“She Was Dying of COVID. But She Made Damn Sure She Voted: On Her Deathbed.”
This is the caption of an article written by Special Correspondent Michael Daly of the Daily Beast about recently deceased Mrs. Elaine Cunningham White-Gardner, sister of Ben Hill Member – Dyanne Cunningham. I have included the link to the full article below, however I wanted to highlight one portion:
“Her every breath became a struggle. She had no way of knowing for certain how it would end. But whatever happened, she was determined to perform one more all-important civic duty in a life devoted to bettering the lives of others. She completed an absentee ballot and arranged for a nurse to deliver it from her bedside to the Hudson County Board of Elections.”


Mrs. White Gardner was 80 years old but understood the power of voting. Having lived long enough to remember when voting was not something that was not always available to descendants of the diaspora, she did not take this badge of citizenship for granted and I hope that anyone who is reading this article won’t either. Voting counts and the urgency surrounding the resolution of monumental problems that we are facing makes each of our votes count more than ever. I can think of no more important election in our history than the one under way at this time and I implore you to take your citizenship seriously by voting.

For those who have already voted I want to THANK YOU! Today is the final day for early voting and if you have not done so and you are able I want to encourage you to VOTE TODAY. If you have not voted and cannot vote today then please cast your vote on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd. If you have a picture of you voting, please post it. If you know someone who has not voted, encourage them to do so. Make calls. If you are able to assist in getting someone to the polls do so (after you wash your hands and put on a mask, gloves, and require them to do the same). Lines may be long on Tuesday so take food, be prepared for the weather, stay hydrated, and be resilient. Please do not sit this election out. It matters. Your vote matters. Let everyone know that, like Sister White-Gardner, you take your citizenship to this nation and your stewardship of God’s creation seriously.

Peace and blessings,

Pastor Thomas
Join us in showing appreciation for our clergy! The extraordinary work they do of encouraging us and guiding us does not go unnoticed especially during these tough times. Click the link below and send a special message to thank them for all they do to help you and your family! You can also give them a shout out using the hashtag #BenHillClergyAppreciationDay and post to your social media accounts. Encourage others to do the same.
Ben Hill UMC will participate in the Central North District 2 Virtual Cluster Charge Conference on Thursday, Nov. 12th at 7pm, via Zoom. Due to the size limitations, the District requests that each church limit its number of attendees to 12 per church.

For more information, please contact Beverly Register in the Annex Office at x2000. 
This year, Outreach Ministry and the Food Bank Ministry will partner to host our Annual Thanksgiving Outreach, Touching Hearts with Acts of Love on Saturday, November 14, 2020 from 10:00 am to 1:30pm.  We will not have our annual dinner or fellowship activities that usually occur on that Saturday; however, we will still extend the love of Christ, offer prayer, provide food baskets, gift cards and household supply baskets to needy families.

We are in need of individuals, ministries and families to donate gift cards in increments of $10 and $25 from local grocery stores such as Kroger, Publix and Walmart that will be given to the families to supplement the food items that will be given to them in their Thanksgiving Baskets.  We will also need individuals, families and ministries to donate laundry detergent, bleach and dryer sheets.  Please do not donate trial size.

Donations can be made on the following days:
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
10:00am-12:00pm

Saturday, November 7, 2020
10:00am-12:00pm

Wednesday, November 11, 2020
10:00am-12:00pm

We are in need of volunteers to help assemble the baskets and to help distribute the baskets.  For more information, or if you would like to volunteer, please contact Kimberli Smith at 678-634-1826 or Vicki Callaway at [email protected].
The Food Bank is in URGENT need of canned goods and plastic bag donations.

