Addor

The Rev. James G. McKinnon, pastor of Poplar Springs, will celebrate his second pastoral anniversary Friday through Sunday.

Evening services will be held Friday and Saturday at the church. A banquet will be held Sunday evening at the Aberdeen Lake recreation building. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for children age 12 and under.

The last pre-checkup meeting for the Sanford District will be held Sunday afternoon. All reports should be turned in.

The community congratulates Karen Reese May on receiving her real estate license. She is the daughter of Philip and Sara McMillan. She grew up in Addor. She and her husband, Robert, recently relocated back home to help care for her elderly parents.

She joined the Keller Williams Realty team in Southern Pines. She can be reached at (910) 986-0801.

Her husband is transplanting his senior assistance-home repair business, Elderserv, to Moore and surrounding counties. He can be reached at (910) 730-0594.

The Scotland County NAACP Scholarship Banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at Bright Hope Baptist Church. Tickets are $20 a person.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Agnes Hubbard (Sept. 26).

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

Please continue to pray for 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 at 160 Ridgeline Road off N.C. 5 just behind the Habitat for Humanity store.

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.

Bible study is at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday. Minister's study is held every second Tuesday at 6 p.m.

The church will hold its first Men's and Women's Conference at 10 a.m. Saturday. Lunch will be served. Everyone is invited.

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. 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.

Shiloh is holding its annual revival today (Wednesday) through Friday at 7:30 nightly. The speaker will be Dr. Otis T. McMillan, author, songwriter and recording artist. He has been a pastor in the A.M.E. Zion Church for nearly 30 years. He has published several books and produced a number of musical recordings.

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) 528-4782.

- Rachel Hill

Cameron

First Baptist Church in Cameron will observe its annual fall homecoming at 3 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Cicero Summers, of White Oak Missionary Baptist Church, will be the guest speaker. He will be accompanied by his choir.

Services will be held Monday, Sept. 27, through Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 nightly. Bishop Ezekiel Young, of New Birth Deliverance Church in Angier, will be the guest preacher for the week. The church pastor, the Rev. Linwood Tuck, invites everyone to attend.

The fall Antiques Fair will be held Saturday, Oct. 2, rain or shine. Hood Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church at 320 McNeill St. (behind the post office) will be parking cars. All proceeds will benefit the special building fund.

- Carol Frye Davis

Eastwood

Apostle Leonard Williams and Mother Mahalia Williams hold Bible study every Tuesday from 6:45 to 8 p.m. at SpringHill 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 and Bible study every first and third Tuesday.

Minister Devote Wilson will preach at 6 p.m. Saturday at a youth program in Wagram.

Malia and Benjamin Harris Jr. will celebrate their wedding anniversary this week. Mildred and Milton Mclaughlin will celebrate their 43rd wedding anniversary Friday, and Joyce and Lonzo Curry will celebrate their wedding anniversary Saturday.

Alexis Monroe celebrated her 16th birthday with her friends and family. Birthday wishes go out this week to Feraud Russell (Sept. 23) and April Curry (Sept. 24).

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

Bible study is held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Macedonia and at 7:30 p.m. at Fletcher's Chapel.

The "12 Tribes" will be held at Pleasant Hill Methodist Church at 3 p.m. Sept. 26. The host pastor is the Rev. C.E. Cunningham. The church will hold homecoming and revival services Oct. 11-15 at 7:30 nightly.

Bishop Marshall Gilmore will be the guest preacher at 11 a.m. Oct. 10 at Pleasant Hill. The Rev. C.E. Cunningham is the host pastor.

The Rev. Robert Dockery, pastor of Macedonia, will be the guest preacher for revival services this week at Lovely Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Rockingham. Services are at 7 p.m. It concludes Friday. The host pastor is the Rev. Benny Kemp.

The youth choir at Macedonia will celebrate its anniversary at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Hoffman Day will be held Oct. 2 at the community school building.

The community extends sympathy to the family of the late Lula Mae Green.

Birthday wishes go out to all who are celebrating this week.

