Aberdeen

Turning Pont Worship Center, located at 16433 U.S. 15-501 south of Aberdeen, holds worship services at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday. Bible classes are held at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday.

To submit items for the Aberdeen news, please email shelbiperson@emnbarqmail.com.

- Shelbi Person

Addor

The Rev. Charles McKnight, pastor of New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church, thanks all of the members and visitors who attended services on Sunday, Christmas Day.

The church was filled to capacity. The children presented a short play titled "Happy Birthday Jesus."

New Zion A.M.E. Zion will hold a Watch Night service from 10 p.m. to midnight Saturday. Everyone is invited to attend.

Everyone in the community is invited to attend New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church each Sunday, with Sunday School at 10 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m.

A Watch Night service will be held at 10 p.m. Saturday at Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church. All are invited to come out and bring in the new year.

The 21st Century after-school program at New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church program operates Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. Snacks are provided. Please contact the Rev. Charles McKnight, the church pastor, at (910) 639-1893. They thank everyone for their support.

If anyone is in need of food, heating assistance and shelter, please contact 211, the United Way of Moore County.

The community was saddened to learn of the passing of Maquillie Ross, of Cameron Village. The funeral was held Tuesday at Freedom Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Raeford. Please keep the family in your prayers.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Kenneth Washington (Dec. 31) and Betty Whitlock (Jan. 1). Happy anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. James Moses on Dec. 28.

Sick and shut-ins: Marie Berry is in the hospital. Jessie McNeill is home from the hospital. Sarah F. McMillian is in rehab. Betty J. Ellerbe, Betty L. Moses, Philip McMillian, Louise Jones, Nora Smith and Carl McRae Jr. are among the homebound. Stella Gillispie, Connie L. Covington, Diana Brown, Portia Smith, Sampson Blue and Lewis 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, please contact me at (910) 281-3385.

We wish everyone in the community a Happy New Year.

- 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.

The youth ministry of New Hope Christian Ministries will have its Christmas program at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday. Everyone is invited to attend.

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

St. Peters will have a Watch Night service at 10 p.m. New Year's Eve, Dec. 31.

St. Ruth in West End will have a New Year's revival Jan. 4-6 at 7:30 nightly. Elder Timothy Worthy will be the preacher.

St. Peters has Bible study on Tuesday after the first and third Sunday each month. Prayer meeting is held at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday.

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

- Wilma Monroe

Hoffman

Bible study is held each Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Macedonia and at 7:30 p.m. at Fletcher's Chapel. Pleasant Hill holds Bible study at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The home union will be held Sunday, Jan. 29. The Rev. Charles Bethea is in charge. The host pastor is the Rev. C.E. Cunningham.

Reginald Little, of Atlanta, was home for Christmas with his family. Janette Kelly, of Baltimore, visited her family for Christmas. Gary and Dorena Chavis spent Christmas with their daughter's family in Danville, Va. Cedric Jefferson and his son and daughter spent Christmas with his mother, Doretha Jefferson.

Birthday wishes go out to Jessie Spell (Dec. 15), Keva Ratliff (Dec. 19) and to all who are celebrating this week.

Sick and shut-ins: Earnest Gilmore, Beulah Jones, Joe Jones, Letha Isaac, Nancy Hayes, Flossie Hagins, Frank Smith, Lang Harrison, Albert Hailey, Lacy Jackson, Mattie White, Cathy Harrington, Lula Smith, Juanita Gilmore, Leana McRae, Arlene McRae, Thelma McKoy, Dan McKoy, Eugene Martin, Johnny King, Nancy Ellerbe, Lillie Ellerbe, Bunie Ellerbe, Jimmy Ellerbe, Rebecca Utley, Cynthia Royster and Robert Wadkins are among the homebound.

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

- Bea Little

Little River

Cypress Presbyterian Church resumes choir rehearsals at 7 o'clock tonight (Wednesday). Start the new year off right by attending Sunday School at 10 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. on New Year's Day.

Cypress will celebrate the Lord's supper at the 11 a.m. worship service Sunday, Jan. 8. The following Sunday, Jan. 15, the handbell choir SUCCEED will perform at the 11 a.m. worship service.

For further information on the activities and programs at Cypress Presbyterian Church, please visit the church website at www.cypresspres.org.

This past Sunday, Mount Pleasant church gathered to celebrate the birth of Christ on Christmas morning. More than 125 people attended worship and gave praise for the greatest gift ever given to mankind.

The services included many special moments, with Shawn Haynes sharing the origin of the candy cane with the congregation. After giving the history of the candy cane, Shawn gave a candy cane to each child present.

Rich Harrison, Lindsay Schiller and Hayden Blue sang a beautiful rendition of "O Holy Night."

Dr. Poplin recognized deacons Hal Abshire and Steven Lane for the past three years of service to the church.

The church will resume regular schedules this coming week. Everyone is invited to share in the life of the church. Many events are already in the planning stages for every age group of the church.

Please remember, with positive thoughts and prayers, all of our soldiers and their families, whether here in the States or abroad.

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

- "Sunny" Sidley

Shawtown

We wish everyone in the community a Happy New Year!

Please pray for the entire world, our president and all leaders, sick, bereaved shut-ins and caregivers.

- Irene Ray

Taylortown

Happy New Year from the mayor, Town Council, town staff, Taylortown Ministerial Alliance, and local residents! All the best for a healthy and peaceful year!

