Addor

The district and congregational Lay Day for the Sanford District is this Sunday at 3 p.m. at Reaves Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Everyone is welcome.

The pastor and members of Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church thank everyone who came out for the Rev. James McKinnon's third appreciation celebration.

Juanita McNeill, wife of the late James "Pete" McNeill, donated the flowers for the altar Sunday at New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church in memory of her husband.

The 21st Century after-school program at New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church is off to a good start. It operates Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. Snacks will be provided. Applications are now available. Please contact the Rev. McKnight, the church pastor, at (910) 639-1893.

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

Addor Community Center board members need your support both in person and financially. The board is asking all of the churches in the community to assist by making a monthly allocation. Donations will help restore utilities to the building and begin using it to help revitalize the community.

Please make checks payable to the Addor Community Center and mail them to P.O. Box 775, Pinebluff, NC 28373. Anyone with questions or needing more information can call (910) 281-0384.

Birthday wishes go out to Inez Morris (Oct. 14), Rebecca "Cookie" Crooker (Oct. 15) and to all who are celebrating this week.

The community was saddened to learn of the death of the Rev. Lonnie Young, pastor of Free Liberty Christian Church in Addor. Please keep the family in your prayers.

Sick and shut-ins: James McCrimmon and Sarah F. McMillian are in the hospital. Betty J. Ellerbe is in rehab at Manor Care. Effie J. Smith, Betty L. Moses, Philip McMillian, Louise Jones and Nora Smith are among the homebound. Stella Gillispie, Connie L. Covington, Diana Brown, Portia Smith, Marie Berry 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.

- 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

The ushers of Synagogue of Christ in Carthage will celebrate their anniversary at 3 p.m. this Sunday.

St. Ruth in West End will celebrate its church anniversary this week.

The St. James Church family thanks everyone for making the pastoral anniversary of Elder Willie Purcell and first lady Darlene Purcell such a success. The Greater St. Mark Church family thanks everyone for attending the pastoral anniversary for Apostle Leonard Williams and first lady Mahalia Williams.

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.

The families of Michael McKinney, Samuel Kelly and Clyde Goins thank everyone for their acts of kindness during their time of bereavement. Please keep their families in your prayers.

James and Murtis McCrimmon celebrated their wedding anniversary this week. Kelvin Alston celebrated his birthday Saturday with his family.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Damion McMillian and Jason Jones Jr. (Oct. 12), Tia Seay (Oct. 16), Elizabeth Diggs and Tonya Flannagan (Oct. 17) and Vickie McCrimmon and Vicky Kell (Oct. 18).

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 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Pleasant Hill is asking all missionaries to come celebrate Missionary Day at 5 p.m. Oct. 30. The speaker will be Doretha Jefferson, of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.

The St. John Union will be held today (Wednesday) through Friday in Laurinburg.

The Home Union will be held Oct. 30 at Fletcher's Chapel. The Rev. R.L. Dockery is in charge.

Pleasant Hill will celebrate Women's Day at 5 p.m. Oct. 30. Doretha Jefferson will be the guest speaker.

The community was saddened to learn of the death of first lady Eve Cunningham.

Birthday wishes go out to Flossie Hagins (Oct. 11), Jackie Sloan (Oct. 18) and Davon Brown (Oct. 21).

Sick and shut-ins: Flossie Hagins, Frank Smith, Lany Harrison, Cathy Harrington, Lula Smith, Ernest Gilmore, Juanita Gilmore, Leana McRae, Arlene McRae, Thelma McKoy, Dan McKoy, Eugene Martin, Johnny King, Nancy Ellerbe, Lillie Ellerbe, Bunie Ellerbe, Mary Jamison and Bernice Dalton.

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

- Bea Little

Little River

The Rev. Barbara Hedin will lead homecoming services at Cypress Presbyterian Church this Sunday. A covered-dish dinner in the fellowship hall will follow the 11 a.m. worship service.

The Christian Education Committee at Cypress is still accepting spiritually oriented books, magazines, videotapes, and/or audiotapes for the lending library. Please call the church at (910) 245-4731 if you have donations to make.

Cypress is participating again this year in the BackPack Pals program in the Moore County school system. Forty-eight individual-size boxes of cereal per month are needed. Please leave your donations in the basket in the vestibule.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 29, and plan to take your children to the community trunk or treat at First Baptist Church in Vass. A hot dog supper will be served outside at 5:30 p.m., and trunk or treat will begin at 6 p.m. Children, accompanied by a responsible adult, may dress up and bring a bag for treats.