Sick and shut-ins: Lacy Jackson, Cathy Harrington, Lany Harrison, Rosa Harrison, Eugene Martin, Johnny King, Leana McRae, Flossie Hagins, Nancy Ellerbe, Lillie Ellerbe, Bune Ellerbe, Thelma McKoy, E.C. McFayden, Bessie Little, Albert Hailey, Mattie White, Rebecca Utley, Henrietta Little, Arlene McRae, Frank Smith, Agnes Jones McKeithen, Buelah Jones, Retha Sloan, Victoria Smith, Dan McKoy, the Rev. Charles Bethea and Arda Mae Swanne.

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 has begun the first stages for its harvest sale and supper by making tickets available for sale for the beautiful quilts the ladies of the church make every year. This year, the ladies have made two quilts, instead of just one, that will be raffled off. Tickets to be drawn for these one-of-kind quilts can be purchased from Brenda at B&L Auto on N.C. 610, right next to Mount Pleasant Church.

The supper and sale will be held Oct. 16. An added feature this year will be new country store, where those getting their plates can go to purchase bake goods, preserves and jellies and many other items.

The auction of the many handmade goods from the families of the church will also be on display beforehand. The fellowship hall has been enlarged, so there is plenty of room to bring the family and invite friends.

Mount Pleasant Church began supporting the BackPack Pals program of the Moore County school system last week. This program provides nutritional food for children in need during the weekends. This past week, the church delivered enough individual servings of pudding, potted meat, Vienna sausage, soup, cereal and other treats to fill 50 backpacks for the children in this program who attend Vass Lakeview Elementary and other area schools.

The church invites others in the community to join in as it ministers to the needs of this community and to those across Moore County. More special events and Sunday night singings are in the works, so watch this article for times and dates.

Cypress Presbyterian Church invites the community to attend its homecoming service and Kirkin' of the Tartans on Sunday, Oct. 17.

This special service has been planned since 2005. The church will celebrate the heritage of Cypress, the Presbyterian church and this part of North Carolina. The Rev. Dennis "Bud" Cameron will be the guest minister. Please call (910) 245-7898 if you would like to provide some of the flowers for homecoming in memory or in honor of a loved one.

Cypress Church is collecting individual serving size boxes of cereal for the BackPack Pals program to help provide children with food for the weekends. The cereal will be used at Cameron Elementary School. This will be an ongoing project for this school year, and everyone is encouraged to think of the children when you are doing your food shopping.

Please remember to mark your calendar for the 58th annual harvest sale and supper Saturday, Oct. 2, from 4 to 7 p.m.

The community is invited to come for supper, eat-in or take-out. The menu consists of fried chicken with rice and gravy or country ham with grits and red-eye gravy. Both choices include rolls, candied yams, seasoned green beans, beverage and a dessert. Plates are $7 for adults and $3 for children. Dinner will be served from 4 to 7 pm.

An old-time auction will begin at 7 p.m., featuring quilts, cakes, pies, sweet potatoes and other items. All proceeds will go to the church. Cypress Church is located at the intersection of Cypress Road and Cypress Church Road, six miles east of Vass.

Thanks to all who participated in the work day last Saturday to enhance our grounds and buildings for the harvest sale. With the usual delicious food and creative crafts, this year's harvest sale and supper should be another outstanding one.

Thanks to the Rev. Bill Clark for being the guest minister last Sunday. Cypress Church will welcome the Rev. Bruce Lax this Sunday.

"Project Santa Claus" has opened new collection points at Bill Smith Ford in Southern Pines, Phillip Motors in Carthage, at 291 South Mechanic St. in Southern Pines and at 217 West Wind Drive in Vass. Bikes, old and new, parts and donations are all accepted. Earl Wright also provides basketballs and other toys for children in need in the Moore County community.

The Disabled American Veterans in Carthage is sponsoring a barbecue pork and chicken plate sale from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 1. Members of the DAV will deliver orders for six plates or more. The contact phone number is (910) 947-2821. Steve Hohman, of Mount Pleasant Church, is a DAV officer and is helping to carry out this event.

