resources
Fulton County is working closely with the State of Georgia, the federal government, our 15 cities and our two school systems, and many other partners. Learn more here about the vaccine and resources to assist people and businesses affected by COVID-19 in our community. Please check regularly for updates.
Connect With Us
What to do if you cannot view the stream
Here are some helpful tips if you should encounter any issues with accessing Ben Hill's Live Stream:
  1. Try a different Web browser. Most browsers should work but if your web browser is not showing the stream, try a different one. 
  2. Try going to the Ben Hill UMC Facebook Page and view the Live Stream there.
  3. Try the phone app. If you do not have the Ben Hill app, download it from your app store and view the steam from there.
  4. Access StreamingFaith.com as another option to view the live stream.
On Sunday mornings, live chat is available on the Ben Hill website if you should encounter issues and need additional help.

New! Tune into the sermon by using Sermon by Phone.
The Sunday service will be made available at 9:15am on Sundays by dialing in at:

Links to Connect on Sunday Mornings: