Addor

Holy Week services are under way. The Rev. Carl Core, pastor of Elizabeth Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, will be at New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church in Addor at 7 p.m. today (Wednesday). The Rev. Elgett Floyd, pastor of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Jackson Springs, will preach at Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church, where the pastor is the Rev. James McKinnon, at 7 pm. Thursday. The Rev. James McKinnon will preach at Crusade of Christ Deliverance Church in Southern Pines, where the pastor is the Rev. Hoover Benymon, at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Good Friday service for the Sanford District will be held at noon at Marsh Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Sanford.

Everyone in the community is invited to join New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church for Sunday School at 10 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. this Sunday. Right after the morning worship service, a short skit will be presented and the children will receive some goodies.

The pastor is the Rev. Charles McKnight. Please notify the pastor if you are sick or in need of prayer. That is for both members and nonmembers. The phone number is (910) 639-1893.

Birthday wishes go out to Jesse Mae McNeill (April 22) and all others who are celebrating.

In memoriam of Mittie L. Taylor (April 21).

Sick and shut-ins: Betty J. Ellerbe and Marie Berry are in rehab. Louise Cox Jones is in assisted living at Carolina House for a few weeks. Effie Jane Smith, 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, Charles Wilkerson 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 8 a.m. every Saturday. Bible study is at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday. Minister's study is held every second Tuesday at 6 p.m.

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, where the pastor is the Rev. Henry R. Davis, will be holding Sunday services at Aberdeen Elementary School. Bible study is held at 6 p.m. at the Aberdeen Community Center.

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, has a new pastor, Jamal Brown. The church 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.

The Word of Life Holy Church of God in Christ, at 107 Spring St., where the pastor is Overseer Nathaniel Malloy, holds Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. and worship services at 11 a.m. every Sunday. Bible study is held at 7 p.m. every Wednesday.

Happy birthday to all who are celebrating this week.

Continue to pray 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

Various churches in the Eastwood and Taylortown area are holding Holy Week services throughout the week.

St. Peters will have its Easter program Sunday, April 24, after the morning worship service. Everyone is invited to attend.

St. Peters will hold its women's conference Saturday, April 30, with a luncheon featuring Tina Monroe, author of "Shattered But Not Destroyed," starting at 11 a.m. This is for women only.

On Sunday, May 1, Minister Tina Harris, of Endtime Harvest, will speak during the 11:15 a.m. service. Dinner will be served afterward. Everyone is invited to attend.

St. Ruth in West End will have its church revival May 5-7. The guest speakers will be Elder Larry Russell (May 5), Elder Alvin Jones (May 6) and Evangelist Wanda Lawrence (May 7). All are welcome to attend.

St. Peters has prayer meetings at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday. Bible study is held at 7:30 p.m. every first and third Tuesday.

Jason and Sarah Jones celebrated their wedding anniversary last week.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Barbara Harris and William Smith (April 21), Justin Brewer (April 22), Lovenia Jackson (April 23) and Eldress Lillian Kearns (April 24).

Sick and shut-ins: Lewis McLaughlin, Paula Neal, Sam Kelly, Ralph McLean, Michael McLean, Hoover Brown, Carolyn Swinnie, Joe Jackson, Evelyn Clegg, Cornelia Adkins, Minister Wrencher, Margret Thompson and Alma Jones.

- Wilma Monroe

Hoffman

Holy Week services began Monday and continue through Saturday. Services are at 7:20 nightly. Today (Wednesday), the service will be at Fletcher's Chapel, with Pastor Estelle Quick in charge. On Thursday, the service will be at Macedonia, with Pastor Barbara Covington in in charge. The Friday service will be at Full Gospel, with the Rev. Charles Bethea in charge. On Saturday, the service will be at Oakley Grove, with the Rev. Robert Dockery in charge.

An Easter sunrise service will be held Sunday at Friendship Church, with the Rev. C.E. Cunningham in charge. At 3 p.m., a pastors' wives service will be held at Mount Calvary.

On Easter Monday, Macedonia will have an Easter egg hunt at the Beaver Center. Fletcher's Chapel will also hold an Easter egg hunt Monday.

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

The Macedonia missionary circle meets at 10 a.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.

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

Sick and shut-ins: Henry Isaac, Nancy Hayes, Barbara Brower, Flossie Hagins, Rosa Harrison, Lang Harrison, Cathy Harrington, Retha Sloan, Antoyal Ratliff, Frank Smith, Victoria Smith, Lula Smith, Mattie White, Thelma McCoy, Dan McCoy, Albert Hailey, Arlene McRae, Lena McRae, Juanita Gilmore, Ernest Gilmore, Lillie Ellerbe, Bunie Ellerbe, Nancy Ellerbe, Bessie Little, Henretta Little, Rebecca Utley, Shadeed Hart, James Anderson, Lacy Jackson, Lonnie Swann, Eugene Martin, Mamie Martin, Johnny King, Latoya Ratliff and Bernice Dodins.

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

- Bea Little

Little River

The week before Easter Sunday is always a busy one at Mount Pleasant Church.

Tonight, youth meetings will be held and the choir will be practicing for the Easter Service. A Maundy Thursday service will be held at 7 p.m., with a light meal provided in the fellowship hall afterward.

Easter Sunday morning will begin with the congregation and community invited to share a time of worship at the cross in the cemetery (weather permitting) for sunrise services. Breakfast will be served in the fellowship hall after the sunrise service. The church invites everyone in the community to attend the worship service at 8 a.m.

In the past week, the church had landscaping and an irrigation system installed around the buildings. A new pacer patio was installed between the fellowship hall and smaller chapel. This will make this garden patio area much more useful and easier access to the fellowship hall during the harvest sale.

Cypress Presbyterian Church will observe Maundy Thursday, beginning with a covered-dish supper at 6 p.m. in the fellowship hall followed by a worship service at 7 p.m. This service will include the celebration of the Lord's Supper, Tenebrae and shrouding of the cross.

A community Good Friday service will be held at noon at Cypress Church, with Rev. Bill Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church in Vass, delivering the message.

Cypress Church invites everyone in the community to attend its Easter sunrise service at Woodlake at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, April 24. Weather permitting, the service will be held outside at The Oates House.

Communion will be served at the 11 a.m. worship service Easter Sunday. There will not be an 8:30 a.m. worship service on Easter.

Cypress Presbyterian Church holds worship services at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. each Sunday. The church is at 1220 Cypress Church Road, seven miles east of Vass.

The firefighters and the board members of Crains Creek Volunteer Fire Department thank everyone who helped make the March 19 fundraiser a success. They value and sincerely appreciate the community support shown to the department.

Please remember members of the military and their families in these trying times. Whether at home or away, our military and their families can use our support with prayers and positive thoughts.

We wish those of different religious affiliations Happy Passover and Happy Easter.

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

- "Sunny" Sidley

Shawtown

The theme for Holy Week services is "Love Lifted Me." The schedule for the remainder of the week is as follows:

Today (Wednesday), New Hope Christian Ministries, 160 Ridgeline Road (off Highway 5 behind Habitat for Humanity), Aberdeen, Pastor Jay Baker, Daylight Covenant Deliverance Ministries, Vass, speaker; Thursday, Daylight Covenant Deliverance Ministries, Vass, Bishop Ricky Smith, St. Peters Deliverance Church, Southern Pines, speaker; Friday, Endtime Harvest Ministries in Carthage, Pastor Charlveston Hester, St. John United Church of God, Carthage, speaker; Sunday, Easter sunrise service at 6 a.m., St. John United Church of God in Carthage, Pastor Darrell Harris, Endtime Harvest Ministries, Carthage, speaker.

Other Holy Week services include: Overseer Horn will preach at St. Ruth United Church of God in West End on Thursday. Evangelist Linda Gillispie will preach at Victory Temple in Eagle Springs on Friday. Elder Melvin Jones, of Greensboro, will preach at St. Ruth on Saturday.

