Addor

Lent begins today (Wednesday) and continues through Holy Week in April. Easter is Sunday, April 12. Many churches in the area will be holding special services.

Spaudling Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church will hold a service each Sunday evening during March. It will be on the Passion of Christ. Services will begin at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend.

The missionary department of Green Grove A.M.E. Zion Church will have a candlelight service at 7 p.m. Friday.

Mount Zion A.M.E. Zion Church will have an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner at 5 p.m. Saturday. The special guest speaker for the evening will be Maxine McAllister, who is a registered nurse. She will give tips on how to maintain a healthy heart. Tickets for the dinner are $5.

The Board of Directors of the Addor Community Center is inviting all of the churches in the community (their pastors and praise team members) to help the center bring the community together.

The board is trying to have programs held at the center every month throughout the year. The services will take place on Friday and Saturday evenings starting in March. Churches are asked to respond in writing to P.O. Box 775, Pinebluff, NC 28373.

An Usher Board workshop for Sanford District of the A.M.E. Zion Churches will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 14, at New Endland A.M.E. Zion Church on Farrell Road in Sanford. Anyone needing more information can call (919) 642-0457 or (919) 548-3668.

Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church is planning to honor the oldest member of the board in March. This will also be a candlelight march. Everyone is invited to attend.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Alpha Arnold (March 1), Sampson Blue (March 2) and Rose Lee Boles (March 3).

Sick and shut-ins: Betty J. Edwards, Nettie Benymon, Effie Jane Smith, Betty Lou Moses, Sarah F. McMillian and Marie Berry are among the homebound. Stella Gillispie, Connie L. Covington, Diana Brown, Portia Smith, Gladys Giles, Allen Smith, Eugene McRae, Wilbert Brown, Charles Wilkerson and James Morris are all in nursing homes or assisted-living facilities.

--Lorine McCants

Berkley

New Hope Christian Ministries at 704 Harris St., where the pastor is Elder Brenda Brown, holds regular worship services on the first through fourth Sundays of the month at 11 a.m. Sunday School is held at 10 a.m.

Bible study is held at 7:30 p.m. at the church. The final substance abuse class will be held at 6:30 tonight (Wednesday).

A yard sale will be held starting at 8 a.m. March 7 at the church.

The speaker for the March fellowship service will be Dr. Donald Kivett, of Christian Faith Ministries in Sanford. The service begins at 7:30 p.m.

The church invites everyone in the community to attend services.

St. John Baptist Church at 703 Harris St., where the pastor is the Rev. Jimmy Gilchrist, holds Sunday School at 10 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. every Sunday. Prayer meeting and Bible study take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

On the prayer list are Pastor Brown, Minister Deborah Lucas, Flo Kelly-Foster, who is traveling to Las Vegas, Curtis Hill, Mr. Weldon, Ted Nealy, Ann Reaves, Brenda McCrimmon, Ruth Atkins, Viola Ross, Gloria Wallace, Rosa McDonald, Ethel McNeil, Susie Carter, Raymond Carter, Elvis Verbal, Charles Wilkerson and the Rev. John Wesley Hill as well as all those in need.

Birthday wishes are extended to Katherine Verbal, Mack Graham, Peggy Gibson, Consuela Cornish, Mary Hampton, Patricia Verbal, Amanda Owens, Evelyn Huston and Shalethia Brown.

Please submit church, community and personal announcements (such as birthdays and anniversaries) by 7 p.m. Sunday by calling 603-1135, 255-4001 or 944-1561. If there is no answer, please leave your phone number and name.

--Rachel Hill

Carthage

St. Ruth United Church of God in West End, where the pastor is Elderess Lillian Kearns, holds worship services on the second and fourth Sundays at 11:30 a.m. A prayer meeting is held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, followed by Bible study at 7 p.m.

Crossroads Church in Southern Pines, where the pastor is Bishop Joseph, will have a black history program at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday.

Synagogue of Christ, where the pastor is Bishop L. Kiniel and the assistant pastor is Minister L. Kiniel, will have a women's conference March 8-15. The service Sunday, March 8, is at 3:30 p.m. Services during the week will be at 7:30 nightly.

The guest speakers will be Elder Faye Greene, of Green Grove in Star (March 8), Minister Marie Brown, of Full Gospel in Aberdeen (March 9); Minister Frances Leslie, of Creeks Grove in Zions Grove (March 10); Minister Barbara Powell, of New Church Deliverance in Sanford (March 11); Evangelist Carolyn Russell, of Stones Chapel in Carthage (March 12); Minister Wilma Monroe, of St. Peters in Eastwood (March 13)

The guest speaker at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 14, will be Louise Hampton, assistant pastor of Johnson Grove in Benson. Services will conclude at 4 p.m. that Sunday, with Apostle Brenda McLeod, of Praise House in Winston- Salem, preaching.

