For the second consecutive year, churches and businesses in Moore County are coming together to honor high school graduates.

Moore Seniors For Jesus -- Take 2 will be held at the Pinecrest High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 5, and the entire community is encouraged to attend.

"We want every senior to understand how proud we are of them," said Jason Hensley, one of the event organizers.

Each senior will be presented a T-shirt upon arrival, will be given preferred seating and will then be called out individually during the service to receive a senior gift package, a Bible, and congratulations on a job well done from those attending."

Last year, over 400 attended the first such event.

"This year's event promises to be even bigger and better, " said Brian Dillon.

"We had such a great response last year and have been fortunate enough to put together performers for this service that promise to make this year's praise and worship service even more spectacular."

Pinecrest football coach Chris Metzger will serve as the emcee of the event and will also give a charge to the high school seniors. Inspirational evangelist Mike Penry, from Garner, returns to give the keynote address.

"Penry got such great reviews last year," said organizer Larry Richardson, "that we promised to do our best to get him back again. We are fortunate that he made time in his schedule to be back with us again. Those who have heard him speak will tell you that his message can have a life-changing effect on you."

Amy Ivey will again lead the praise band and worship music that will include such contemporary favorites as "Shout to the Lord," "Lifesong," and "How Great Is Our God."

This year the service will also include the Sandhills Teen Challenge Choir, and Alvita Covington will bring in her interpretive dance team, "Shadows of Grace," that will perform to "I Want It All Back" and "Never Could Have Made It."

Pinecrest High School senior Leah Elliott will have special remarks in an evening that promises to touch everyone who attends, said Richardson.

The event is to honor seniors from Pinecrest, Union Pines, North Moore, private schools of Moore County and the home schooled but is open to the entire public.

"If you or your church would like additional information, contact Deborah Richardson at the Aberdeen First Baptist Church at 944-1421," said Larry Richardson.

Ladies Retreat

The Women's Ministries of The Village Chapel hosted their annual ladies' retreat Thursday, April 24, at The Covington House in Southern Pines.

This "spring break" included special praise music, small discussion groups with a mini Bible study, lunch on the grounds by Laurie Rich, and featured guest speaker Sarah Knott of Raleigh.

Knott was a teaching leader for Bible Study Fellowship for 24 years to over 500 women weekly in the Raleigh area.

"We were blessed by her message, 'First Thing First: True Worship,'" said a spokesman.

For information on upcoming women's events, call the church office at 295-6003.

Dinner Buffet

Crossroads Community Church and David Bibey Ministries will host the monthly gospel singing dinner buffet Friday, June 6, in the church fellowship hall.

Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and singing begins at 7 p.m. The Bibey Girls, of Carthage, will be the featured group.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 12, and children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, or to purchase tickets in advance, call (910) 949-39.

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

' Singspiration '

Beaver Creek Baptist Church will hold a "singspiration" at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 25, featuring the Taylor Family.

The church is located at 2280 Nicholson Road, Cameron.

For information, call (919) 499-9632 or (800) 681-8602.

Gospel Sing

Emmanuel Baptist Church will host a gospel sing at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 25, featuring the McRaes.

The church is located at 632 McCrimmon Road, Carthage.

For information, call (910 947-4736.

Special Speaker

Children's evangelist Randy Thompson will speak at the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, May 25, at Sandhills Assembly of God in Southern PInes.

The church is located at 6481 U.S. 1 North. For information, call (910) 692-2403.

'Seven-Up Program'

Sandy Grove Bible Church of God will hold a "Seven-Up Program" at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 25.

The church is in Vass.

Eighth Anniversary

St. Paul Lutheran Church (M.S.) celebrates its eighth anniversary of worshiping together as a congregation, under the guidance of Pastor Rick Schliepsiek.

Members will gather at 6 p.m. Friday, May 23, at Table on the Green in Pinehurst for a dinner and social event.

'WAR' Service

Kingdom Connection Church International is hosting a "WAR" service at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 24, with workshops first, followed by a worship service at 7:30 p.m.

The speaker will be Minister Tyquan Sparks of Marion, S.C.

The church is locaoted at 134 Mill Road, Rockingham.

For more information call (910) 391-1496 or (910) 410-8955 or visit www.kbcityofrefuge.org for directions.

Applications

Mission Agape is taking applications for free energy assistance. Those interested in applying to see if they are qualified should call Maria at 673-3333.

The mission is in need of donations, says a spokesman. "Call Maria if you have items to be picked up."