Taylortown Head Start parents, grandparents and former students are featured on "Town Talk" television show this week. Musical selections (instrumentalists, vocalists, and mimes) are performed by Jared McCormick, Evangelist Loretta Butler, Brenda Spencer, Jonathan Flowers, Buck Ritter, Tyangela McAllister, and Minister Lequita Jones. "Town Talk" airs daily at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Time Warner Cable 3 of Southern Pines. Rose Highland-Sharpe is the videographer and producer. Happy New Year from Rose and the "Town Talk" staff!

Those interested in key boardist positions at local churches in Moore County, leave a message at (910) 295-0013.

The community extends condolences to the families of Patsy Ingram Ray, Deacon Horace Criswell Jr., and Carl W. "Mickey" McDowell. Please continue to pray for these families.

Pathways to C.N.A. (certified nursing assistant) program will be offered in the Basic Skills Education Department at Sandhills Community College in January 2012. For more information, leave a message at 695-3782 (Twana McKnight) or call 295-0013 or 695-3783 (R. Highland-Sharpe).

This free program offers students the opportunity to earn a GED (or to review math, reading, etc.) and to study occupational lessons to prepare for transitioning to the C.N.A. class. GED graduates will be eligible for a scholarship.

Happy New Year from the "Hill Top Shops" owners. They include Not "Jus" Any Bag, Bono Abstract Clothing, Sew What?, 360 Creations Beauty Salon and New 2 U Everyday Rummage. Fresh Discipleship Center, with Pastor Cora Murphy, resides on "the Hill."

There is also an outreach ministry with household goods and clothing for those in need on "the Hill." It serves many throughout the county and is owned and managed by Minister Gerald and Tia Brown.

The Taylortown "Music Man," Michael Robinson, can be contacted at (910) 691-9283. "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 jam session every Saturday. There is no charge. Michael invites everyone to free music classes as well. These classes are open to all ages.

Thank you to the local churches, ministries and faith-based organizations for considering making a donation to United Way of Moore County. The United Way supports many nonprofits, including those that provide programs for youths, victims of abuse and those recovering from substance abuse. For more information, call United Way at (910) 692-2413. Linda Mills Pearson is the executive director. The Rev. Rose Highland-Sharpe is a board member. Call her at (910) 295-0013.

Thank you to the ladies who continue to help with MANNA! at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays at Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Some of the helpers include Melba Bostic, Esther McNeill, Hulene Morrison and Kathy Murphy. Pastor John Roberts is the day-to-day operations manager for MANNA! The pastor at Spaulding Chapel is the Rev. Charles Allen.

Many thanks for your continued prayers and support of Edward and Sharonda Wilson.

Spruill Temple Church of God in Christ has a prayer service every Monday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. 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."

Join St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 198 Gaines St. in Jackson Hamlet, for weekly services. Sunday School is held at 10 a.m. Worship begins at 11 a.m. Prayer meeting and Bible study are held at 7 p.m. each Wednesday. The pastor is the Rev. Elgett Floyd.

"Good News Inspiration" on WEEB-990 AM airs from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sundays. Send your church and community announcements to the Sunday program director/announcer, Rose Highland-Sharpe, at P.O. Box 4653, Pinehurst NC 28374, or email rosesharpe37@gmail.com. WEEB gospel family members include veteran announcer Felton J. Capel and substitute announcers Pastor Ren Lee and Niniji Lloyd.

Job opportunities are available at Smithfield's meat packing plant in Tar Heel, N.C. As part of the application process, register for pre-employment skills classes in the human resources development program at Sandhills Community College. The classes are free to those who qualify. Call Jenny Troyer at (910) 695-3926.

Career development, basic skills and GED classes are available at the Westmoore Center in Robbins and at the Day Reporting Center in Carthage. Other basic skills and GED classes are offered at Aberdeen Elementary School and in Van Dusen Hall at Sandhills Community College. Call the recruiter for basic skills education at SCC, Rose Highland-Sharpe, at (910) 695-3783.

The 21st Century 2011-2012 after-school program is accepting applications for youths in kindergarten through 12th grade. Leave a message at (910) 295-5813. The program is held at Christ Way Deliverance Church in Eastwood and New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church in Addor. Pastor and Mrs. E. Nathaniel Jackson are the directors. Special thanks to Pastor Charles McKnight Sr. and his wife, Barbara, at New Zion in Addor.

The prayer list includes Deacon Leroy Alford Sr., Jaion Barrett, Carol Blackmon, Mr. and Mrs. George Brown, Evelyn Clegg, Christine Ellerbe, Sandy George Gaines, Gladys Garris, Phyllis Goins, Cathy Harrington, Alice Jackson, Pauline Levine, Rosa Mills, Willa B. Monroe, Catherine Morrison, Dorothy R. Morrison, Vera Moses, Lolita Robinson, Mr. Shamberger and Johnnie Stanford.

Please remember all the sick and shut-ins, the widowed, orphans, bereaved, incarcerated, homeless, youths and the United States military in your prayers and good deeds.

If you have any questions, comments and community news, please respond to R. Highland-Sharpe at P.O. Box 4653, Pinehurst, NC 28374, or at rosesharpe37@gmail. com. Send announcements at least two weeks in advance.

- Rose Highland-Sharpe

Vass

Evangelist Jacqueline Harvin will be the guest speaker at Hallie Chapel in Aberdeen at 7 p.m. Friday.

A Watch Night program will be held at 10 p.m. Saturday, New Year's Eve, at God's House of Prayer Ministry. Everyone is welcome 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 pastor.

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.

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 email to anitafinch38@ yahoo.com or mail items at least one week in advance to P.O. Box 176, Vass, NC 28394.

-- Anita Finch