Calling All College and High School Students!
At Ben Hill UMC we value what God does in the lives of our college students. As we welcome our students home for the holidays, we invite all Ben Hill college students and current high school students to join us on December 20th as the Higher Education Ministry will host a virtual welcome back gathering for College and Grad students. We encourage high school students to join us to hear from our college students. Please register at the link below to receive the Zoom link for the event.
In addition to coming together, we want to celebrate your achievements during the Sunday service. Please send a photo of yourself in your school's paraphernalia. Your photo will be included in a special "Home for the Holidays" dedication during the December 20th worship service. Photos should be e-mailed to cwellswhitfield@gmail.com by December 11th.

Please be sure that we have the best e-mail address for you (or your student). Confirm your contact information by clicking the button below.
We are currently seeking Individuals, Families and Ministries to adopt families for the holidays. We will not purchase gifts as we normally do, due to space, limited staffing and limits with the number of people that can be at the church at one time. Instead, we are requesting that you purchase a $50.00 gift card for all children 0-12 and a $100.00 gift card for all youth 13 and older.

If you would like to participate or for more information, please contact Kimberli Smith at 678-634-1826 or email at kimberlismith@starsincga.org .
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!

The link below allows you to select a gift option starting with $22.  Angel Tree will deliver each child a selected "gift package" which will include a gift card this year. The gift package will include a greeting card with the incarcerated parent's message, and a coupon the child can return to receive a free Children's bible.

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.
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.
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.
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

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.
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: 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.

Letrice McDaniel Gray (R) on the loss of her mother
Vernelle McDaniel (M)

Rev. Carol Snype-Crawford (M) on the loss of her cousin
Claudette Stevens (R)

Dr. Helen Edwards-Thomas (R) on the loss of her brother
Zollie McCoy Britt (R, former SM)

Community Events and Resources
Join the North Georgia United Methodist Women and Project Transformation North Georgia for the second webinar in the 3-part webinar series on Interrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline.

Join us on Saturday, December 5, 2020 for another engaging discussion about how we can interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline. This second webinar will focus on system change through the integration of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in Georgia schools. We look forward to you joining the conversation.
Dec 5, 2020 11:00 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)


You may view the November 14th webinar Faith Calls Us to Do Justice and Love Mercy! here: Videos and Webinar Recordings – United Methodist Women
If you turn 18 by January 5, 2021, you are eligible to vote in the GA Senate run-off election that will be held on that date. You have until December 7 to register to vote and you may register up to 6 months before your 18th birthday at https://registertovote.sos.ga.gov/GAOLVR/welcome.do#no-back-button
The January 5th runoff elections for both of Georgia's U.S. Senate seats are fast approaching. If you would like to use a paper ballot to vote by mail or by putting it in an Elections Dropbox, request your absentee ballot now at https://ballotrequest.sos.ga.gov

If your child is away at college and coming home for the Christmas holidays, consider doing Early In-Person Voting with your child from December 14, 2020, through December 31, 2020 for Georgia's January 5th U.S. Senate Elections. These elections will decide the balance of the U.S. Senate
Friends or love-ones who reside in Georgia but who serve in the U.S. Military outside of Georgia (even if stateside), can still vote. It is important for our military men and women to vote in Georgia's January 5th U.S. Senate elections. For more information how those serving in the U.S. military can vote, visit www.fvap.gov
You must VERIFY your voter registration BEFORE the January 5th election. Thousands of Georgians have been purged from Georgia's voting rolls and don't discover it until it is too late. Verify your voter registration status at https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do

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
November was National Family Caregivers Month. Ben Hill's Differently Abled Ministry shared several resources and videos throughout the month. We hope that the topics and activities have provided tools to help you in your continued care for your love one(s).

If you are a caregiver who has not been recognized through our regular Differently Abled Ministry Caregivers initiative, we would love to love on you! Please take the time to leave your information with us on the Ben Hill website by clicking here.

Here are some additional resources for caretakers:
The Caregiver Action Network provides the following helpful links:
The New Normal: Overprotecting, not Overacting
presented by Kenneth Hepburn, PhD - Emory Roybal Center for Dementia Family Caregiving Mastery
Tell Me a Bedtime Story
Bedtime Story Series by Dr. Lori
Tell Me A Bedtime Story was developed to offer the joy of bedtime stories to senior adults, and adults with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The bedtime stories are read aloud in order to provide a calm, relaxing, and mindfulness atmosphere prior to bedtime. Although this podcast was designed with senior adults in mind, many adults like to have stories read to them. So, there is no age limit on who may enjoy these Bedtime Stories. Many if the stories end with a brief meditation component. Please listen and enjoy.
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: