Julie Barnhill, popular speaker, author, and former guest of “The Oprah Show,” brings her razor-sharp insight into the woman’s psyche to Southern Pines with two seminars March 5-6.

Prepare for a good belly laugh Friday, March 5, as Barnhill reminds women of the outrageous blessing of friendship through her talk “You Go, Girlfriend” from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, March 6, from 9 a.m. until noon, Barnhill gives mothers 10 non-negotiable ways to stand firm in her unapologetically raucous talk “One Tough Mother.” These are strategies the modern mother — assaulted by television shows, magazines, well-meaning friends, and their own mothers — can use to sift through the volume of unsolicited parenting advice.

Called the “Erma Bombeck of the 21st century,” Barnhill brings to each presentation her unique blend of wit and humor, candidly sharing her own life experiences and what she’s learned along the way.

Both sessions are at Grace Church in Southern Pines. The fee for Friday’s session is $15. Saturday’s session is $25 and includes free entry to the Friday session. Advance tickets are available online at www.sandhillsmops.com or at the Moore County Chamber of Commerce. Group rates are available for parties of 10 or more.

These seminars are presented by Sandhills MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), a chapter of MOPS International.

Sandhills MOPS exists to meet the needs of mothers from different lifestyles who share a common desire to be the very best moms they can be. Regular meetings provide a forum for mothers of all ages and from all backgrounds to build friendships, share parenting strategies and meet with mentors who share their own experiences as mothers.

Ash Wednesday

On Wednesday, Feb. 17, Bethesda Presbyterian Church, in Aberdeen, will observe Ash Wednesday with a supper and worship service.

A meal will be served in the fellowship hall at 6 p.m. followed by worship in the sanctuary at 7 p.m.

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, a time of self-examination and repentance.

Imposition of ashes is offered as a token of penitence and mortality.

Healing Prayer

International speaker Elise Moore shares simply, practically and compassionately how to pray effectively. Moore tells real life stories of people being healed of broken bones, unemployment, cancer and more.

“Bring your Bible and your questions to ‘Curing the ‘ncurable” Tuesday, March 9, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Sandhills Community College’s Horticultural Gardens Visitors Center, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst,” says a spokesman.

“Your situation isn’t hopeless. Others have found a job, physical healing, changed their life and so can you,” said Moore. “You can pray effectively and discover the answers and healing for yourself and others.” Moore’s family discovered Christian Science when her great-grandmother was healed through prayer of tuberculosis in Biloxi, Miss. The Bible took on new meaning for the family, who were already devout Christians.

Moore will talk about two ways of praying using the analogy of machetes and helicopters.

Residing in Nashville, Tenn., and Tucson, Ariz., Moore has been in the Christian healing ministry for more than 25 years. Fluent in Spanish, she has an international ministry and lectures in both languages throughout the world. Moore has spoken in convention centers, universities, and for civic, church and youth groups in more than 150 cities. She has appeared on television, radio and live Internet programs in the U.S. and abroad. She is a wegular guest on live audio webcasts on Spirituality.com.

A prolific writer, Moore has published more than 250 articles on prayer and healing, and has written a regular newspaper column. She also teaches classes in Christian Science healing. Moore has put her faith into action by being chaplain for a homeless shelter, organizing an after-school program for minority youth and shepherding adult literacy programs. Additionally, she has organized interfaith programs and activities, and led participatory workshops.

“Bible students will find this talk interesting as we look at familiar Scriptures,” says Moore. “I’ll give specific ideas on how to pray for yourself and others. We’ll even talk about what gets in the way of healing.”

To read articles by Elise Moore or hear recent radio programs, visit the Web site www.elisemoore.com.

For more information, call (910) 692-7759 Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fish Fry

The Knights of Columbus will hold their annual fish fry from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, Feb. 26, March 5, March 19, and March 26, in the parish hall of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 320 N. Ashe St., Southern Pines.

Dinner includes fried or baked fish, hush puppies, french fries, green beans, cole slaw and fruit salad. Also included are soft drinks, iced tea, coffee and water.

The cost is $8 for adults, $5 for ages 7 to 12 and free for 6 and under.

Take-out plates are available.

Food Sale

Love Grove Freewill Baptist Church in the Jackson Hamlet area will have a food sale Saturday, Feb. 27, beginning at 10 a.m.

Collard green sandwiches or chicken plates are available.

For information, call (910) 295-4211 or Sharon Williams at (910) 797-8862.

