Addor

Family and Friends Day will be held this Sunday at Sandhill United Christian Church in Aberdeen, beginning with the 11 a.m. worship service.

Lunch will be served afterward. The pastor, the Rev. James Brown, invites everyone to attend.

The 21st Century after-school program has begun at New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church. It is held from 3 to 6 p.m. and provides help with homework. About 20 children are enrolled, and the program has been an amazing success so far.

There is room for more children. To enroll your child, contact the Rev. Charles McKnight at (910) 639-1893.

The second missionary mass meeting will be held at 10 a.m. this Saturday at Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church in Southern Pines. All are welcome to attend.

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Vass will present the Rev. Paul Murphy from Franklin Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Laurinburg and the choir, the Gospel Heavyweights, at 4 p.m. Sunday. Everyone is welcome to attend.

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

Sick and shut-ins: Evelyn Crawford is home from the hospital. Marie Berry is still in rehab. Betty J. Ellerbe, 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.

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead an hour before you go to bed Saturday as daylight saving time begins.

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

Cameron

The Rev. Linwood Tuck and the members of First Baptist Church in Cameron are hosting Friends and Family Day at 3 p.m. this Sunday. The Rev. Headen, pastor of Red Hill Baptist Church, will be the speaker.

Please continue to support the Phillips Memorial Park on N.C. 24-27.

Remember the sick, shut-in, government leaders and our troops in your prayers.

• Carol F. Davis

Eastwood

The United Church of God missionary workshop will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, at Mount Zion in Greensboro. The bus will leave St. Peters at 11:30 a.m.

St. Peters will travel to Greater Faith in Biscoe at 3 p.m. Sunday for the first pastoral anniversary for Elder Larry Russell and first lady Gracie Russell.

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.

Terry and Dean Roberts celebrated their wedding anniversary last week.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Gertie Dailey (March 12) and Montrell Woodson (March 13).

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

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 Crystalaires will celebrate its 27th anniversary at 6 p.m. Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Birthday wishes go out to Damon Clark and Brandon Gilmore (March 7), Micheal Hart (March 9), Kim Little (March 10) and Dolene Chavis (March 13).

Sick and shut-ins: Henry Isaac, Nancy Hayes, Barbara Brower, Flossie Hagins, Rosa Harrison, Lang Harrison, Cathy Harrington, Frank 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

This past Saturday, several members of Mount Pleasant Church met and began removing some of the old shrubbery and plant materials from the area between the fellowship hall and the small chapel.

This is is preparation for the landscaping that will begin very soon around the entire church complex.

On Sunday, after the worship service, the middle adult and young adult Sunday School classes hosted a soup and sandwich fundraiser in the church fellowship hall. Homemade soups and chili and a spread of desserts were served on a donation basis. It was an all-you-could-eat lunch, with all the donations going toward the December senior citizens Christmas banquet that will be held the first Sunday in December.

Everyone is invited to attend worship each Sunday at Mount Pleasant. Also, everyone is reminded to set their clock forward one hour Saturday night (daylight saving time begins) so they will be on time for services this coming Sunday.

Cypress Presbyterian Church invites the community to attend several events in preparation for Easter.

A covered-dish supper will be held in the fellowship hall at 6 p.m. today (Wednesday), followed by an Ash Wednesday worship service at 7 p.m. (Please note this is a change in time as previously announced.)

Beginning Sunday, the interim pastor, the Rev. Barbara Hedin, will lead a five-week Lenten study, "Made New In Christ," an invitation to deepen one's life in Christ in anticipating the celebration of his resurrection on Easter. It will be held at 10 a.m. in classroom 2. A longer version of the study will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. in the fellowship hall starting this Thursday.

Prayers for the church continue at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 15, in the sanctuary.

Anyone needing more information on these events can call (910) 245-4731. Cypress Church holds Sunday worship services at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. The church is at 1220 Cypress Church Road, seven miles east of Vass.

The Crains Creek Volunteer Fire Department on Lobelia Road (N.C. 690) will host its annual barbecue pork and chicken fundraiser Saturday, March 19. Meals will be served from noon to 7 pm.

Plates are $7 and include a meat, two vegetables, bread, dessert and a drink. Sandwiches are $5 and will include chips and a drink.

A beautiful hand-stitched quilt will be raffled off that evening. Raffle tickets are $1 and can be purchased from any firefighter or board member and at B&L Auto. You do not have to be present to win. There will be no live auction this year. Everyone is invited out for good food and fun times!

The Garnet Lobelias will be using many of the elements of Mardi Gras at its meeting this month, when members celebrate Janet Webb's and Deb Jepson's birthdays. Date and time will be announced soon but get those masks ready along with the boas and beads. If you are interested in attending, please call Princess Peanut at (910) 245-4741 or Queen Sunny at (910) 245-4747.

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. Many active and retired members of the military live in our community.