Birthday wishes go out to Patrica Gilmore (Feb. 26), Rod Smith (Feb. 27), A.C. Ray, William Mack and Jalin Martin (Feb. 28), Raveen Johnson (March 3), Joyce Ray (March 4), and Everett Goins, Dynasty Gilmore and Jonathon Ray (March 5).

Please remember to pray for each other.

Announcements can be submitted by e-mail to churchnews08@yahoo.com or by leaving a message at 783-5086.

--Jennifer Smith

Eastwood

Members of St. Peters will travel to Christ Memorial for Bishop David Brown's pastoral anniversary at 7:30 p.m. this Thursday.

St. Peter's holds a prayer meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Bible study is held Tuesday at 2:30 following the first Sunday of the month.

Nicole and Timothy Mason will celebrate their wedding anniverary today (Wednesday). Terri and Dion Roberts will celebrate their wedding anniversary Sunday.

Eulanda Brown celebrated her birthday with her family. Birthday wishes are extended this week to Diamond Bethea, Tammy Leggett, Ellen Spencer, Kadeem McGriff and Jessilena Harris (Feb. 26), Vanessa McNeill, Jermaine Alston, Nora Alston and Wilma Monroe (Feb. 28), Catherine Monroe and Faith Threadgill (March 1).

Sick and shut-ins include Lewis McLaughlin, Paula Neal, Steve Coney, Drissie McKinney, Mamie Williams, Michael McLean, Ralph McLean, Joe Jackson, Evelyn Clegg, Mary Russell, Cornelia Adkins, Andrea Cattle, Anthony Thompson, Margaret Thompson and Alma Jones.

--Wilma Monroe

Hoffman

Bible study and prayer meeting are held every Wednesday at Macedonia at 7 p.m. Sunday School is held at 9:45 a.m., with the worship service at 11 a.m. each week.

Fletcher's Chapel holds its Bible study every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Pleasant Hill holds its Bible study and prayer meeting on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.

Macedonia will hold a black history program at 3 p.m. this Sunday.

The Crystalaires will celebrate its 25th anniversary at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7, and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at Fletcher's Chapel.

Nancy Hayes, Retha Sloan, Queenie Smith, Ernest Gilmore and Bea Little attended the funeral service for Willa Cornelius Stroman on Sunday.

Sick and shut-ins include Flossie Hagins, Flossie Highland, Rosa Harrison, Wilson Hart, Darris Hart, Albert Hailey, Frank Smith, Douglas Green, Ernest Gilmore, Juanita Gilmore, Lillie Ellerbe, Nancy Ellerbe, Leana M. McRae, Thelma McRoy, Beulah Jones, Johnny King, Martin Myers, Eugene Martin, Martha Ingram, Lamuel Stroman, Chrizzell Stroman, William Strickland, Yovonne Strickland, Wilbert Brown, Ernestine McRae, Willie Gibson, Martha Rushing, Rebecca Utley, Adrian Zinnerman, Letha Isaac, Bessie Little, Odrea Swan and Connie Pope..

Please continue to pray for the sick and shut-ins, church leaders, educators, children, government leaders and one another.

-- Bea Little

Jackson Hamlet

Love Grove Free Will Baptist Church, continues to host "MANNA!," a program to feed the hungry of Moore County.

It is held every Thursday from 11 a.m. until, in the church fellowship hall at 293 Dawkins St. in Jackson Hamlet. This event is free and open to anyone who wants a hot meal.

The Usher Board of Greater Glory will sponsor its annual Ushers' Day at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday in the fellowship hall of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Southern Pines. The guest speaker will be Minister Sherly King, of Piney Grove Free Will Baptist Church in Winblow. Greater Glory invites ushers from the communities and surrounding areas to attend.

For more information on these and other events, you may call (910) 235-4592.

A winter revival will be held this Thursday through Saturday at Fellowship House of God in Carthage. Thursday night will be youth night, and the guest speaker will be Minister Linda Trent. Pastor McDougald will be the speaker Friday night. It will conclude at 5 p.m. that Saturday, with Pastor Charles Bloom and congregation from Kingdom Minded Ministry out of Southern Pines.

Pastor Willie Gilmore is the host pastor. Everyone is invited to attend. For more information, call Bertie Phillps at (910) 695-0627.

Greater Glory Pentecostal Deliverance Ministries will celebrate its 15th church anniversary Friday, March 6, and Sunday, March 8.