Last Friday was set aside as the Day of Remembrance for prisoners of war and those missing in action. The actual number for both groups is 80,000. Last week, I incorrectly typed 18,000. I apologize for the mistake.

Please send your positive thoughts and prayers for those serving in the military and those left behind waiting.

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

- "Sunny" Sidley

Shawtown

Body of Christ Outreach Ministry on Lemon Springs, where the pastors are Larry and Mellaine Ray, invites everyone to its fun day this Saturday afternoon.

First Missionary Baptist in the Needmore section in Carthage held its homecoming last Sunday. Revival services, which began Monday, will conclude tonight (Wednesday).

A pancake fundraiser breakfast will held from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at Applebee's in Aberdeen to support the Community Brotherhood. Plates are $7 per person. Tickets are available from any member. For more information, contact Bobby Whitaker at (910) 949-3718.

Happy birthday to all who are celebrating this week.

Remember to pray for the sick, their families, our troops, our president and each other.

- Irene Ray

Taylortown

The fun day and gospel musical in the park will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 2 at Johnny Boler Park.

Please continue to get your tickets, for a donation of $8, from any member of Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church and Greater Works of Deliverance Ministries (formerly God's Love in Action).

Pastor Cora M. Murphy, of Fresh Start Discipleship Center Inc. on Main Street, invites everyone to the ordination service for Elder-Elect Prophetess Sheila Elizabeth Smith at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, at Jesus Is Lord Deliverance Center on U.S. 15-501 in Aberdeen. Congratulations to Prophetess Smith.

The Rev. Angela Headen Davis will have a youth revival at her church, Long Leaf A.M.E. Zion, at 7 p.m. this Friday. The speaker will be Minister Dwayne Simmons, of Bear Creek Congregational Church. The Rev. Rose Highland-Sharpe will give a presentation regarding educational opportunities at Sandhills Community College. Everyone is invited to attend.

St. James Lutheran Church will have a fish fry fundraiser for its youth department from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (910) 692-2515.

Kingdom Minded Ministries will have "Kingdom Community Day"from 2 until 7 p.m. Saturday at the Clay Hole-Southern Pines Pool Park. The event is free and open to the public. The pastors are Charles and Deborah Bloom.

The Divine Spirituals will hold its fifth anniversary celebration at 3 p.m. Sunday at New Century Middle School. All are welcome to attend.

Minister Jeff Person will be the speaker for revival services at the Tree of Life Center in Candor today (Wednesday) through Friday. Services begin at 7 p.m. The pastor, Elder Harold Pratt, invites everyone to attend.

Co-pastor Teretta M. Nealy and Pastor-Overseer Angeline Sumpter invite everyone to the fall revival at Greater New St. John Holiness Church of God Inc. today (Wednesday) through Friday at 7:30 p.m. The speaker will be Bishop Thomas Wooten.

"Taylortown Day" parade and festivities will begin airing next week on "Town Talk" on WYBE on Time Warner Cable 3. The show is hosted by Rose Highland-Sharpe and airs daily at 11:30 a.m. and at 6:30 p.m.

Willie Bradley, a trumpeter, will be the guest on the radio edition of "Town Talk" at 2:30 p.m. this Sunday on WEEB-990AM. He will share his life story, his testimony and his career in a band. The host is the Rev. Highland-Sharpe.

The radio edition of "Town Talk" airs at 2:30 p.m. on the -second, fourth and fifth Sundays on WEEB-990 AM. The program spotlights individuals who have overcome adversities and nonprofit agencies that provide services to children and adults. For more information, call the host, Rose Highland-Sharpe, at (910) 295-0013.

Archived shows of "Town Talk" radio are available on YouTube. Go to the site and pull up rosehighlandsharpe.

Applications are available for the 21st Century after-school program at Christ Way Deliverance Church. The program is free and will serve students in the first through eighth grades from 3:30 until 6:30 p.m., and ninth through 12th from 6 until 9 p.m. Call the Rev. Nathaniel Jackson at (910) 295-5813 for more information. The program begins Oct. 1.