In 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

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 [email protected].
We are so excited to continue Sunday School for our children and youth. Classes meet via Zoom at 10:30am each Sunday. Register so you can join in on the fun! We explore lively, age-appropriate activities—including games, crafts, and creative play—accommodating various ways kids learn. Please complete registration at the link below to sign up and receive the link. Invite a friend to join in the fun too!
The Prayer Ministry will host Corporate Prayer every Wednesday from 6:15 pm - 6:45 pm. 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: [email protected] 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.
Community Events and Resources
Today is the last day for early voting in Georgia!
The list of Fulton County Board early voting locations for the November 3, 2020 General Election are below. Voters can head to the early voting polling sites below until 7pm.
Adams Park Library
2231 Campbellton Rd., SW
Atlanta, GA. 30311

Alpharetta Branch Library
10 Park Plaza
Alpharetta, GA 30009

Buckhead Library
269 Buckhead Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30305

Chastain Park
140 W Wieuca Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30342

C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center
3201 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SW
Atlanta, GA 30311

Dorothy Benson Senior Center
6500 Vernon Wood Drive SE
Sandy Springs, GA 30328

East Point Library
2757 Main Street
East Point, GA 30344

East Roswell Branch Library
2301 Holcomb Bridge Rd.
Roswell, GA 30076

Etris Community Recreation
5285 Lakeside Dr.
Union City, GA 30291

Georgia International Convention Center
2000 Convention Center Concourse
College Park, GA 30337
Gladys S. Dennard Library @ South Fulton
4055 Flat Shoals Road
Union City, GA 30291

Johns Creek Environmental Campus
8100 Holcomb Bridge Road
Alpharetta, GA 30022

High Museum of Art
1280 Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30309

Metropolitan Library
1332 Metropolitan Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30310

Milton Library
855 Mayfield Road
Milton, GA 30009

New Beginnings Senior Center
66 Brooks View Drive
Fairburn, GA 30213

Northside Library
3295 Northside Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30327

Northeast Spruill Oaks Library
9560 Spruill Road
Johns Creek, GA 30022

North Fulton Service Center
(Room 232)
7741 Roswell Road,
Sandy Springs, GA 30350

Northwest Branch at Scotts Crossing Library
2489 Perry Boulevard, NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
Park Place at Newtown
3125 Old Alabama Road
Johns Creek, GA 30022

Ponce De Leon Library
980 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA 30306

Robert E. Fulton Ocee Library
5090 Abbotts Bridge Road
Johns Creek, GA 30005

Roswell Library
115 Norcross Street
Roswell, GA 30075

South Fulton Service Center
5600 Stonewall Tell Road
South Fulton, GA 30349

Sandy Springs Library
395 Mount Vernon Hwy, NE
Sandy Springs, GA 30328

Southwest Arts Center
915 New Hope Road., SW
South Fulton, GA 30331

State Farm Arena
1 State Farm Drive
Atlanta, GA 30303

Welcome All Recreation Center
4255 Will Lee Road
South Fulton, GA 30349

Wolf Creek Library
3100 Enon Road, SW
Atlanta, GA 30331
Important dates/deadlines

Vote by Mail application deadline: October 30th

Your absentee ballot request must be received by October 30, 2020.

Vote by mail ballot is due: November 3rd

For voters within the country, all absentee ballots must arrive at your county election office by Election Day. Go to https://ballotrequest.sos.ga.gov/ to learn more. Residents can also go to the Fulton County's Absentee Ballots page to download an application or go to the My Voter Page.

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
The importance of vaccines and vaccinations has come into the spotlight with the COVID-19 virus especially now that we are in full of swing of the fall season and soon winter. Several companies are now in different phases of vaccine development to combat this virus. When a vaccine becomes available for everyone, it is important to get a vaccination but especially for African-Americans and Hispanic populations which have been hit particularly hard by COVID-19.

It is also important to obtain routine vaccinations that are recommended by the CDC to prevent other communicable infections and diseases such as the influenza vaccine yearly.
Please click on or copy/paste on the links below to learn more about immunizations that will armor you with expert guidance and an overall wealth of information on vaccines for children and adults.

2020 Childhood and Adult Immunization Schedules

Who Needs a Flu Vaccine and When 

Flu Season
 
How To Protect Yourself and Others From COVID
 
What To Do If You Have Symptoms of COVID
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: