Addor

On Saturday, Dec. 16, the new board members of the Addor Community Organization will present their first annual Christmas tree lighting, with Christmas caroling, refreshments and more. All of this will begin at 5 p.m. and will last about 90 minutes.

They are asking each church to donate an ornament for the tree-lighting portion. There will be food, a raffle, fun, and fellowship.

This Sunday is the time our community churches get together to celebrate Advent, the season of preparation for Christ's birth. It will be held at 3 p.m. at New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church.

Each church is asked to bring some food item for the refreshments after the program.

The Sanford District Organization meeting is Friday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. at Mount Zion in Carthage.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Philip McMillian (Dec. 18).

Sick and shut-ins: Diana Brown, Gladys Core Giles, Betty J. Elerbe, Wilbert Brown, Sadie Clark and James Arnold among the homebound. Lenola Washington, Martha Williams, Connie L. Covington, Stella Gillispie, Eugene McRae, Leonard McMillian, Herbert Williams, Alton Smith and Allen Smith are in nursing homes.

-- Lorine McCants

Aberdeen

Turning Point Worship Center at 16433 U.S. 15-501 held its worship service Sunday, Dec. 3, 10:30 a.m. Pastor Tony Tew spoke from Luke 5:1-5. Intercessory prayer starts at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays.

"Living Word" theatrical ministries presents "A Dish of Blessings" on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at Turning Point Worship Center. It should be a night of laughter and tears -- Ralph, Audrie and many other guests from different walks of life will come together and experience the true meaning of Christmas.

Elder John Hooker, pastor of St. John United Church of God, will be speaking at the candlelight service at St. James Church in Raeford. Elder Purcell is the church pastor. On Sunday, Dec. 17, St. John will hold its Christmas dinner following worship service starting at 11:30 a.m.

Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaissance School (STARS) presented Mozart Day on Monday, Dec. 11. The school will have a Christmas concert Wednesday, Dec. 13, with students in kindergarten through second grade. On Thursday, Dec. 14, students in the third- through eighth-grades will present a Christmas concert.

Birthday wishes go out to Rosa Stanback (Dec. 17), Sequoia Person and Shelbi McMillan (Dec. 29).

Continue to pray for all the sick and shut-ins.

-- Shelbi McMillan

Carthage

Congratulations go out to Robie Moore who graduated from the police academy with honors Friday, Dec. 8, in Lumberton. He is the husband of Kendall Moore and the son of Elder and Mrs. A.W. Moore.

Elder A.W. Moore, pastor of Holy Temple, held services on Sunday Dec. 10. Minister Dave Stout was the guest speaker. His topic, "What Are You Celebrating This Year, Cause of Christ" came from II Timothy 3:1-8.

Holy Temple holds worship services every Sunday. Sunday school 10:30 a.m. and morning worship at11:45. Prayer meeting and Bible study are held Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. Everyone welcome.

Holy Temple's primary class is still asking the community to assist it in helping someone this Christmas. Donations can be made by mail to P.O. Box 1133, Carthage NC 28327 or by calling 528-6660 for more information on the "wish list." The deadline is Dec. 20, to assure prompt delivery to the selected families.

Elder Moore can be heard on the second and fouth Fridays on WXKL 1290AM.Anyone wishing to help Elder Moore's Ministry can contact the church for more information at 947-3731.

An apprection service will be held Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m., at Holy Temple Church for Jennifer B. Smith. Elder Moore and his wife are in charge of this service. Everyone who knows Jennifer is invited to come out and help make this a success.

Holy Temple will have a Christmas program Sunday, Dec. 24, at 2:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

St. Ruth United Church of God in West End, where the presiding pastor is Lillian Kearns, will be showing a movie "To Hell and Back" tonight at 7 o'clock. Everyone is invited.

Overseer Willie Purcell Jr. of Pinehurst will lead the service at True Gospel United Church of God in Sanford for its holiday revival Dec. 13 through 15, starting at 7:30 nightly. Everyone welcome.

The presiding pastor is Overseer Samuel Wright.

Crossroads Church of God in Southern Pines will hold its Christmas program at noon at on Sunday, Dec. 24. Everyone welcome.

The presiding pastor is Bishop Joseph Quick.

Ciera Ray marched with the New Century band in the Carthage parade last Tuesday. She and her brother, Devonta Bandy, performed in the Christmas concert at New Century Middle school Tuesday night. They are the children of Jennifer and Charles Smith (John Ray and David Purcell) and the granddchildren of Virgina Bandy, and Mary and A.C. Ray, all of Carthage.