Free music classes are available at the Taylor House on Main Street. All ages are welcome. Alice Jackson, retired educator and longtime piano teacher, has classes at 5 p.m. on Thursdays. Michael Robinson, longtime musician, teaches bass guitar at 5 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Call Mrs. Jackson at (910) 295-6051 for more information.

"Succeed" classes for developmentally disabled adults are available at the Westmoore Center in Robbins. The students are taught living skills and academics. These classes are free. Please contact David Hale at (910) 695-3933.

There is still time to enroll in fall adult basic education and GED classes at Sandhills Community College. Free classes are available on the main campus in Pinehurst and in Aberdeen, Carthage and Robbins. Contact Mike Andrews at (910) 695-3998 to register for the assessment and orientation. Also, for more information, call the recruiter for basic skills, Rose Highland-Sharpe, at (910) 695-3783.

"Good News Inspiration" on WEEB 990 AM from 6 to 11 a.m. on Sundays spotlights community and church announcements. This is a free service to the community. Rose Highland-Sharpe is the Sunday program director and announcer. She is celebrating 19 years at WEEB and 25 years in radio this fall.

Felton J. Capel will feature special selections from 9 until 9:30 a.m. Elder Ren Lee will be joining the announcers as an intern this fall/winter. Niniji Lloyd has been a substitute announcer the past year. Call (910) 295-0013 for more information.

The community extends sympathy to the family of the late William Anthony "Andy" Shaw, formerly of Troy. Services were held at Troy Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church last Sunday. He had served in the U.S. Air Force, was a graduate of North Carolina Central University in Durham and was a substance abuse counselor in Missouri.

Andy was the cousin of the late Flossie Ingram Highland and family and a longtime family friend of the the Rev. Cynthia Ransom and her family. Please continue to pray for the family.

The sick and shut-in list includes Evangelist Linda Gillespie, who is at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. Her husband is Pastor-Apostle J. Charles Gillespie.

Please remember the widowed, orphans, sick and shut-ins, bereaved, incarcerated, homeless, 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; or by e-mail at rosesharpe37@gmail. com at least two weeks in advance.

- 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 located at 205 Pats Road in Vass. Everyone is welcome to attend all services.

The WG choir of Fellowship House of God in Carthage will have its choir anniversary at 7 p.m. Saturday at the church.

The Divine Spirituals will celebrate its fifth group anniversary at 3 p.m. Sunday at New Century Middle School in Carthage. Many groups and choirs will perform. Everyone is welcome to come out and help support the Divine Spirituals celebrate this special occasion.

The Vass Area Library will hold a preschool story time at 10 a.m. Thursday. Everyone is welcome to attend and bring along a friend.

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.

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 Colon Lee Kelly and Tamika Peterson (Aug. 31), Elijiah Wilkins (Sept. 11), Mia Allison Toomer (Sept. 12), Mary Dobbins (Sept. 16) and Lucille Faulk and Minister Alexander Morris (Sept. 17).

Continue to pray for all the sick and shut-ins, including all in the hospital and in rest homes, 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 anitafinch38 @yahoo.com or mail items at least one week in advance to P.O. Box 176, Vass, NC 28394.

- Anita Finch

West Southern Pines

The Sandhills Patriots football travel teams, next home games will be Saturday at the field at Southern Pines Elementary School. You'll be glad you came to support them. The prep team is ages 7-9; jayvee, 10-11; and varsity, 12-13.

The 2011 West Southern Pines Alumni Reunion Committee is looking for all alumni. If you have any addresses or telephone numbers the committee may need, please send them to CasSandra McPhatter Jones at 265 S. Mechanic St., Southern Pines, NC 28387.

The committee is asking one person from each class to gather information about your class and forward it. The reunion is scheduled for May 27-29, 2011. The class of 1969 is primary host, with support of the classes 1962-1968.

- Tessie Taylor