Addor

The House of Refuge Church in Addor is celebrating the fourth anniversary of its pastor, the Rev. Tony Fairley, and his wife, First Lady Sandra Fairley, this week. Services are tonight (Wednesday), Thursday and Friday at 7:30 nightly. There will be different preachers each night. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate the first anniversary of it pastor, the Rev. James McKinnon, this Friday through Sunday. Oct. 30-Nov. 1. The Rev. Carl Core from Elizabeth Chapel Free Will Baptist Church will be the guest speaker at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Members of his congregation and the choir will accompany him.

A dinner will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Aberdeen Recreation Center. Tickets are $25. The Rev. Stanley Richardson, pastor of Oak Ridge Baptist Church, will be the guest speaker. Music will be provided by the men's choir from Cool Springs.

The celebration concludes with the 11 a.m. service Sunday. The Rev. Bruce Hurst of Leak Springs Baptist Church will be the guest speaker. Everyone is invited to attend the services.

On Sunday, the members of St. Augustine A.M.E. Zion Church in Carthage will celebate the Rev. Clinton Edwards' fifth anniversary at 11 a.m. Sunday. Everyone is invited to attend.

The annual conference of the Central N.C. District of A.M.E. Zion Churches will be held Tuesday, Nov.3, through Sunday, Nov. 8.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Danasia Baldwin (Oct. 28), the Rev. Clinton Edwards (Oct. 30) and (Bobby Little) Nov. 1).

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

Please remember to turn your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday night.

-- Lorine McCants

Berkley

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

Intercessory prayer is held at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday, followed by Bible study at 7:30 p.m. The church invites everyone to attend.

Women's fellowship meeting is held at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month.

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 are held at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

St. Joseph A.M.E. Zion Church, 309 Keyser St., where the pastor is the Rev. Henry R. Davis, holds Sunday School at 10 a.m. and worship at 11:15 a.m. each Sunday. Bible study is held at 7:15 p.m. every Wednesday.

The church is holding its fall revival today (Wednesday) through Friday at 7 o'clock each night.

Are you interested in singing or being a musician with a male chorus and are 18 years old or older? If so, contact Ralph Daniel at (910) 255-0352 or (910) 944-3365 at the church.

Shiloh A.M.E. Zion Church at 206 Keyser St., where the pastor is the Rev. Fred Goins Jr., holds Sunday School every week at 10 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. every first and third Sunday. Bible study is held at 7 p.m. every Wednesday.

Sandhill Christian Church on Keyser Street, where the pastor is the Rev. Anna L. Byrd, holds Sunday School every Sunday at 10 a.m. and worship services at 11 a.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of the month.

Happy birthday to all who are celebrating this week.

Continue to pray for healing, peace and strength for everyone.

Please submit church, community and personal announcements (such as birthdays and anniversaries) by 7 p.m. Sunday by calling (910) 603-1135.

-- Rachel Hill

Cameron

The community is encouraged to support the fundraiser for Phillips Memorial Park from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Plates include barbecue or fried chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, roll and dessert. Plates are $8.

Proceeds will be used to purchase recreation equipment for the park. Everyone is invited to attend.

The appreciation service for Rev. Fitzgerald K. Lee, pastor of Hood Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday at the church. Everybody is invited.

The 130th session of the Central N.C. Annual Conference of the ENCED will be held Nov. 3-8. All meetings will convene at the Greater N.C. Jurisdiction State Temple Headquarters of the Church of God in Christ at 1609 Wendell Blvd. in Wendell. The Friday evening and Sunday morning services will be held at the North Raleigh Hilton.

Please keep Sister Lula Bandy in your prayers; she is presently recuperating from hip surgery at the Pine Lakes Nursing Center in Carthage.

If you have any Cameron news, please contact me one week in advance by calling (910) 245-9932.

-- Carol Frye Davis

Carthage

St. Ruth United Church of God, West End, where the pastor is Elderess L. Kearns, holds services on the second and fourth Sundays of the month starting at 11:30 a.m.

Prayer meeting is held every Wednesday at 6 p.m., followed by Bible study at 7 p.m.

The senior choir of First Missionary Baptist Church in Carthage, where the pastor is Lincoln Blanding, will have its anniversary at 3 p.m. Sunday. All are invited to attend.

A fellowship service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at St. John United Church of God. The guest speaker will be Prophetess Sharon Belk, of Ramsuer. Other special guests will be the Try Jesus Ministries Praise Team and the musical group Abraham's Seed, of Sanford.

Birthday wishes go out to Benjamin "Ben" Smith III (Oct. 29), Shirleen Purcell (Oct. 31), Patricia Allbrooks (Nov. 1) and Larry Ray (Nov. 7).

On the prayer list are John Ray, Lula Bandy, Lawrence "Kote" Smith, and all who are sick. Also, please remember to pray for each other.