A fellowship dinner and time of reflection will be held at Ron's Barn Barbecue and Seafood restaurant in Sanford at 6:30 p.m. that Friday Everyone is cordially invited to attend.

It will conclude at 5 p.m. that Sunday. The guest speaker will be Apostle Grainger, pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church in Hamlet. This celebration will be hosted at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 1517 Luther's Way in Southern Pines. Everyone is invited to attend this great celebration.

The Founder's Week celebration honoring Apostle Michael Dixon, pastor of Greater Glory Ministries, will be held March 12-15.

It will begin at 7:30 that Thursday night. Elder Tony Tew, an associate of Lively Stone Ministry in Vass, will be the guest speaker. Pastor Willie Gilmore, of the Fellowship House of Prayer in Carthage, will lead the service.

At 7:30 p.m. Friday, the special guest speaker will be Pastor Jabarri Douglas, of True Praise Deliverance Ministry in Baltimore. Apostle Arnold McRae and the Refreshing Springs United Church of God church family from Charlotte will lead the service

A special banquet honoring Pastor-elect Shepherd Mother Dixon will be held at 6 p.m. that Saturday. The speaker will be Co-Pastor Emma Curry, of St. Mark United Church in Sanford. Other visiting guests will be on the program. It will conclude at 3 p.m. that Sunday. The guest speaker will be Apostle S.E. McKinney from Greater Oasis Pentecostal Deliverance Church.

All services and the banquet will be held at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Southern Pines.

For more information, call Evangelist Vickie Kelly at 910-235-4592. Everyone is invited to take part in this great celebration.

Birthday wishes are extended to all in the community who are celebrating their special day this week.

Continue to pray for our youth, the less fortunate, sick and shut-ins, bereaved families, church leaders, educators and students, communities, government leaders, homeless, incarcerated, our soldiers and one another.

--Michael Dixon

Little River

Mount Pleasant Christian Church celebrated the first wedding in the new chapel last Saturday. Monica Lynn Joyner and David Ray Little were married in a 4 p.m. service. The church was decorated with all-white floral arrangements, and the aisle was covered in white rose pedals for the bride's entrance.

The new chapel had plenty of room for the almost 200 guests. Afterward, the guests shared a buffet of finger foods, cake and punch.

The floor of the new storage building floor is complete, and the structure is expected this week. As soon as the new storage building is completed, the contents of the fellowship hall will be removed and renovations will begin on the fellowship hall.

Mount Pleasant Church will celebrate Holy Communion at the 11 a.m. service this Sunday. Eeryone is invited to attend the worship service.

The Bible study of a book on Revelation is held each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., followed by choir practice at 7:30.

The daughter of Pat Patterson and her husband would like to wish him a happy 80th birthday March 1.

With many of our military spread all over the four corners of the world, it makes this time of year very difficult for those soldiers and their families. Please take a moment to remember our military and their families with positive thoughts and prayers.

If you would like to share any special news about our community in this section of The Pilot, please contact me at 245-4747.

--"Sunny" Sidley

Shawtown

The black history program at Body of Christ Outreach Ministry at Body of Christ on Lemon Springs Road, where the pastor is Larry Ray, was a success.

Family and Friends' Day will be held at 3 p.m. March 8 at Body of Christ.

The Brotherhood Association of Carthage is having a scholarship raffle at 6:30 p.m. March 2 in the fellowship hall of Mount Zion A.M.E. Zion on Church on Bryant Road. First prize is a GPS system, and second prize is a $75 gift card from Food Lion. Tickets are $1 each. You do not have to be present to win.

Continue to pray for our president, the sick and shut-ins and others in need.

Best wishes are extended to all in the community who are celebrating birthdays or anniversaries this week.

If you have any community news to share, please call 783-7822 or e-mail raye.irene@ yahoo.com.

--Irene Ray

Taylortown

An Ash Wednesday service will be held at 7 p.m. today at Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. The church asks members to consider the sacrifices they can make for 40 days.

Spaulding Chapel will have a worship service at 7 o'clock each Sunday evening in March leading up to Easter. The pastor, the Rev. Oscar Rush, invites everyone to these services.

Galilee Missionary Baptist Church will host a community fellowship meal for the Easter season Thursday, April 9. Please contact Jean Scales for the exact time and menu. Spaulding Chapel, House of Prayer, Spruill Temple and Providence Presbyterian are asked to help in the preparation of food.

Word of Truth Christian Center at 132 Popular St. in Vass, will have a barbecue and chicken plate sale this Saturday starting at 11 a.m. To pre-order, call Pastor Michael Blue at 944-3720. Deliveries will be made for orders of 5 or more. Call 603-4755. The donation is $6. Lasting Impression II is the caterer.

