Addor

The third missionary mass meeting for the Sanford District of A.M.E. Zion churches, with the theme "Bud of Promise, will be held at 10 a.m. this Saturday at Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church. The Rev. Edward Spencer from New Endland will be the special guest speaker.

The Rev. Carolyn Ratcliff will preach at 11 a.m. this Sunday at New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church. Everyone is invited to attend the worship service.

The choirs from St. Augustine and New Zion A.M.E. Zion churches will provide the music for a Men's Day program at 3 p.m. March 14 at Jordan Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Everyone is invited to attend.

Birthday wishes go out this week to the Rev. Nathaniel Spence (March 7), John Hammond (March 8) and James Morris (March 9).

In memoriam: Annie Marie King (March 10).

The community was saddened to learn of the death of Wilson Hart, of Hoffman, on Saturday. Please keep the family in your prayers.

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

Please continue to pray for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, as well as all the sick and shut-ins.

If anyone has church or other community news such as birthdays, please contact me at (910) 281-3385.

• Lorine McCants

Berkley

New Hope Christian Ministries, where the pastor is Elder Brenda Brown, holds services in room 610 of the Country Hearth Inn behind Applebee's.

Sunday School is at 10 a.m. every week, and regular worship services are held at 11 a.m. on the first through fourth Sundays. Morning prayer is held at 10:30 a.m. on the first through fourth Sundays.

A prayer meeting is held at 6 p.m. every Wednesday, followed by Bible study at 6:30 p.m. Women's fellowship meeting is held at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month. Minister's study is held every second Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Pastor Brown will speak at 3 p.m. this Sunday at Solid Rock Church in Aberdeen. Everyone is invited to come out.

St. John Missionary 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.

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

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. We wish everyone a happy New Year!

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) 528-4782.

• Rachel Hill

Eastwood

St. Peters will attend Vice Bishop David Brown's pastoral anniversary at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Christ Memorial.

St. Ruth in West End will have its candlelight missionary march at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 19.

Apostle Leonard Williams and Mother Mahalia Williams hold Bible study every Tuesday from 6:45 to 8 p.m. at Spring Hill Suites across from Pinecrest High School on U.S. 15-501 in Southern Pines. All are welcome to attend.

St. Peters holds a prayer meeting at 7:30 every Thursday night.

Faith Threadgill celebrated her birthday with her family. Birthday wishes go this week to Thomarine Jackson and Charles Hargrove (March 5), Shenice McNeill and Tracy Brown (March 6) and Jocelyn Alford (March 7)

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

• Wilma Monroe

Hoffman

Macedonia will hold Bible study at 7 p.m. today (Wednesday). Fletcher's Chapel holds Bible study at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Pleasant Hill will not hold Bible study Thursday.

A barbecue sale will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Beaver Dam Community Center No. 1. Please get your orders in to Edna Kelly at (910) 281-3567 or (910) 281-4915.

The Richmond County missionary union will hold its quarterly meeting at 10 a.m. March 13 at Providence Baptist Church.

The Crystalaires will celebrate its 26th anniversary at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 13, and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 14.

A black history program will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Macedonia.

The community was saddened by the death of Wilson Hart on Saturday. The funeral service will be held Thursday at Fletcher's Chapel Church. Please keep the family in your prayers.

Birthday wishes go out to Alice Little, Kim Little, E.C. McFayden and Garry Hailey.

Sick and shut-ins: Dorine Chavis, Flossie Hagins, Rosa Harrison, Lany Harrison, Albert Hailey, Martha Ingram, Darius Hart, E.C. McFayden, Leanne McRae, Nancy Ellerbe, Lillie Ellerbe, Mattie White, Michael Stroam, Lomuel Stroman, Cathy Harrington, Letha Isaac, Beulah Jones, Retha Sloan, Nancy Hayes, Martha Ingram, Mattie White, Henrietta Little, Eugene Martin, Johnny King, Thelma McKoy, Juanita Gilmore, First Lady Bethea, First Lady Eva Cunningham, Huston Gatewood, T. Rollins, J.J. Jones and Annette B. Dalton.

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

• Bea Little

Little River

Mount Pleasant Church celebrated Holy Communion Sunday, with many in attendance. After the worship service, there was a great turnout to support the youth group's lunch of soup, sandwich and homemade desserts.

