The youth at First Baptist Southern Pines are holding a barbecue plate sale Friday, Feb. 2, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the church fellowship hall located at 200 East New York Avenue in Southern Pines. The cost is $6.50 a plate, eat-in or take-out.

Money raised will be used for 2007 youth activities.

Church Women United

Church Women United held its annual meeting on Jan. 12, at the Congregational Church of Pinehurst. New officers and chairpersons were inducted. They are: Jacque Klimack, president; Diana Turner-Forte, vice president; Betty Hamblin, secretary; Helen Yolman, treasurer; Carol Brown, ecumenical celebration chairman; Betty Hamblin, ecumenical action chairman; and Vivian Kelly, ecumenical development chairman.

Guest speaker Elizabeth Cox of Habitat for Humanity of Moore County gave an overview of the successes of the past years and hopes for the future.

The next business meeting of Church Women United will be held on Feb. 2, at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, in Southern Pines at 10 a.m.

"Anyone interested in joining will be welcome," says a spokesman.

Gospel Singing

There will be a gospel singing at Crossroads Community Church in Carthage on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 10 a.m., featuring the Liberty Boys of Greenville.

The church is located at the Whipering Pines intersection of Vass-Carthage and Niagara-Carthage roads.

There is no admission fee. For more information or directions call 910-949-3971 or 910-949-3080.

Culdee Youth

The Culdee Presbyterian Church youth group will sponsor a luncheon as part of its ongoing projects.

On Sunday, Feb. 4, immediately following the worship service, there will be a "Souper Bowl Luncheon." Salads and a variety of soups and sandwiches will be served. Donations received will be used for mission projects.

"The youth group invites the congregation and friends of Culdee Church to attend this event and support the youth group in its projects," says a spokesman.

In Concert

The Harvesters Quartet will be in concert at Cameron Baptist Church Sunday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m.

The church is located on N.C. 24-27 in Cameron.

Hemphill Retires

The Rev. Larry Hemphill announces his retirement from pastoral work after 36 years of serving churches in North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. He was the pastor of Bethel Church of God in Seagrove for four years.

Hemphill is currently the District Overseer of the Churches of God in the Asheboro District. His wife, Diane, is a substitute teacher for Asheboro Citiy Schools and has been a substitute teacher for Moore County Schools as well.

The couple will reside in Powder Springs, Ga.

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:

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

-- Mark Shea, popular Catholic speaker and writer, and author of "This is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers the Real Presence," and other books and magazine articles, 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."

-- Steve Wood, youth leader, family life champion, author, and host of the "Faith and Family" program on EWTN radio and "The Carpenter Shop" program on EWTN television, 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."

-- 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.

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

-- Carol Restaine, a lay missionary in Honduras, will present "Answering the Call of Christ" on Saturday and will co-host the student break-out lecture on Saturday with Sister Anna Laura on young women's vocations.

-- The conference also features a vendor fair offering Catholic books, tapes, and gifts.

"The conference offers a weekend of spiritual insight for people of all ages, faith traditions, and walks of life," says a spokesman.

Register by February 4, for discounted tickets: $25 per adult and $10 per college and chaperoned student (ages 10 and up). 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.

'Souper' Bowl

The T 2 T youth group of Doubs Chapel United Methodist Church will be participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring on Sunday, Feb. 4.

Since 1990, the Souper Bowl of Caring has raised more than $33 million for individual charities across the country.

The group has set a goal of collecting 500 cans and $500. The community can help with cash donations and soup cans, knowing that all donations go directly to the Food Bank of the Sandhills.

"Lowes Food has agreed to allow us to set up our collection site at their store on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 4, from 2 to 5 p.m.," says a spokesman. "Drop a dollar in the soup pot and a can in the box. With your help, more dollars will be raised, more lives will be changed and more young people will experience the joy of serving Christ by serving others."

T 2 T youth group is open to kids of all ages and meets each Sunday from 5 until 6:30 p.m.

Doubs Chapel is located at 792 Doubs Chapel Rd, West End. For more information, contact Debra Black at 215-3667.

Health Awareness

Love Grove Freewill Baptist Church in Jackson Hamlet will host a health awareness day on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 7 to 11 a.m.

The cost is $5. Screening will be provided for diabetes, cholesterol (no food after midnight) and blood pressure.

Call Garry Gooch at 783-5191 to sign up.

Gospel Sing, Supper

Cornerstone Baptist Church will host a gospel singing featuring the Sandhills PCA Ensemble Sunday, Feb. 4, at 1 p.m.

A "Souper Bowl" supper will be provided prior to the singing.

The church is located at 656 Hoffman Road, West End.

Workshop

New Direction Outreach Ministries in Vass will have a 12-week workshop Wednesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m.

The theme is "discovering and understanding your spiritual gifts." Apostle Robert McClellan is the instructor.

"Come and enjoy fun, refreshments, and door prizes," says a spokesman. Come and enjoy learning about the Lord with us here at New Direction Outreach Ministries in Vass, NC.

The church address is 3623 Old U.S. 1 Business, right next to The House Of Hair Beauty Shop.

Prayer Meetings

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church will hold special prayer meetings Friday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m., and on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 9:30 a.m. Dr. Chris Scofield, prayer evangelism leader from the Baptist State Convention, will be leading this time of prayer with an emphasis on how to pray for family and friends.

The church is located on Camp Easter Road.

Valentine's Dinner

The Women of Sacred Heart will sponsor a Valentine's dinner with spouses, sweethearts or good friends Thursday, Feb. 8, at Longleaf Country Club, with Ken Loyd on the piano. There will be a cash bar at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $20 per person.

The menu will include all-you-can-eat baby back ribs or chicken Florentine, salad, rebaked potato, vegetable, rolls, beverage and dessert.

Call Ann McLoughlin at 673-5400 for reservations and dinner choices. Then send a reservation check for $20 per person by Feb. 1. Make checks payable to The Women of Sacred Heart and send to Ann McLoughlin, 1150 Seven Lakes North, West End, NC 27376.

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.

"Please join us for fellowship and discussion if you are interested in having a presence in Moore County," says a spokesman.

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.

Clothing Offered

The TLC Mission offers inexpensive clothes for men, women and children. Donations are accepted. The mission, located on N.C. 211 near the line between Moore and Hoke counties, is open Monday through Saturday, from noon to 5 p.m.

For information, call 944-6064.

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.