The 14 members of the senior group of Mount Pleasant met at the church last Saturday and carpooled to the K&W for lunch and then traveled to the Crown Theater for the Soldiers' Show. The show was wonderful, with the soldiers entertaining the crowd with songs from the 1940s through the modern day's music.

On Sunday, the church was filled with many people feeling refreshed by the cooler weather and the touch of fall in the air. The Marks-Wright family held their annual family reunion in the fellowship hall after the morning services. Many of the extended members of Marks-Wright family also joined the church family in worship.

This week will be filled with all the preparation to make the church harvest sale another wonderful event of fellowship and ministry. The annual fall harvest sale will be this coming Saturday. Supper will be served from 4-7 p.m. The auction will begin at 7 p.m. This year, the annual harvest event will also have a country store, with donated items for purchase for those who come but are unable to stay for the later auction.

Also this year, the pastor has challenged all the men to bake a cake. All entries will be judged by some of the expert bakers of the church, and one man will be crowned king baker for the year.

A Brownie Troop will be meeting each Wednesday in the old church. Girls in kindergarten and first grade are invited to join this new and exciting mission.

Mount Pleasant Church will again be one of the collection places for Bikes for Wright. It's not too early to start turning in those bikes so "Santa" can get started on those repairs.

If you need someone to come and pick up a bike, please call Sunny at (910) 245-4747 to arrange for pickup.

"Keep the Tatas Safe" - the newest catch phrase - by remembering that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

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

A fundraiser yard sale will be held Saturday starting at 8 a.m. at Holy Temple Church.

St. Ruth United Church of God in West End will celebrate its church anniversary today (Wednesday) through Friday at 7:30 nightly. It will conclude with two services Sunday.

The speakers will be Overseer William Russell, of Stone's Chapel in Carthage (today); Pastor Don Russell, of Greater Faith in Biscoe (Thursday); and Pastor Charlvester Hester, St. John in Carthage (Friday). On Sunday, Evangelist Wander Lawrence will speak at 11 a.m., and Bishop C.L. Curry, of St. Peter in Eastwood, will speak at 3 p.m. The church pastor is Elderess Lillian Kearns. Everyone is invited.

First Missionary Church, on Needmore Road in Carthage, will have its annual Youth Day and revival Sunday. Sunday School starts at 10 a.m. During the 11:30 a.m. service, the Rev. Susan Knight-Brooks will preach, and the youth choir will sing.

Lunch will be served after the morning service. Minister Devonte Wilson, of St. Peters Church in West End, will preach at the 3 p.m. service. .

Stoney Hill Free Will Baptist Church will celebrate Pastor Al Wilson's eighth anniversary at 3:30 p.m. this Sunday. The speaker will be Pastor Marie Dukes, of St. John Free Will Baptist Church in Fayetteville. Everyone is invited to attend.

Body of Christ Outreach Ministry on Lemon Springs Road in Sanford will have its Family and Friends Day at 3 p.m. this Sunday. The pastor is Larry Ray. Everyone is invited.

The choir of First Missionary will celebrate its anniversary Sunday, Nov. 6. The pastor, the Rev. Lincoln Blanding, invites everyone to attend.

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.

If anyone has an announcement for the Shawtown news, please submit it a week before publication. My new email address is adamsminnie29@yahoo.com, or call me at (910) 783-7822.

- Irene Ray

Taylortown

The community extends condolences to the family of the late William Howard Ray. He passed away last week.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. today (Wednesday) at Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Please remember his wife, Connie, and all the family in your thoughts and prayers.

The annual community day will be held at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday. Games and food will be available. The event is free and open to the public. The pastor, Rev. Charles Nabors, invites everyone to attend this fun day of activities and fellowship.

Spruill Temple Church of God in Christ is having revival services through Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The pastor, Elder Jerry Chesney, invites everyone to attend.

Mother Elsie Brown (committee member), members of House of Prayer Holy Church of God in Christ, and many women from the Sandhills area and outside of Moore County will be attending the 2011 Women of God Conference at Southern Middle School this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until the early afternoon. There will be several workshops with wonderful speakers. The keynote speaker is Dr. Saundra Williams.

Vendors and educators will be there to share information and materials. Lunch is included. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. For more information, please call Mother Mary Malloy, executive director, at (910) 652-6368, Diane Potter at (910) 673-4516 or Avis Bostic at (919) 414-6088. Tessie Taylor is the executive secretary.

