A Mother’s Day Prayer 
Dear Father, we approach your throne on behalf of the mothers whom you have entrusted with the care of your most precious little ones. We thank you for creating each mom with a unique combination of gifts and talents. We thank you for the sacrifice of self each mom gives for her children. For the late nights spent rocking a colicky infant. For the hands calloused from washing, wiping, scrubbing, mixing, backing, stirring, hugging, patting, disciplining, holding, writing, erasing, painting, and pouring.

We thank you for the gift of time moms give for their kids, whether it’s stay-at-home moms, working moms, and moms who have some combination of the two. We thank you for the flexibility of moms, for their tirelessness, their perseverance, and their devotion.

We pray you give each mom strength. Help her to see in every mundane task the eternal, cosmic significance that you place on motherhood. Help her to understand that the most radical, world-changing events may be happening anonymously in her home. Help her to forgive those who undermine her significance.

We especially pray for single moms, who must lean solely on you for the fathering of their children. We thank you that you’re big arms surround children who may never know their earthly father.

We also pray for mothers who did not bear children, but whose nurturing extends to the many poor and needy who crass the threshold of their lives.

We ask you to be the daily bread of tired mothers. We ask you to be their living water. We ask you to be their source of spiritual and physical strength. We pray that the same grace that flowed from Father to Son to us in salvation will flow from mothers to their children. We pray that each mother rejects perfectionism and instead embraces the goodness of the gospel. We pray the rhythms of repentance and forgiveness shape every home.

Lord, give each mother a worshipful reverence of you, the Creator and Sustainer of life. Help each mother to rest in the knowledge that they are but stewards of your children and that only your Spirit can produce change into the hearts of each boy and girl. May each mother find rest in you.

Most of all, Lord, on this day in which we honor mothers, may we love and cherish the special women who have born us, who have nurtured us, and who have prayed for our well-being. May our hearts overflow with gratitude to you, who formed and knitted each of us in a mother’s womb. Amen. 
- Daniel Darling

Join us online for a special Mother's Day tribute to the women of Ben Hill at the beginning of the 9:15am service.
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. Windows typically uses Internet Explorer or Edge. Macs typically use Safari. You can try to download and install either Firefox or Google Chrome.
  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.

How to Connect on Sunday Mornings:
The Food Bank is accepting donations of food on Wednesday & Saturday 10:30am-12:30pm. Donations will be accepted at the kitchen door, located in the Senior Parking lot (please see the red parking lot signs). If no one is available please leave the donations at the door or on the wall. In addition to the list below, the Food Bank is also in need of plastic bags to use in the distribution of food.

We are in need of the following items:
  • Canned salmon
  • Canned chicken
  • Beef stew
  • Chili
  • Baked beans
  • Black-eyed peas
  • Lima beans
  • Hamburger/Tuna Helper
  • Macaroni & cheese
  • Canned soup
  • Cooking oil
  • Crackers
  • Granola bars
  • Popcorn
  • Canned fruits
  • Canned collards/turnip
  • greens
  • Canned spinach
  • Canned candied yams
  • Cold cereal (sugary & non sugary)
  • Grits (instant & regular)
  • Peanut butter & jelly
  • Juice
  • Hygiene items
  • Household items (dish soap, laundry detergent, toilet paper, paper towels)
Let's Stay Connected
It's time for VBS! Join us this summer for a virtual vacation bible school beginning June 22nd through June 26th . We are excited to bring new activities geared towards families and children alike. We are looking for volunteers to help with teaching, demonstrating activities, and VBS packet distribution. If you are interested in volunteering, please click the link below.

Registration is also open for participants. We cannot wait to see you and try something new! Follow the link below for registration. Please e-mail Kristan Jones-Scales with questions at kjonesscales@benhillumc.org. Participation is free for all.
Thank You to Our Volunteers
Do you want to recognize a special Ben Hill UMC volunteer or medical professional? We will feature those serving our communities on our social media pages each week. If you would like to highlight someone, please e-mail Kristan Jones-Scales at KJonesScales@benhillumc.org. Include a brief description of the volunteer and a photo.
Visit the Prayer Wall
God is sovereign and nothing comes as a surprise to Him. Whether we face fluctuating economics, health threats, unrest at home, or other troubling circumstances, our Heavenly Father is not caught unaware. Through prayer, we are able to tap into His wisdom, strength, protection, and peace. Follow us on social media to see a daily prayer focus to bring us together in prayer. You can also add your prayer requests to the the live prayer wall on the Ben Hill website. Pray God's glory across the earth.
Calling All Children and Youth
We want to send some cheer to the residents of  Arbor Terrace at Cascade . They have been impacted significantly by the virus and could use some of our kind words and artwork to spread some cheer. Please create art, write letters, or create a video that we can share with the residents. All pieces can be e-mailed to Kristan Jones-Scales at kjonesscales@benhillumc.org and will be hosted on our website. We can't wait to see your creations.
Sympathy
May our Lord bless and comfort you and your family during this time of grief.
Please accept our sincere condolences.
 
Ethel Pacley (M), on the loss of her brother
Rev. Mickey McGuire (R)

Christel Jackson (M), on the loss of her aunt
Robertha Willingham (R)

Tess Snipes (M), on the loss of her mother
Willie Rose Snipes (R)

Phyllis Adams (M), on the loss of her father
Robert Adams (R)

Bobbie Sharp (M), Audrey Hunter (M) and Freda Hunter (M) on the loss of their sister and Precious Hatcher (M) and Rhoda Hatcher (M on the loss of their aunt
Deotha Hines (R)
Health Resources and Community Events
The FDA is working to address the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak and keep you and your family informed on the latest developments. In case you missed it, here is the latest information for consumers on this important topic:

Fraudulent COVID-19 products can come in many varieties, including dietary supplements and other foods, as well as products claiming to be tests, drugs, medical devices, or vaccines. Because COVID-19 has never been seen in humans before, there are currently no vaccines to prevent or drugs to treat COVID-19 approved by the FDA. The FDA is working with medical product developers to rapidly advance the development and availability of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. 

The FDA is working in many ways to help keep people safe while the nation is coping with the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Food availability and food safety are vitally important to our well-being, and the FDA is working hard to help ensure the foods you, your family, and your pets eat are safe and available. 

Each of us can help stop the spread of COVID-19 disease by washing our hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds – especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. If soap and water are not available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that consumers use alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol. 
 
To learn more about these and other coronavirus topics, visit:  FDA Consumer Updates

On Monday, April 27, 2020, Mayor Keisha Bottoms announced the implementation of the City of Atlanta Senior Food Assistance Program. This program will support city residents who are experiencing a food shortage due to COVID-19. Residents who qualify for assistance will receive grocery deliveries to their residence. 

If you or someone you know is interested, please call  404-546-0311,  choose the prompt for general inquiries, and provide the necessary information. After this initial step, your information will be sent to the COVID-19 Task Force for further review.

Please apply via phone or via the online application. For further information, you may also refer to the above flyer.
Lupus Awareness Month
May is Lupus Awareness Month. Please join me and the Hallelujah Walkers as we continue to help the search for a cure. Because of the Coronavirus pandemic: The Walk to End Lupus 2020 has been postponed with no specific date at this time. But, online donations can be made on my Lupus Page by using the link below. Our goal for this year is $3,000. This continued effort is in Memory of Curtis Edward Byther, my "Uncle Curtis".