Announcements can be submitted by e-mail to churchnews08@yahoo.com, or by mail to Church News, P.O. Box 1088, Carthage, NC 28327. Please submit announcements at least one week in advance.

-- Jennifer Smith

Eastwood

Bishop Larry Brown and First Lady Elsie Brown celebrated their 46th pastoral anniversary last week.

Synaguoge for Christ will hold a "Hallelluia Night" at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Everyone is invited to attend.

St. Peters will celebrate the anniversary of its pastor, Bishop C.L. Curry, Thursday and Friday nights at 7:30 and Sunday at 11 a.m.

St. Peters missionaries thank everyone who came out for their candlelight service Friday night.

Birthday wishes are extended to Kristen Wall (Oct. 28), Rakim Stancil (Oct. 29), Phillip Moultrie Sr. (Oct 30) and Brian Covington (Nov. 1).

Sick and shut-ins: Lewis McLaughlin, Paula Neal, Steve Coney, Sam Kelly, Ralph McLean, Michael McLean, Ester Mae Monroe, Evelyn Clegg, Cornelia Adkins, Margret Dowd, Mamie Williams, Joe Jackson, Mary Russell, Anthony Thompson, Margret Thompson and Alma Jones.

-- Wilma Monroe

Hoffman

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

The Home Union will hold services at 11 a.m. on the fifth Sunday in November, which is Nov. 29, at Pleasant Hill. The Rev. Charles Bethea will be in charge. Sunday School is at 10 a.m.

Eva Cunningham attended all-day services Sunday at Pleasant Hill for its church annnniversary celebration.

Bea Little attended the funeral service for Ruth Jackson Saturday in Pinehurst. Please keep the family in your prayers.

Birthday wishes are extended to all who are celebrating this week.

Sick and shut-ins: Flossie Hagins, Rosa Harrison, Wilson Hart, Darius Hart, E.C. McFayden, Leanna McRae, Nancy Ellerbe, Chrizzell Stroman, Lomuel Stroman, Retha Sloan, German Jackson, Dan McKoy, Richard Bostick, Martha Ingram, Henrietta Little, Cora Kelly, Lacy Jackson, Eugene Martin, Johnny King, Thelma McKoy, Albert Hailey, Juanita Gilmore, Ernest Gilmore, Frank Smith, Rebecca Utley, Sister Bethea and Sister Cunningham.

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

-- Bea Little

Little River

The worship service Sunday at Mount Pleasant Church began with the baptism of Josephine Marks. This was a very special day for her, and many of her family were present.

Her son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Natalie Marks, gave a presentation of their mission trip to the Ukraine. They presented a slide show of the two churches they helped build. Many of the members in the church contributed to help build both churches, and it was wonderful to see the actual work being done.

While working on the churches in the morning, the team took time to work with the children in the afternoon and evening. Mount Pleasant provided many craft supplies for the Marks to take over to the children of the Ukraine.

The Wooten family shared its family reunion at the church fellowship hall. Many family members attended worship Sunday.

The choir continues to work on the Christmas musical and invites everyone to join in and share their talents.

The Garnet Lobelias had a great time at its nonpoker party this past Saturday night. Thanks to Duchess Pat Messersmith for hosting the fun! The next big event will be the Southern Pines Christmas parade Dec. 5. If you are interested in joining these ladies, contact Queen Sunny at (910) 245-4747 or Princess Janet at (910) 245-4741.

Sara BonMetzger Dykstra called to report that she is having a wonderful time visiting with Sandra Stephens, other relatives and friends in the Sacramento, Calif., area.

Cypress Presbyterian Church has started a new Bible study. It will be held on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 for six weeks. The study will feature Dr. William Carl's book on the Lord's Prayer. Please call (910) 245-7811 if you are interested in attending.

Reservations are still being taken for the parenting class that begins Jan. 11. The eight-session program, which runs from 6:45 to 9 p.m., will be led by Drs. Robert Whitehouse and Gwen Simmons. If you have any questions regarding their programs, please call (910) 245-4731.

Please remember our military and their families whether here or abroad. They all need our positive thoughts and prayers as they serve our country.

If you have any information you would like to share with our community, please call me at (910) 245-4747.

-- Sunny Sidley

Shawtown

The senior choir of First Missionary Baptist will have its annual choir anniversary at 3 p.m. Nov. 1.

Please keep John Ray in your prayers as well as all rest home residents, the homebound, our president, hospital patients, prisoners, the unemployed, those suffering from addiction to alcohol and drugs and each other.

Best wishes are extended to all who are celebrating birthdays and anniversaries this week

-- Irene Ray

Taylortown

The 18th annual Hallelujah Party-Fall Festival will be held at the Boler Park from 4 until 6 p.m. this Saturday. There will be a basketball tournament beginning at 3 p.m. Ribbons and prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place winners. All other participants will receive a small gift. There will be games, gospel music, prizes, snacks and fruit and candy bags for all the children.