Birthday wishes go out to Elizabeth Bandy (Dec. 6), Julia Hinton(Dec. 10), Elder Clerance Taylor (Dec.11), Keisha Lester (Dec. 12), Doris Ray (Dec. 16) and Richard Faulk (Dec.23).

On the prayer list are all the sick and shut-in, and our troops worldwide and their families.

If anyone has an announcement, contact Jennifer Bandy by e-mail at holytemple-ch@yahoo.com or by calling 947-3731.

--Jennifer Bandy

Eastwood

St. Peter's will have its Christmas program Sunday, Dec. 17, after the Christmas dinner.

An outdoor presentation of the Nativity will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15, at Christ Way Deliverance Church.

The Katie Scott family would like to thank everybody for their kindness shown during their time of bereavement.

Aaron Dixon celebrated his fifth birthday with his family Sunday, Dec. 10.

Birthday wishes go out to Carolyn McRae (Dec. 11), Rose Ann Stanback (Dec. 12), Mary Diggs and Lottie Mason (Dec. 14), Nora Brown and Georgetta Williams (Dec. 15), Elder Larry Russell (Dec. 16), and Sheila Harris and Arlene Kearns (Dec. 17).

Sick and shut-ins include Lewis McLaughlin, Paula Neal, Steve Coney, Marcella Kearns, Oppie Johnson, Oppie Harvey, Thomas Russell, Drissie McKinney, Cornelia Adkins, Rob Williams, Lola Williams, Mamie Williams, Joe Jackson, Joe McNeill, Ester Frye, Evelyn Clegg, Leroy Alford Sr., Ralph McLean, Michael McLean, Anthony Thompson, Margaret Thompson and Alma Jones.

-- Wilma Monroe

Hoffman

Bible study ie held every Wednesday at Macedonia at 7 p.m. and Fletcher's Chapel at 7:30 p.m., and on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Pleasant Hill.

The home union will be at Pleasant Hill on Dec. 31. Sunday school will be held at 10 a.m. and the worship service at 11 a.m.

Bea Little attended the Richmond County mission Saturday at Marston First Baptist Church.

Rising Star Chapter 584 of the Order of the Eastern Star members attended the funeral services for Hattie McKoy Nelson Sunday at Lee Thee A.M.E. Zion Church in Rockingham.

Shardee Hart and family of Charlotte spent the weekend with his father, Tommy Hart.

Sick and shut-ins include the Rev. Maxine Isaac, Albert Hailey, Darris Hart, Wilson Hart, Eugene Martin, Johnny King, Thelma McKoy, Ethel McKoy, Mary Livingston, Flossie Hagins, Rebecca Utley, Nancy Ellerbe, Willie Spell, Frank Smith and Rosa Harrison.

-- Bea Little

Vass

Worship will be held this Sunday at 11 a.m. at God's House of Prayer Ministry with Pastor Mary Kelly. Worship services are held on the first and third Sundays of the month. Sunday school is held every week at 10 a.m. Bible study is held every Wednesday night at 6:30.

Evangelist Sarah Elliot of God's House of Prayer Ministry will be the guest speaker at Sandy Grove Church in Vass on Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m. The pastor is Elder Elwood Hooker.

Rasheed Kelly is home for Christmas break. She is a freshman at Shaw University in Raleigh. Her mother is Jacqueline Toomer, and her grandparents are Deacon Freddie Kelly Sr. and Pastor Mary Kelly, all of Vass.

Bryan Smith will be home Dec. 16 for two weeks for his Christmas break from basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. He is the son of Jerrod (Jr.) and Belinda Smith of Carthage and the grandson of Norma Finch of Southern Pines and Jerrod (Sr.) and Alma Smith of Carthage.

The membership appreciation banquet will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Frye's Chapel.

A Christmas breakfast will take place at Frye's Chapel on Sunday, Dec. 24, at 9:30 a.m.

Frye's Chapel holds worship services at 11 a.m. each Sunday and Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. Pastoral teachings are held at 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday. The tutorial program is the third Saturday at 1 p.m. Elder Kent McMillian is the pastor.

On Dec. 17 at 4 p.m., the pastor and congregation will lead the service at Ministry of Deliverance Free Will Baptist Church in Aberdeen. The pastor there is Minister James Leach.

Birthday wishes go out to Bea Perez (Dec. 17), Yolanda Kelly (Dec. 18), Kenneth Kelly (Dec. 20) and Arthur and Arnold Frye (Dec. 15).

Michael McKinnon is a patient at St. Joseph's. Lacy Jones McCrimmon is a patient at Manor Care. Bobby Cox is a resident at Pinelake Nursing Center in Carthage. Flora Church is at home now.

Continue to pray for all the sick and shut-ins and our troops worldwide.

-- Anita Smith and Maggie McCrimmon