Word of Truth Christian Center will have a Rainbow Tea fundraiser at 6 p.m. this Saturday at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Southern Pines. The donation is $10, and all proceeds benefit Word of Truth. For more information, call Saundra Randolph at (910) 295-0559. The pastor of Word of Truth is Pastor Patricia McMillan. She invites everyone to attend.

Veteran Job Fair information will be featured on the "Town Talk" television show beginning next week through the first week in November. Mark Adkins, the veteran representative at the Employment Security Com-mission, is the featured guest. The Egypt Band is featured this week. Its performance is the second segment of Taylortown Day. Also, see community folks enjoying the concert. The show airs daily at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Time Warner Cable channel 3. The host is Rose Highland-Sharpe.

Pinecrest High School football games pre-empt "Town Talk" on some evenings. Thanks for your support of the youths on the football team, including Daequan Barrett, Reco Cain and Travis Scales.

The Moore County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will have its annual banquet at 4 p.m. Oct. 22 at Whispering Pines Country Club. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

The speaker will be attorney Herman Thompson. The theme is "Forward Together, Not One Step Backward." The event will spotlight and honor the first African-Americans in Moore County.

Donations are $30 for adults and $15 for youths. For more information, call (910) 947-1422. O'Linda W. Gillis is the branch president.

Musicians are still needed at some local churches. Call Minister James McNeill at (910) 384-4369 (Word of Life Ministries) and Pastor Shirley Gillis at (910) 692-5185 (Outreach Ministries for Jesus). Also, contact Rev. Rose Highland-Sharpe regarding other pianist-organist opportunities at rosesharpe37@gmail.com.

Thank you to those who continue to pray for and support Tim and Nicole Mason and also Edward and Sharonda Wilson. Both families continue to need your help due to on-going health concerns.

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.

Thanks for listening to "Good News Inspiration" on WEEB-990 AM from 6 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. Other WEEB gospel family members include veteran announcer Felton J. Capel, substitute announcer Niniji Lloyd, and new trainees Pastor Ren Lee and Ken Capel.

There's still time to enroll in Pathways to C.N.A. at Sandhills Community College. This is a transition program to the certified nursing assistant course. The classes include GED, basic skills, and occupational courses. Those who earn their GED are eligible for a scholarship for the C.N.A. program. Call Twana McKnight at S.C.C. at (910) 695-3782.

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.

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

You are 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.

The October sick and shut-in list includes Deacon Leroy Alford Sr., Jaion Barrett, Carol Blackmon, Mr. and Mrs. George Brown, Evelyn Clegg, Christine Ellerbe, Sandy George Gaines, Geneva Goins, Phyllis Goins, Cathy Harrington, Alice Jackson, Pauline Levine, Tim Mason, 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

A car show will be held starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at Advance Auto in Southern Pines. It is sponsored by Deacon Freddie Kelly Jr., of God's House of Prayer Ministry.

The Gospel Mellowtones will perform at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Mount Olive A.M.E. Zion Church in Carthage for its 67th choir anniversary.

Evangelist Jacqueline Harvin will be the guest speaker at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at New Faith Ministry in Cameron Village. She will also speak at 3 p.m. Oct. 23 at Ministry of Deliverance Church in Aberdeen for its Women in Red program. She will speak on the letter "e."

Pastor Mary Kelly will be the guest speaker for the 11 a.m. service Oct. 23 at Rock of Salvation in Fayetteville.

Minister Frederick Kelly and Deacon Freddie Kelly Jr. will be guest speakers at 4 p.m. Oct. 22 at Tabernacle of Praise Ministry in High Point for its "12 Tribes" program.

Holy Night will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 30 at God's House of Prayer Ministry.

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.

Fryes Chapel Free Will Baptist Church will sponsor a Community Partnership from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 19. Representatives of BB&T and First Bank in Vass to talk to the community about today's economy and some of their banking practices. The mayor of Vass is also expected to attend. Someone from the NAACP will be there for its membership drive.

If you have not registered to vote, someone will be there to get you registered. Also, representatives from the Moore County tax department will be their to talk about Homestead taxes. The church invites everyone in the community to attend.

Oakridge A.M.E. Zion Church in Vass will have a musical program at 6 p.m. Sunday at the church.

The Rev. Walter Cotton will celebrate his pastoral anniversary at Oakridge A.M.E. Zion Church during the 11 a.m. service Oct. 23. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Ronnie Gilmore. Music will be provided by a guest choir. Everyone is invited to attend.

Congratulations to Terrell and Latisha Ellerbee, who celebrated their third wedding anniversary Tuesday.

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