Women's Bible Study

Community Bible Study, an international study with classes held throughout the United States and more than 120 countries, is now taking enrollment for the 2008-09 season in the Sandhills for women, which will begin Sept. 9.

Nondenominational classes meet each Tuesday from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Southern Pines.

This year, women representing 17 local churches attended, attesting to the unity of the Christian message.

Next fall members will be studying Amos and Isaiah.

Women meet together for a short program with singing and special music or testimony. They then proceed into small groups where answers to printed lessons that had been distributed the week before are shared.

"Love, caring and prayer are emphasized, and lasting friendships are often forged through participation," says a spokesman.

There are classes for preschool children with crafts and Bible stories, and a nursery for babies, and young mothers are welcomed.

There is a small charge to cover materials, with scholarships for those who cannot afford the fee.

Anyone interested in registration or more information about Community Bible Study should call Noel Roberts at 235-5271 or Betty Rossi at 295-0489.

Jewish Congregation

The Sandhills Jewish Congregation announces its May schedule:

A Shabbat service, led by Rabbi Floyd Herman, will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 30, and a Torah study, also led by Herman, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 31.

Havdallah and adult discussion will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31, with the location to be announced.

All programs (with the exception of Havdallah and adult discussion) will be held at Temple Beth Shalom, located near the corner of Jackson Springs and Hoffman roads.

For details visit www.sandhillsjewish.org or call (910) 673-5224.

Adult Academy

The Adult Academy of Religious Studies and the Seven Lakes Forum are joining together to present a series everyone should attend. The name of the series is "Let's Talk about Death and Dying."

"This is a topic no one wants to think about, but everyone will have to face more than once, whether you are dealing with your own death, the death of a loved one, or the death of a casual acquaintance," says a spokesman.

The Adult Academy is a combined effort of West End Presbyterian Church and the Seven Lakes Chapel.

The Seven Lakes Forum meets once a month at the Seven Lakes West Community Center to discuss important issues facing our society.

The sessions will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Seven Lakes West Community Center.

"Legal and Financial Aspects of Death and Dying" will be discussed Wednesday, May 21, by attorney Jennifer Garner, a frequent speaker on end-of-life issues.

On May 28 the series will end with the final subject in the series: "Spiritual and Ethical Concerns Surrounding Death and Dying," presented by Dr. Allen Verhey, professor of Christian Ethics, Duke University Divinity School and author, editor or co-editor of 12 books including his latest, "Reading the Bible in the Strange World of Medicine."

Area residents of all ages and faith traditions are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to enter into conversations about these important issues.

Reservations are not required and there is no charge for this series.

For information, contact Don Welch at 673-6701.

New Ministry

Rivers of Life Ministries of the Sandhills, a nondenominational church, will hold services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Thursdays.

The church is located at 204 E. Barrett Street.

For information, call Pastor Willie Self at 783-5590.

Conference

A conference for clergy and laity on hearing accessibility will be held Saturday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Garner UMC in Garner.

Registration is required by May 23. Lunch is included in the registration fee.

Call John Crowe at (919) 759-2146 or e-mail him at drcrowe@ nccumc.org.

This conference is being sponsored by the Committee on Disability Concerns of the N.C. Conference of the United Methodist Church.

The registration fee is $20.

To learn more about this event, visit www.nccmen talhealth.org/ hearing.htm for information.

Health Ministry

A Sandhills Health Ministry has been started.

Meetings are held at 8:30 a.m. on the third Monday of the month, at the FirstHealth Community Health Building conference room on Page Drive, in Pinehurst.

All Sandhills churches are invited to send representatives.

Inquiries for wellness information and programs from area congregations may be directed to The Village Chapel, at 295-6003.

Unitarian Gathering

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

Breakfast is at 9 a.m. A discussion group will be held at 10 a.m., and there is now a children's group for ages 5-12.

For more information send an e-mail to uucsandhills@gmail. com or go to www.uua.org to learn more about this progressive religion.

Reading Room

At its location at 173A NE Broad St., the Christian Science Reading Room offers, among its Bible resources, Spanish translations of the Bible.

Also available are translations into Spanish of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, as well as other Spanish language items.

The Reading Room is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Support Group

Middle Cross Baptist Church has started a cancer support group that meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at 7 p.m.

The church is located at 440 Lucas Road, West End. For information, call Jessie Kellis at 673-2938 or Pastor David Reynolds at 947-2261.

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 Road, Cameron.

Call (919) 499-9632 for information.