Proceeds help the outreach program at the church. Pastor Helen Spencer is the overseer, and Cheryl Blue is the co-pastor along with her husband Michael. Word of Truth offers a variety of outreach services to help the needy. Some of their members are Taylortown residents.

Gladys Garris, senior citizen community center coordinator for Taylortown, is planning a gospel musical and dinner-banquet at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the Bostic Recreation Center in Candor. The featured guest will be national recording artist Evangelist Dorothy Norwood. For more information, call Garris at 528-1564.

The Moore County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is accepting nominations for the 2009 Woman/Mother of the Year. The nominee must be an adult female who resides in Moore County. She does not have to be a biological mother or a member of the NAACP. There is a donation of $10 for the entry fee.

Nominations must be postmarked by April 12, 2009. The address is P.O. Box 1351, Southern Pines, NC 28388. O'Linda W. Gillis is the local branch president. Her number is 947-1422.

Congratulations to KiKi and Carlos Kidd as well as Tim and Nicky Mason on their wedding anniversaries this month. These are hard-working young couples with beautiful children.

The family of Candra D. Stewart thanks everyone for your many acts of kindness during their bereavement. Thank you for your continued prayers.

The 4-H after-school tutorial program for elementary-aged children is held at Taylor House each Monday and Wednesday from 3 until 6 p.m. Older youths are invited to assist with the younger children. Computers are available for homework assistance.

The free program is held at the Taylor House at 8263 Main St. Jermaine Bright is the lead tutor. For more information, contact Linda Gore, Moore County 4-H coordinator, at 947-3188 or Rose Highland-Sharpe, local 4-H adviser, at 295-0013.

Free adult literacy classes are available at the Taylor House Center from 5 until 6:30 p.m. on the first, second and third Tuesdays of the month. Volunteer tutors are needed to help those age 18 and older with math, reading and language arts. Computers are available for use. For more information, contact Rose Highland-Sharpe, recruit-er for basic skills at SCC, at 295-0013 or at 695-3783.

Please remember the sick and shut-ins, bereaved, unemployed, homeless, orphaned, widowed, incarcerated, local government leaders and members of the U.S. military in your prayers and good deeds.

Please send your community news to R. Highland-Sharpe at P.O. Box 4653, Pinehurst, NC 28374 or call 295-0013.

--Rose Highland-Sharpe

Vass

God's House of Prayer Ministry will hold Sunday school and a worship service Sunday. The church holds Sunday School every week at 10 a.m., and worship is held at 11 a.m. on the first and third Sundays of the month. Bible study is held every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Intercessory prayer is every Saturday at 8 a.m.

The church is at 205 Pats Road in Vass. The church pastor is Pastor Mary Kelly. Everyone is welcome to attend all services.

Pastor Mary Kelly had a surprise birthday party Sunday at Smithfield Restaurant in Fayetteville. Family, friends and church members attended.

MANNA! sponsors free lunches to the general public on Wednesdays at the Word of Truth Center in Vass from noon to 1 p.m. For more information, contact Lynne Stauderman at 245-7009.

Highland Baptist Church on U.S. 1 holds Sunday School at 10 a.m. and worship services at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. every Sunday. Services are also held at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. Jerry Carter will be the special preacher tonight.

A Saturday night prayer meeting is held from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Come if you have a special need and would like others to pray with you. Or you can also call the prayer line 693-PRAY.

Pastor Vaughn announced that a "Teen Insomnia Youth Rally" will be held Friday. The activities will start at 7 p.m. All those attending need to bring a change of clothes, toothbrushes, a blanket and something to sleep in and on. For more information, call the church at 695-0494. All are welcome.

Pastor Vaughn and his family will celebrate 20 years of ministry Sunday, March 8, at Highland Baptist Church. Everyone is invited to come celebrate this special occasion.

A "Jubilee!" will be held at Highland Baptist Church March 10-12. Guest preachers from all over the country will attend. There will be morning and evening services and will include lunch and dinner on the grounds. For more information, call 695-0494.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Mike Smith (Feb. 25), and Deaconess Catherine McKeithen and James Toomer Jr. (Feb. 26).

Continue to pray for the sick and shut-ins -- including Deacon Norman Kelly, who is a resident at Magnolia Gardens in Southern Pines, and Annie Cockrum, who is at Pinelake Health and Rehabilitation Center in Carthage -- our youth, each other and our U.S. troops in Iraq and worldwide.

To have your news in the Vass community section, call 603-6254 or e-mail at god1house@ yahoo.com, or items can be mailed, at least one week in advance, to P.O. Box 1364, Vass, N.C. 28394.

--Anita Finch