Treva McKenzie and Linda Blue baked homemade loaves of bread to sell for the benefit of the youth group. There was a variety of soups - broccoli and cheese, oyster stew, taco, homemade vegetable beef - with peanut butter and jelly and grilled cheese sandwiches. Many homemade desserts were provided - banana pudding, pecan pie, sour cream coconut cake, cookies and much more.

This Saturday, Cypress House Children's Center is having one of its main fundraisers - the 14th annual golf tournament at Woodlake Country Club. Nongolfers can sponsor a hole for $100 or make a monetary contribution in any amount. They can also donate door prizes or small items to be put in "goody bags" for the golfers

For more information on sponsoring a hole, donating a prize or volunteering to help out on the day of the tournament, please call (910) 245-1740. Golfers can still sign up for the tournament at the pro shop in Woodlake or by contacting one of the board members.

Cypress House, sponsored by Cypress Presbyterian Church, is a Head Start program for 30 children ages 3 to 5 during the school year. While the state pays for the staff and rent, the Cypress House board provides for the upkeep of the buildings and grounds. The board also provides needed school materials for the children.

During the summer, Cypress House has an enrichment program for 24 children from economically challenged families. The Cypress board funds a certified teacher and an assistant for these children, whose ages range from kindergarten through the third grade.

The program operates five mornings a week for four weeks and is filled with stories, interactive play, trips, swimming and social skills.

The Cypress choir has been working since the beginning of the year on the cantata "Calvary's Mountain" which will be performed Palm Sunday, March 28. The day will start with palms and hosannas and transition to remembering the events of the Passion of Christ. The cantata includes scripture readings and beautiful music.

The Crains Creek Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual barbecue pork and chicken dinner fundraiser Saturday, March 13. Meals will be served from noon to 7 p.m. Raffle tickets for a beautiful handmade quilt are available from most firefighters and B&L Auto. The auction will start at 7 p.m.

If you have items for the auction, drop them off at the fire department or contact the department to arrange for them to be picked up. All funds raised go to support the fire department and its efforts to serve the community

Please remember our military and their families whether here or abroad with your positive thoughts and prayers as they serve our country.

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

• "Sunny" Sidley

Shawtown

The Holy Week fellowship schedule is as followers:

Monday, March 29 - Green Grove A.M.E Zion, 2810 County Line Road in Cameron. The speaker is Pastor Joe Phillips, of Open House Deliverance Mission in Carthage. The coordinator is Ricky McKinney.

Tuesday, March 30 - Endtime Harvest Deliverance, 103 McReynolds St. in Carthage. The speaker is Pastor Jay Baker, of Daylight Covenant Deliverance Ministries in Vass. Elder Darrel Harris is the coordinator.

Wednesday, March 31 - St. Peter Deliverance Church of God, 490 Hodgins St. in Southern Pines. The speaker is the Rev. Ricky McKinney, of Green Grove A.M.E. Zion in Cameron. The coordinator is Bishop Ricky Smith.

Thursday, April 1 - Daylight Covenant Ministries, 245 Lincoln Ave. in Vass. The coordinator is Pastor Jay Baker.

Friday, April 2 - Open House Deliverance Mission, 612 Dowd Road in Carthage. The speaker is Elder Charlveston Hester, of St. John United Chuch of God in Carthage. The coordinator is Pastor Joe Phillips.

Sunday, April 4 - An Easter sunrise service will be held at 6 a.m. St. John United Church of God, 376 Bethlehem Church Road in Carthage. The speaker is Bishop Ricky Smith, of St. Peter Deliverance Church of God in Southern Pines. The coordinator is Elder Charlveston.

First Missionary Baptist Church in the Needmore community in Carthage, where the Pastor is the Rev. Blandon, will have its Family and Friends Day at 3 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Linda Smith, of Mount Calvary Church in Sanford, will be the speaker.

Fellowship House of Prayer on Bryant Road, where the pastor is Bishop Wille Gilmore, will have its spring revival today (Wednesday), Thursday and Friday at 7:30 nightly. The speaker tonight is Minister Faye Gilmore. On Thursday, the speaker will be Minister Mary Ray, of St. Ruth Church of God in West End. The Friday speaker will be Yanus Eadi, of Halls Memorial Church in Vass.

Body of Christ Outreach Ministry on Lemon Springs Road, where the pastor is the Rev. Larry Ray, holds Sunday School at 10 a.m. and worship at 11:15 a.m. every Sunday. Bible study is held at 7 p.m. every Wednesday. Youth Bible study is also held on Wednesday night.

William and Scarlett Priest will celebrate their 49th wedding anniversary March 4.