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

• "Sunny" Sidley

Shawtown

St. John will hold a pancake breakfast fundraiser from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Applebee's restaurant on U.S. 1 in Aberdeen. Tickets are $7. This is sponsored by the Sunday School department. To obtain tickets or for more information, call (910) 947-3414 or (910) 783-6733.

A service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Sandy Grover Church on Sellars Street. The special guests will be Elder Tolber from Pinebluff and the Wonderland Singers. The church pastor is Elder Hooker.

Body of Outreach Ministry on Lemon Springs Road, where the pastor is Larry Ray, will hold an ordination service at 11 a.m. Sunday. Deacons, elders and other officers will be installed. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The church 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.

St. John United Church of God invites everyone to attend the first pastoral anniversary celebration for Elder Charlveston Hester and first lady Angela Hester. Special services will be held Tuesday, March 15, through Sunday, March 20, with different speakers.

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.

Happy birthday to all who are celebrating this week.

• Irene Ray

Taylortown

Greater Works of Deliverance Ministries will continue with its apostolic crusade tonight (Wednesday) through Friday. Services are 7 p.m., with different platform speakers.

Picture Day is this Saturday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Greater Works. No morning services will be held this Sunday. The pastor is Apostle Andrea Weekes. All are welcome to attend.

The Taylortown Ministerial Alliance will meet this Saturday at 1 p.m. For more information, contact the Rev. Larry Alford at 295-4204.

Fresh Start Discipleship Center will have services at 5 p.m. Sunday. The guest speaker will be Pastor Thomas Hampton, of Now Faith Ministries in Aberdeen. The church is on Main Street in Taylortown. Pastor Cora M. Murphy invites everyone to attend. For more information, contact Elder Sheila Smith at (910) 585-0540.

Word of Truth Ministries will have special services at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday. The guest speaker will be Prophet Michael Clayburn, of Philadelphia. Prophet Clayburn will also conduct services at 7 p.m. Monday, March 14. Pastor Helen Spencer and Co-Pastors Cheryl and Michael Blue invite everyone to attend

"Taylortown Jams" are music sessions open to musicians from noon until 6 p.m. Saturdays at the Taylor House on Main Street. Contact Michael Robinson at (910) 725-1582 for more information.

The Moore County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will have its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, at the Southern Pines Housing Authority Community Center at 801 South Mechanic St. The guest speaker will be Darryl Hunt, director of N.C. NAACP Anti-Death Penalty Project. The public is invited to attend. Contact the local branch president, O'Linda W. Gillis, at (910) 947-1422, for more information.

See highlights of a recent concert at Sandhills Community College featuring Livingstone College Concert Choir on "Town Talk" television show. The program will air daily, this week at 11:30 a.m. and at 6:30 p.m. on Time Warner Cable channel 3.

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 this winter 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 Rev. Angus Wade will continue his exhaustive study of the Book of Revelation at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church this winter. Bible study begins at 7 p.m. each Wednesday. Prayer service begins at 6:45 p.m. The pastor, the Rev. Charles Nabors, invites everyone to attend.

Applications for this semester are being accepted at the 21st Century after-school program at Christ Way Deliverance Church. This is a free program for youths in kindergarten through 12th grade. Certified teachers are on staff to tutor the children. For more information, contact the Rev. Nathaniel Jackson at (910) 295-5813.

Free music classes are available for all ages at the Taylor House on Main Street. For more information, contact Michael Robinson at (910) 725-1582.

Free career development, basic skills and GED classes are offered at several sites in Moore County through Sandhills Community College. For more information, call (910) 695-3783 (basic skills/GED) and (910) 695-3926 (career development-HRD).

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 reaching out to those who are sick and shut-in, including Mr. and Mrs. George Brown, Alice Jackson, Deacon Leroy Alford Sr., Jaion Barrett, Evelyn Clegg, Christine Ellerbe, Sandy George Gaines, Geneva Goins, Cathy Harrington, the Rev. Nathaniel McNeill, Willa B. Monroe, Catherine Morrison, Dorothy R. Morrison, Vera Moses, Kathy Murphy, Howard Ray and Lolita Robinson.

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.

Thank you to local churches, nursing homes and youth groups for inviting Rose Highland-Sharpe, storyteller, to your recent Black History programs. Your support is greatly appreciated!

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

Deacon Freddie Kelly Sr. will be giving his introductory sermon at 3 p.m. this Sunday at the Douglass Community Center in Southern Pines. All are welcome to attend,

Pastor Stewart will be the guest speaker at God's House of Prayer Ministry at 7 p.m. March 19 in support of the pastor aid program. The program is sponsored by Deaconness Catherine McKeithen.

An appreciation service will be held at 3 p.m. March 20 for Minister Stubbs at St. Marks Church in Vass. All are 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 church pastor. The church is located at 205 Pats Road in Vass. Everyone is welcome to attend all services.

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