An Easter sunrise service will be held at 6 a.m. Sunday at St. Ruth. Elder Melvin Jones will speak at the 11 a.m. service.

An outreach ministry program will be held outdoors from 1 to 3 p.m. April 30 at St. Ruth. Wanda Laverne will be the speaker.

Minister Mary Ray will speak at 11 a.m. May 1 at St. Ruth.

St. Ruth will hold revival services May 5-7. The speakers will be Pastor Larry Russell, of Greater Faith in Biscoe (May 5), Pastor Alvin Jones, of Greensboro (May 6), and Evangelist Wanda Lawrence, of Kernesville.

Body of Outreach Ministry on Lemon Springs Road, where the pastor is Larry Ray, has Sunday School at 10 a.m. and worship at 11:15 a.m. every Sunday. Prayer and Bible study are held at 6 p.m. every Wednesday.

Happy birthday to all who are celebrating this week.

Please pray for those in rest homes and assisted living facilities, hospital patients, the homebound, caregivers, our president and our other leaders, our troops and each other.

- Irene Ray

Taylortown

Join the Taylortown Ministerial Alliance for Holy Week services this week. The schedule and speakers are as follows:

Today (Wednesday), Spruill Temple Church of God in Christ, the Rev. Rose Highland-Sharpe (alternate-Bishop Larry Brown); Thursday, Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, the Rev. Carolyn Mitchell, speaker (alternate-the Rev. Janice Cooper); and Friday, Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, Minister Dianne Watkins (alternate-the Rev. Edward Nebraska Williams).

Communion will be served during the Thursday service, and all ministers are asked to wear their robes. All services begin at 7 p.m.

A sunrise service will be held at 6 a.m. Sunday, April 24, at Providence Presbyterian Church. The speaker will be Elder Jerry Chesney (alternate-the Rev. Kenneth Stewart).

These services are coordinated by the Taylortown Ministerial Alliance. The Rev. Larry Alford is the president, and he invites everyone in the community to attend.

The Moore County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is accepting nominations for its annual Mother of the Year contest. The deadline is April 25. For more information and to make a nomination, call O'Linda W. Gillis at (910) 947-1422 or e-mail her at odw3220@embarq.com.

The United Way of Moore County will have the "Tour de Trike" tricycle race at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28, in downtown Southern Pines. Adult riders and sponsors are needed. For more information, call (910) 692-2413.

The United Way of Moore County needs volunteers to conduct community assessments from late April until June 1. The purpose of the assessment is to determine community needs that are not being met by charitable organizations and civic groups. Training will be provided.

For more information, call (910) 692-2413 or e-mail unitedway@pinehurst.net. Linda M. Pearson is the executive director.

Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church has a prayer meeting from noon until 1 p.m. and Bible study from 1 to 2 p.m. each Wednesday. Church school is held at 9:45 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. each Sunday. The Rev. Janice Cooper welcomes everyone to all services. She can be reached at (910) 295-3579.

Spruill Temple will have a prayer service from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday. You can call in your prayer request at (910) 295-0071. The pastor, Elder Jerry Chesney, welcomes everyone to drop in at any time during this informal prayer time and "to come as you are."

Tune in to "Town Talk" at its new times, 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. every day on Time Warner Cable channel 3. The show is back to its 30-minute format and will feature local inspirational performances, faith-based programs and individuals with triumphant stories of overcoming hardships. The host is Rose Highland-Sharpe.

"Taylortown Jams" are music sessions open to experienced musicians from noon until 6 p.m. Saturdays at the Taylor House on Main Street. If you have a passion for playing any musical instrument, please join this lively session every Saturday. There is no charge. Contact Michael Robinson at (910) 725-1582 for more information.

Everyone is invited to participate in free music classes at the Taylor House on Main Street. The classes are open to all ages. For more information, contact Michael Robinson at (910) 725-1582.

Greater Glory Family Worship Ministries is offering Bible study classes for college students at 6 p.m. each Tuesday. Bring your own Bible. Singled Out Campus International Ministries (SOCIM) is the sponsor. Andrea Cattle is the founder and president of SOCIM.