Black History Month

Fryes Chapel Freewill Baptist Church, Vass will be celebrating Black History Month with a gospel music concert featuring the Miles Sisters, of Wilson.

The service will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20.

Lenten Schedule

West End United Methodist Church announces its Lenten season services.

There will be an Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. Feb. 17, preceded by supper at 6 p.m.

Lenten Wednesday suppers will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 24, March 3, March 10, March 17 and March 24, followed by a Lenten devotional service at 7 p.m.

There will be a Palm Sunday service March 28, followed an April 1 Maundy Thursday service at 8 p.m., which features the drama of The Last Supper

Good Friday services are at 8 p.m. April 1, and a special Easter service will be held April 4.

Chicken Pastry Meals

Vass United Methodist Church will host a chicken and pastry lunch and supper from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, in the church fellowship hall.

The meal features chicken and dumplings, prepared by church members, accompanied by candied yams, green beans, a roll and homemade dessert. Take-out plates are available.

Plates are $7 each, and tickets are available at the door.

Vass United Methodist Church is located at 111 Alma St., Vass, across from the Vass Rescue Squad.

For information, call Susan Coore at (910) 603-0726.

Adult Academy

Don Welch, pastor of the Chapel in the Pines and McDonalds Chapel Presbyterian Church, will offer a course on the Book of Amos from the Hebrew Scriptures on the first four Thursdays of March at 10 a.m.

Each of the four sessions will last one hour and will be held in the sanctuary of the Chapel in the Pines.

Participants will study the meaning of Amos’ words addressed to the small Middle Eastern nation of Israel in the eighth century B.C. and then see how well they apply to the U.S. in the 21st century A.D.

Welch has taught courses in the Bible at Wofford and Berea Colleges and the Divinity School of Duke University. Over the past 50 years he has conducted retreats and seminars across the country.

The course is presented by the Adult Academy for Religious Studies of West End Presbyterian Church and the Chapel in the Pines and is open to interested persons from all faith traditions. No prior registration is required.

Participants should bring a modern translation of the Bible and read the first three chapters of Amos before the first session on March 3.

Dr. Larry Lyon, pastor of West End Presbyterian Church, will teach a four-week course on theology and literature beginning Tuesday, April 6, and concluding Tuesday, April 27.

The course is based on writings by North Carolina authors, and sign-ups will be necessary to order the book that attendees will be studying. There will be a minimal charge to cover the cost of the book.

The course will be held at West End Presbyterian at 7 p.m., and child care will be provided.

As is true of all Adult Academy programs, the public is invited to attend. Reservations for this program can be made by calling West End Presbyterian Church at (910) 673-4341.

Cypress Presbyterian

The community is invited to attend Cypress Presbyterian Church’s Ash Wednesday service Wednesday, Feb. 17. There will be a pancake dinner at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall.

After dinner, there will be a worship service in the sanctuary featuring the imposition of ashes and special music presented by the Succeed bell choir.

Call (910) 245-7024 for further information regarding these events.

The church is located at 1220 Cypress Church Road, seven miles east of Vass.

For information on other programs at Cypress, visit their Web site at www.cypresspres.org.

Doubs  Chapel UMC

Doubs Chapel United Methodist Church will hold an Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. Feb. 17, and a chicken dumpling supper will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20.

Fletcher’s Chapel

Fletcher’s Chapel will celebrate its black history program at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, with guest speaker Gereson Yongo, from Kenya, Africa.

Earl Johnson, of Raleigh, will pay tribute to heritage through African dance.

All ladies are asked to wear a caftan. Prizes will be given to the most unique. Men are asked to wear African attire.

The program is sponsored by Jackie Sloan. Church pastor is the Rev. Charles Bethea

The church is located on U.S. 1, Hoffman

Seminars

Great Lakes Church of God will present seminars on Bible prophecy at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at Whispering Pines Country Club, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Aberdeen Parks and Recreation Building, U.S. 1.

The speaker is Pastor John J. Blanchard.

Empowerment Services

The Kingdom Connections Church International will hold empowerment services Friday, Feb. 19, Feb. 26, and March 5.

Services will be held at 7:30 p.m. with different speakers each night.

The church is located at 134 Mill Road, Rockingham.

For more information or directions, call (910) 528-7620.

Piney Grove

On Saturday, Feb. 27, and Sunday, Feb. 28, at Piney Grove Church, Windblow Community, Ellerbe, Pastor Robert and Gloria McArthur will be honored with an anniversary celebration.