Galilee Missionary Baptist Church is the sponsor. The pastor is the Rev. Charles Nabors. If you can help with donations of candy, preparation of bags or coordination of games, please contact the coordinator, the Rev. Rose Highland-Sharpe, at (910) 295-0013. Thanks in advance for your support. All community children and parents are welcome.

The Taylortown Head Start will have its annual fall festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today (Wednesday). Hats off to the children, teachers and site director, Marie Brown!

Word of Truth Christian Center will have a candlelight service at 6 p.m. this Sunday. The speaker will be the Rev. Carolyn Radcliff. Music will be provided by God's Anointed Messengers and the Galilee Missionary Baptist Church choir. Pastor Helen Spencer and Co-pastors Mike and Cheryl Blue invite everyone to attend.

Highlights of Sandhills Community College's Minority Male Mentoring (3MP) talent show will be seen on the "Town Talk" television show on Time Warner Cable channel 3 beginning this week through December. The show airs Monday through Sunday at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. The host is Rose Highland-Sharpe.

Guests are needed for the radio edition of "Town Talk." If you have an inspirational story or offer services to the needy, please contact the host, Rose Highland-Sharpe, at (910) 295-0013. The program airs on Sundays at 2:05 p.m. on WEEB-990 AM. The show is prerecorded earlier in the week.

The Moore County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will have its annual banquet at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Sandhills Community College's Dempsey Student Center. For more information, call the branch president, O'Linda G. Williams, at (910) 947-1422. The national association is celebrating 100 years of service. The local branch is 72 years old.

The Senior Community Center has several activities each week, including seminars, workshops, shopping trips and Bible study. The center is at 134 Tom McIntosh Road. For more information, call Gladys Garris, the coordinator, at (910) 528-1564.

Please remember all the sick and shut-ins, bereaved, incarcerated, the needy, senior citizens, youths and members of the U.S. military in your prayers and good deeds.

Send your community news to R. Highland-Sharpe at P.O. Box 4653, Pinehurst, NC 28374, call (910) 295-0013 or send an e-mail to rosesharpe37@gmail.com.

-- Rose Highland-Sharpe

Vass

God's House of Prayer Ministry holds Sunday school at 10 a.m. every week. Worship services are held on the first and third Sundays of the month at 11 a.m. Bible study is held every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., and intercessory prayer is held every Saturday at 8 a.m.

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

Minister Frederick Kelly will speak at 6 p.m. Saturday at God's House of Prayer Ministry for Holy Night. The program is sponsored by Betty Ray.

New Direction Outreach Ministries of Vass holds Sunday school at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday. A morning praise and worship is at 11:30 a.m. every Sunday, except when a fifth Sunday occurs. All are welcome. The founder and pastor of the church is Pastor Linnie M. Saunders.

On Nov. 6, 7 and 8, the pastor appreciation services for Pastor Ruby Shepherd, of God's Vision of Praise Ministry, will be held. On Nov. 6 and 7, the services will begin at 7:30 p.m. at God's Vision Of Praise Ministry. The service on Nov. 8 will be held at 3 p.m. at the Douglass Center in Southern Pines. Different speakers will be speaking each night.

God's Vision of Praise Ministry has a worship service every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. except when a fifth Sunday occurs. Bible study is every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Pastor Ruby Shepherd is the church pastor.

On the prayer list are Cecil Goins, Mitchell Goins, Helen Covington-McIvery, Carolyn Covington-McIvery, Wilma Jennis, Charlie Malloy, Ernestine Goins, Phyllis Goins, Bula Little, James Terry, Patricia Malloy and Johnny Murchison. To have your name added to the church prayer list, call (910) 783-9783.

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. Wednesday.

The Children's Care Ministry volunteers go out at 10 a.m. every Saturday. Anyone interested in joining can contact Pastor Vaughn at (910) 692-6430.

The annual "Hallelujah Party" for the children will be held Saturday. Each family is asked to bring two bags of candy to the church office.

After-school child care is available through Highland Christian Academy. Call Pastor Vaughn at (910) 692-6430 or the church at (910) 695-0494 for information.

A Saturday night prayer meeting is held from 7 to 7:30. Come if you have a special need or would like others to pray with you. Or you can call the prayer line at (910) 693-PRAY.

MANNA! sponsors free lunches to the public every Wednesday at Word of Truth Center in Vass from 12 to 1 p.m.

For more information, contact Lynne Stauderman at (910) 245-7009.

Continue to pray for all the sick and shut-ins, including Deacon Norman Kelly of Pinehurst Nursing Center, each other and our U.S. troops in Iraq and worldwide.

To have your news included in the Vass section, send an e-mail to god1house@yahoo.com or leave a message at (910) 603-6254, or mail items at least one week in advance to PO Box 1364, Vass, NC 28394.

-- Anita Finch