The pastor is Shepherdess Bessie Dixon. The overseer is Apostle Michael S. Dixon. Greater Glory is at 156 Westgate Drive, Taylortown (off N.C. 211 near State Farm Insurance).

Minister Jason Hackett and Christopher Lacy will be interns for WEEB's Sunday gospel radio program from 6 to 11 a.m. Chris is the son of Bill and Gloria (Ellerbe) Lacy, an honor student and excellent football player at Pinecrest. He is working on his senior project in communications. Jason is an associate minister at Solid Rock Holiness Church, a mental health professional, motivational speaker and Bible teacher. He is furthering his college studies in psychology.

The Pinecrest High School Class of 1971 is planning its 40th reunion for July 29-31, 2011. Addresses and phone numbers are needed for class members. Contact Lottie Alford Mason at (910) 603-7931 or Diane Waddell Monroe at (910) 295-7455.

Thank you for tuning in to "Good News Inspiration" on WEEB-990 AM on Sundays from 6 until 11 a.m. Send your church and community announcements to the Sunday program director, Rose Highland-Sharpe, at P.O. Box 4653, Pinehurst, NC 28374; or by e-mail to rosesharpe37@gmail.com. Other announcers include Felton J. Capel and Minister Jason Hackett.

Thank you for your prayers and good deeds for those in neighboring counties who suffered losses from the destruction of last Saturday's tornadoes.

The sick and shut-in list includes Tim Mason (Duke Hospital), Ruth Morrison, Deacon Leroy Alford Sr., Jaion Barrett, Mr. and Mrs. George Brown, Evelyn Clegg, Christine Ellerbe, Sandy George Gaines, Geneva Goins, Phyllis Goins, Cathy Harrington, Alice Jackson, the Rev. Nathaniel McNeill, Pauline Levine, Willa B. Monroe, Catherine Morrison, Dorothy R. Morrison, Vera Moses, Kathy Murphy, Howard Ray, Lolita Robinson and Johnnie Stanford at First Health Moore Regional Hospital (Rose Stanford Harris' brother).

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, questions or comments to Rose 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

Pastor Mary Kelly will be the guest speaker at Fellowship House of God in Carthage at 6 p.m. Saturday for its Green Tea program. All are welcome to attend.

On Sunday, after Sunday school, God's House of Prayer Ministry will have a treasure hunt in celebration of Easter. All are welcome.

Prophet Chatman will be the guest speaker at 7 p.m. May 7 at the church for its building fund. The program is sponsored by Evangelist Jacqueline Harvin. Everyone is invited to attend.

A pastor aid program for Pastor Mary Kelly will be held at 7 p.m. May 21 at the church. The guest speaker will be Rev. Tinsley. The program is sponsored by Deaconess Catherine McKeithan.

Minister Frederick Kelly will speak May 22 at Ministry of Deliverance in Aberdeen. Elder Leak is the church pastor. The time of the program will be announced at a later time.

Evangelist Hicks will be the guest speaker at 6 p.m. May 28 at the God's House of Prayer Ministry for Pastor Mary Kelly's pre-anniversary program. The program is sponsored by Evangelist Jacqueline Harvin. Everyone is invited to attend.

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.

Oakridge A.M.E. Zion Church will holding its annual Women's Day program at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the church. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Adrena Little of St. Mark Freewill Baptist Church. Everyone is invited to attend.

Birthday wishes go out to Charlotte Simmons (April 20).

Word of Truth Christian Center of Vass, where the pastors are Micheal and Cheryl Blue and Overseer Helen Spencer, has Bible study at 6 p.m. every Wednesday. Sunday School is held every Sunday at 10 a.m., and the worship service starts at 11:15 p.m.

New Direction Outreach Ministries, where the pastor is Pastor Linnie M. Saunders, has worship services every Sunday at 11:30 a.m., except any fifth Sunday. Bible study is held from 7 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday. It is led by Elder C. Taylor.

The church is at 3623 North U.S. 1 Business in Vass across from the Vass Ball Park. For more information, call (910) 638-8441.

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

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