On Saturday night, Feb. 27, the service will begin at 6 p.m. Bishop David Brown, of Christ Memorial, Elder Allen Sutton, of St. Luke No. 2, Elder Kevin Henry, of St. Luke No. 1, and Elder Coleman Elliot, of Lillington Grove, will be speaking words of encouragement.

Music will be provided by these pastors’ church choirs and others.

On Sunday morning, Feb. 28, worship service will be begin at 11:15 a.m. Bishop Alan Smith will deliver the message. Rendering music will be Star of Hope Choir. Dinner will be served after morning worship.

Temple Beth Shalom

Shabbat services will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26; a Torah study at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27; and services at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 27, conducted by Rabbi Floyd Herman.

Temple Beth Shalom is located at 131 Jackson Springs Road, Jackson Springs.

For information, call (910) 673-5524.

‘Twice Is Nice’

The Northwood Temple Church MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) have opened volunteer and consignor registration for the “Twice Is Nice” children’s consignment sale.

The sale will open to the public Saturday, March 20, at the Northwood Temple Family Life Center, 4200 Ramsey St., Fayetteville. The sale will run from 7 to 11 a.m. and will reopen from noon to 3 p.m. for a 50-percent-off clearance sale.

“Twice Is Nice” is a semiannual event and specializes in gently used toys, equipment, furniture, décor, educational supplies and children’s clothing, sized newborn to 16. Shoppers will also find maternity clothing and nursing accessories.

With the help of more than 100 volunteers, organizers transform the Family Life Center into a department store, carefully sorting and displaying the more than 35,000 items received so that shoppers can easily find what they need.

Consignors find “Twice Is Nice” to be a convenient way to clean out closets and playrooms, while recovering some of the investment they’ve made into their children’s wardrobes, furniture and playthings.

Registered consignors and volunteers also earn the benefit of shopping before the general public, Friday, March 19. First-time parents, foster parents and grandparents are also invited to shop during special preview hours.

“Twice Is Nice” attracts shoppers and consignors from all over the Cape Fear region. Due to the troubled economy, organizers have seen an increase in the number of savvy shoppers attending the sale. Environmental concerns have also inspired shoppers to buy used items for their children, keeping more retail packaging out of our landfills.

More details about consigning, volunteering and shopping can be found by visiting the “Twice Is Nice” Web site www.northwoodmops.com.

Proceeds from the sale support the Northwood Temple Church MOPS and TeenMOPS chapters, and unsold donated merchandise is distributed to local pregnancy crisis support agencies and other charities.

MOPS is an international organization made up of local support groups for mothers with children from birth to kindergarten. More information about MOPS can be found at www.mops.org.

Lenten Services

St. James Lutheran Church, in Southern Pines, will begin Lenten services Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m.

The combined choirs of St. James and St. Paul Lutheran churches will participate in these services.

The Rev. Rick Schliepsick is pastor of both churches.

Beaver Creek Baptist

Beaver Creek  Baptist Church will hold its annual Old Country Fair Saturday, April 24.

The Single Adult Ministry meets each Friday at 7 p.m. in the Family Life Center for Bible study, support and fellowship.

Call (919) 499-9632 for information.

Dial-A-Meditation

Need encouragement and inspiration for these troublesome times?

Call Dial-A-Meditation at (910) 947-2002 to hear a message sponsored by Community Friends Church, in Carthage.

Black History Program

Greater Harvest House of Prayer Ministries, located at 760 Midway Road, Aberdeen, will host a black history program at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21.

Elder Walter O. Thomas is the pastor.

New Ministry

New Hope Christian Ministry holds Sunday School each Sunday at 10 a.m., with morning prayer at 10:30 a.m. and a service at 11 a.m. Bible study is held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays and minister’s study at 6 p.m. Tuesdays. A women’s fellowship meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

The ministry meets in Room 610 of the Country Hearth Inn on U.S. 1, Aberdeen.

On Sunday, Feb. 14, Pastor Breand Brown, pastor of New Hope, will speak at 3 p.m. at New Zion A.M.E. Church in Addor.

Lunch ’n Learn

The Village Chapel of Pinehurst hosts a Lunch ’n Learn program from noon to 1 p.m. on Fridays with Dr. Larry Ellis, senior pastor.

He will answer questions and provide insight into the scripture readings each week.

“You can send your questions in advance to info@TheVillageChapel.net,” says a spokesman. “We will be meeting in Chapel Hall and don’t forget your lunch.”

For information, call (910) 295-6003.