On the prayer list are all hospital patients, rest home residents, the homebound, prisoners, our president and other leaders, our troops, those who are addicted to tobacco, drugs and alcohol, and especially each other.

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

To include items in the community news, please call (910) 947-2208 or e-mail raye.irene@ yahoo.com.

• Irene Ray

Taylortown

Moore CAN (Community Action Network) thanks everyone for participating in the recent diversity dinner/community forum. There was an overwhelming response, with local ministers, educators, parents, senior citizens, and business and civic leaders attended.

For more information regarding future events and regular meetings, contact Dr. Robin Moore at (910) 638-8223 or Madie Davis at (910) 692-1612.

The new music director at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pinehurst invites our community churches to participate in a free Lenten concert presented by the Carolina Philharmonic at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, in the main sanctuary. To receive a block of free tickets for your church, please contact Carole Huettig at marketing@carolinaphil.org or call the orchestra office at (910) 687-4746.

An invitation is also extended to chorus singers. The chorus will present Mozart's Ave Verum and Handel's Hallelujah Chorus with the orchestra. Rehearsals will be held in the main sanctuary. Contact the church regarding the date and time for the rehearsals.

God's Love in Action Deliverance Ministries will have a one-night revival at 7:30 p.m. this Friday. The speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Janice Brown, of St. Mary Holy Church of America Inc. in Greensboro. She is an international recording artist. The pastor, Apostle Andrea U. Weekes, invites everyone to attend.

Minister Mary Ray, of St. Ruth United Church of God, will be the speaker at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Fellowship House of God. The pastor, Bishop Willie Gilmore, invites everyone to attend the three-night revival, which begins tonight and runs through Friday.

The Prayer, Praise, and Deliverance Ministry will have a three-night revival this Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m. The speaker will be the Rev. Eugene Ussery. Pastor J. Charles Gillespie invites everyone to these services. For more information, call (9100 315-9878.

Piney Grove Free Will Baptist will have its annual "Choir Day" at 2:30 p.m. this Sunday. The sponsor is the Calvary Gospel Singers. For more information, call Clara Williams at (910) 652-5946.

Longleaf A.M.E. Zion Church will sponsor a "Musical Rainbow Tea" at 3 p.m Sunday at Westmoore Elementary School on N.C, 705 near Robbins. The pastor, the Rev. Angela Headen Davis, invites everyone to this event. Her table is the color purple.

The community extends sympathy to the family of the late Mary "Gertie" Jackson Ross. Please remember the family in your thoughts and prayers.

Please remember the bereaved, sick and shut-ins, incarcerated, needy, youths, senior citizens and members of the U.S. military in your prayers and good deeds. Also, thank you for remembering the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. You can make contributions through the Red Cross at www.redcross.org.

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 had a program at 2 p.m. this past Sunday. The speakers were Minister Frederick Kelly and Deacon Freddie Kelly, Jr.

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.

Frye's Chapel Freewill Baptist Church will have a church league basketball tournament from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. this Saturday at Southern Middle School in Aberdeen. Everyone is invited to come out and help the church support its building fund. The sponsors are Lisa Chavis and Arthur Frye. For more information, please call (910) 690-6668. Refreshments will be served.

Minister Alexander Morrison, of Whispering Pines, will present his trial sermon at 10 a.m. this Sunday at Southern Pines Primary School. Everyone is welcome to attend.

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, Johnny Murchison and Thaddeus Wilburn. To have your name added to the church prayer list, call (910) 783-9783.

Pastor Shepherd will speak at 1 p.m. Saturday at a women's conference at the Aberdeen Community Center in Berkley for St. Mary's Holiness Church in Hamlet.

God's Vision of Praise Ministry will hold a Holy Ghost praise service at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26.

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.

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. Children's church is held at 11 a.m. every Sunday.

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 church now has a bus ministry for those who need a ride to and from church on Sunday mornings. Anyone who needs a ride can call (910) 695-0494.

Choir practice is held every Sunday evening unless postponed by Pastor Vaughn.

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.

Birthday wishes go out to Travis Kelly (March 4) and Herman Finch (March 9).

Continue to pray for all the sick and shut-ins, each other, our U.S. troops in Iraq and worldwide and the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

To have your news included in the Vass section, send an e-mail to anitafinch38@yahoo.com or leave a message at (910) 603-6254, or mail items at least one week in advance to P.O. Box 1364, Vass, NC 28394.

• Anita Finch