Church Women United of Moore County will celebrate "World Day of Prayer," Friday, March 2, at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church of Southern Pines, 175 Midland Road.

The theme is "United under God's Tent," prepared by the women of Paraguay.

Through World Day of Prayer, women from more than 170 countries and regions affirm that prayer and action are inseparable and that both have immeasurable influence in the world. Because it is a movement that takes place around the world on that day, prayer continues for 24 hours.

"Come join us as we celebrate this powerful event," says a spokesman.

Refreshments will be served after the program. If child care is required, contact Jacque Klimack, president, at 910-281-0129.

Bishop Here

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Diocese of Raleigh will make his third visit to Southern Pines on Sunday, Feb. 18. He will celebrate Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church on Sunday at 11 a.m., and participate in a groundbreaking ceremony that afternoon at 4 p.m. for the new Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic School.

The new school will be located on Camp Easter Road adjacent to St. Anthony's Villa and Cemetery. A reception will follow at St. Anthony's parish hall in Southern Pines.

Born in Philadelphia, Pa., Burbridge was ordained to the priesthood in 1984 and came to North Carolina last spring.

Burbidge has been quoted as saying, "Catholic Schools are an important ministry of the Church and the Diocese of Raleigh. The people of the Catholic Community in the Sandhills area should be encouraged by the construction of a new facility for the Pope John Paul II Catholic School. I completely support this endeavor and will continue to pray for its success."

Valentine's Program

St. Joseph Bible Church of God in Windblow will hold a Valentine's Day program at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. The speaker will be Minister Teresa Brower.

Gospel Sing

There will be a special gospel singing at the Main Street Baptist Church in Biscoe Sunday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. The featured singers will be the Harbor Lights of Asheboro.

The church is located on N.C. 24/27 West.

Workshop, Service

Ash Wednesday services will be held for the Taylortown community at Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. The pastor is the Rev. Oscar Rush.

Joining the services will be Galilee Missionary Baptist, the Rev. Charles Nabors; the House of Prayer Holy Church of God in Christ, Bishop Larry Brown; Providence Presbyterian, the Rev. Edward Williams; Spruill Temple Church of God in Christ, Superintendent John Spruill and others.

Evangelist Emily T. Jackson will present a workshop about Ash Wednesday at Spaulding Chapel on Sunday, Feb. 18, at 5 p.m.

The Ministerial Alliance of Taylortown is sponsoring this event.

Lenten Services

On Tuesday, Feb. 20, St. Paul will host a "Shrove Tuesday" soup and bread get-together with its sister congregation, St. James Lutheran Church. It begins at 6 p.m. at St. Paul.

On Feb. 21, St. Paul will have an Ash Wednesday service with Communion and Imposition of Ashes at 7 p.m. Then the regular Lenten services will be on Wednesdays, Feb. 28, March 7, 14, 21 and 28 at 7 p.m. at St. Paul.

Our Saviour Lutheran

Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Southern Pines will host a Shrove Tuesday (Feb. 20) pancake supper fundraiser at 6 p.m. The love offering will by used by the senior youth toward their summer mission trip.

On Ash Wednesday, Feb. 21, there will be imposition of ashes and Holy Communion in the chapel at noon. At 7 p.m. there will be Holy Communion with imposition of ashes.

On Wednesdays, the church will hold noon prayer and and scripture reading in the chapel. On Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m., participants may experience Bible time culture by sharing a meal and a visit to the Jerusalem Market Place.

Our Saviour Lutheran is located on Luther Way near the Barn Restaurant in S. Pines

Call 692-2662 for information.

Revival

Shady Grove Holiness Church will hold revival Wednesday, Feb. 14, through Friday, Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the church located two miles east of Aberdeen on N.C. 211. Elder Clarence Taylor and his congregation are in charge of the services.

"All members and others are asked to make a special effort to attend," says Pastor Melvin Chambers.

For further details, call Mable L. Graham at 692-4072.

Conference

The fifth annual Ignited by Truth Catholic Conference will be held Friday, Feb. 16, and Saturday, Feb. 17, at Cardinal Gibbons High School, 1401 Edwards Mill Road, in Raleigh, near the RBC Center.

The conference features a dynamic group of Catholic authors, lecturers, clergy, and religious leaders who will expound on such diverse topics as scripture, prayer, evangelism, sacraments, and Christian vocations -- culminating on Saturday with a vigil Mass presided over by Raleigh's new bishop, Michael Burbidge.

Among those speaking are:

n Boston College Professor Peter Kreeft, author of more than 45 books on the Christian faith, who will present two topics on Saturday: "The Reasonable-ness of Faith in Light of Modern Worldviews," and "What Does Catholicism Call Us to Be?"

n Mark Shea, popular Catholic speaker and writer, will present three lectures. The first lecture on Friday night is titled "Making Sense Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did." The Saturday lectures are "Incarnational Evangelism: Bearing Witness to Faith in More than Words," and "Being a Campus Radical."

n Steve Wood, youth leader, family life champion, author, and host of the "Faith and Family" program on EWTN radio will also present two lectures. Friday night's topic will be "Acres of Diamonds: Discovering the Catholic Faith." Saturday's topic is "Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World."

n The Rev. Leo E. Patalinghug, S.T.L., a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, will speak on "Spiritual Combat" incorporating his skill in Tae Kwon Do.

n Sister Laura Anna, who is a Dominican nun, will speak on "Building a Solid Foundation in Prayer" Saturday afternoon.

n Carol Restaine, a lay missionary in Honduras, will present "Answering the Call of Christ" on Saturday.

Visit www.ignitedbytruth.com for complete details and online registration. Group discounts, gift certificates and hotel packages are available.

For more information, send e-mail to ignited@ignitedbytruth. com or call 919-878-5181.

Recovery Ministry

Beaver Creek Baptist Church continues its substance abuse recovery ministry Monday through Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. The church has recently opened its Rescue Mission House for recovering addicts and is in need of monetary donations as well as household items.

The church is located at 2280 Nicholson Rd., Cameron. Call 919-499-9632 for information.

Breakfast

The Unitarian Universalist Breakfast Group will meet each second and fourth Sunday, at 9 a.m., at the Days Inn Restaurant on U.S. 1, Southern Pines.

For more information send e-mail to lomdjm@earthlink.net or go to www.uua.org to learn more about this progressive religion.

Donations

A church ministry is looking for donations for home-school material (pre-K, second grade, and fourth grade).

"We are also looking for volunteer home-school teachers that will also be screened," said a spokesman.

For more information, contact Tonya at 910-687-0257.

Christian Singles

Christian Singles, for adult Christian singles from 40 years of age and up, meets each Monday at 6:30 p.m., at various restaurants in the Southern Pines and Aberdeen area.

Call 692-8888 for information.

Special Services

Apostle Shirley Henderson will preach at God's Love in Action Deliverance Ministries Friday, Feb. 16, and Saturday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. She is the pastor of Praise Ministries Family Worship Center in Raleigh.

For information, call 673-1447.