Preschool Registration

First Baptist Church of Aberdeen is accepting applications for fall 2010-2011 year. The eligibility ages are 12 months through pre-kindergarten.

The schedule will be Tuesday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to noon, September through May. Monthly tuition rates are very reasonable.

The school curriculum will be a balance of learning activities including age-appropriate skill development and a Bible lesson. The atmosphere will be a loving, child-centered environment.

The church is located on 700 N. Sandhills Boulevard, U.S. 1 in Aberdeen.

Call (910) 944-1421 today to schedule a visit or request an application.

New Times

New Covenant Fellowship announces that it will now offer services at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.

New Covenant is a nondenominational church located on Union Church Road between Union Pines High School and New Century Middle School in Carthage.

For additional information, call (910) 947-1412 or visit www.newcovenantfellowship-nc.com.

Service

First Missionary Baptist Church holds Sunday School from 9 to 10:10 a.m., with a breakfast snack served at 9 a.m.

Transportation is available. The church is located at 315 South Gaines St., Southern Pines. For information, call (910) 692-2022.

Bible School

Are you struggling to be a preacher, teacher or simply a witness for Christ?

“Come and join us at New Hope Church of God in Christ Bible School, where we systematically study the Word of God,” says a spokesman.

Classes began Monday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. at New Hope Church of God in Christ, 204 Raeford Road (N.C. 211), Aberdeen.

Call (910) 944-2577 or (910) 944- 8806 for details.

New Covenant

New Covenant Fellowship, 1305 Hulsey Road, Carthage, hosts an afterschool program for sixth-through-eighth graders.

“We pick up your child from New Century Middle School,” says Pastor Adam Love. “Our program offers tutoring, devotions and structured activities in a safe, friendly environment.”

The cost is $30 per week, or pay daily for drop-ins.

For more details, call Love at (910) 947-1412.

Mission Agape

Mission Agape is in need of donations and financial assistance, says a spokesman.

“We are the only mission in this area that helps Hispanics,” says the spokesman. “We need someone to help us apply for a grant.”

Mission Agape is located at 2256 N.C. 211, Eagle Springs. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 316, Eagle Springs, NC 27242.

For information, call Marian at (910) 673-3333.

For Young Mothers

Christ Way Church is sponsoring a weekly opportunity for all young mothers up to the age of 20 to gather and discuss issues concerning parenting.

“They can be single parents or married,” says a spokesman. “We want to offer them a chance to discuss problems specific to them and receive information about caring for their children.”

Advice will be forthcoming from experienced mothers and grandmothers. Refreshments will be served at the weekly meeting.

“You are welcome to bring your children,” says the spokesman.

The church is located at 7681 U.S. 15-501, Pinehurst.

For information, call Elder Nathaniel Jackson at (910) 235-3715.

Dance Classes

Creative Learning Center of the Sandhills presents beginning dance classes at First Missionary Baptist Church.

The church is located at 315 S. Gaines St., Southern Pines.

For information, call Judy at (910) 692-2022.

Reading Room

First Church of Christ Scientist, Southern Pines — a Bible-based religion that follows the teachings of Christ Jesus — provides a Reading Room for community use.

There are ample resources to choose from at a Reading Room: Bibles and multiple ­commentaries, all the published materials about Christian Science including the core teachings of Mary Baker Eddy.

Here too, ­technology offers opportunities to study and research online and the ­possibility of listening to ­lectures or topical articles at www.spirituality.com

The Reading Room is located at 173A NE Broad St., Southern Pines, and is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.

Healing Service

A healing service will be held at 5 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at The Village Chapel, Pinehurst.

The service includes the ­reading of God’s Word, ­confession, prayer, the Sacrament of Holy Communion and the anointment with oil.

Health Ministry

Sandhills Health Ministry ­meetings are held at 9 a.m. on the third Monday of the month, at the Pinehurst United Methodist Church, Airport Road, Pinehurst.

All Sandhills churches are ­invited to send representatives.

Inquiries for wellness ­information and programs from area congregations may be ­directed to (910) 295-1577.

Unitarian Gathering

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Sandhills will meet on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, at 10 a.m., at the Pinehurst Executive Center, N.C. 5, Suite 7, Pinehurst. Refreshments will follow. For more information, e-mail uucsandhills@gmail. com or go to www.uua.org.

Sandy Grove

Sandy Grove Church of God, in Vass, will hold its Ladies in Red day at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21. The speaker will be Annie McMillian. The church is located at 158 Sellar St.