Addor

The Sanford District will hold a Home Mission program in conjunction with the conference workers and ushers at 3 p.m. Sunday at Marsh Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church.

There will be a march. Everyone is asked to bring your banners and dress in the colors for Home Mission, which are gold and brown. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The sacrament of baptism Sunday for New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church was beautiful. Eleven people were baptized in a service at Elizabeth Chapel Free Will Baptist Church. Breakfast followed at New Zion.

The 21st Century after-school program at New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church begins Monday. It will operate 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.

Addor board members need your support both in person and financially. The community and the Community Center have been struggling. 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.

A fundraiser for Robert Nealy is under way. Robert needs a bone marrow transplant. Tickets for a raffle are $5, with the drawing Sept. 24. Everyone is encouraged to help.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Marcus Lyons (Sept. 20).

In memoriam: Charles Alfonza Seagrave (Sept. 10), Willie "Jack" McNeill (Sept. 13) and Erma Seagrave (Sept. 15).

Sick and shut-ins: Evelyn Core is at Pinehurst Reb Center. James Moses is in rehab at Kingswood Nursing Home. Betty J. Ellerbe, Effie J. Smith, Betty L. Moses, Sarah and Philip McMillian 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

Members of St. Peters United Church of God will travel to Bass Temple at 7:30 p.m. Friday for Elder Moore's first pastorial anniversary.

The missionaries of St. Peters will have a candlelight march at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23.

The United Church of God ushers workshop will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. James in Raeford.

Elder Todd Curry will preach at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Kingdom Minded Ministries.

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.

Terrica and Charles Bloom Jr. will celebrate their wedding anniversary Thursday.

JoAnn Covington celebrated her birthday Sunday.

Birthday wishes go out to Sherrie Penson, Devon Williams, Kevin Williams and Keyona Drakeford (Sept. 14), Mary Russell (Sept. 15), Sheila Henry and Marion Seay (Sept. 16), Montrell Covington and Dorothy Hollingsworth (Sept. 17), Evelyn Person (Sept. 18) and Shonta Covington and Alexis Monroe (Sept. 19).

Sick and shut-ins: Lewis McLaughlin, Paula Neal, Sam Kelly, 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 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.

Pleasant Hill is holding revival services this week. The Rev. Robert Dockery will preach at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The Macedonia Men in Mission is sponsoring its first cooking competition at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Beaver Dam Community Center.

Sympathy is extended to the Kennedy family on the death of Heather Gibson Kennedy.

The sick and shut-in list includes Flossie Hagins, Lany Harrison, Cathy Harrington, Frank Smith, Lula Smith, Ernest Gilmore, Juanita Gilmore, Eve Cunningham, Leana McRae, Arlene McRae, Thelma McKoy, Dan McKoy, Eugene Martin, Johnny King, Nancy Ellerbe, Lillie Ellerbe, Bunie Ellerbe and Mary Jamison..

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 welcomes the Rev. Bill Clark as guest minister this Sunday.

Also on Sunday, the first meeting of a new younger youth group will be held at 5:45 p.m. at Cypress. This group is for children in third through fifth grades.

The meeting of the group for older youth is also at 5:45 p.m. Sunday at Cypress at 5:45. All youth in the community are invited to attend.

Cypress is participating again this year in the BackPack Pal program in the Moore County school system. The church is responsible for 48 individual-size boxes of cereal per month. Please place them in the basket provided in the vestibule.

The Christian Education Committee is accepting donations of Christian, spiritually oriented books, magazines, audio tapes and video tapes for our church lending library. Please leave your items at the church or call the church at (910) 245-4731 to make arrangements to drop off your donations.

The Cypress Gospel Boys will perform at 10 a.m. Saturday in Lakeview in support of the efforts to repair the dam and reopen the road. The Shriners will also have on display the little cars that are often seen in many of the parades in North Carolina. Other groups will perform, and events are scheduled throughout the day. Food will be available so please go out and support your neighbors.

Don't forget to mark your calendar for the 59th annual harvest sale and auction at Cypress on Saturday, October 1. Supper will be served from 4 to 7 p.m., and the auction begins at 7 p.m.

Cypress Presbyterian Church invites anyone who enjoys singing to attend choir rehearsal at 7 p.m. each Wednesday. The choir has begun rehearsing for the Christmas cantata and would love to have additional participants for this special presentation.

Please check out Cypress' recently updated website at www.cypresspres.org to learn more about Cypress Church and the exciting programs and events being offered.

More than 150 people filled the worship center at Mount Pleasant Church Sunday, with most of them wearing the new shirts that have "One Nation Under God" on the front and "Mount Pleasant Christian Church Vass, NC" on the back.

During the service, the congregation viewed the video "Sad Day for the USA," a moving tribute to the survivors of those lost 10 years ago, sung by Mesa Robles from Hacienda Heights, Calif. The service was accented by patriotic hymns, with the choir performing a trilogy of "America the Beautiful," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "God Bless America." The congregation was treated to a PowerPoint presentation to reflect what the choir was singing.

The children's sermon dealt with luck, and this Sunday, as luck would have it, the pastor had enough memory makers for all 25 children that flooded the pulpit area to share in this special time. The pastor shared with the children that Christians don't depend on luck since God has a plan for us.

Pictures were taken for the churches' 125th anniversary church directory last week, and about 60 families took part in this special publication. The big celebration will be held Sept. 25. Special services for the day are planned. The church invites everyone to make plans to attend this wonderful day of celebration.

Plans are under way for the churches' annual harvest sale. This year, the ladies quilting group has two quilts that will be raffled off, so get your tickets from any church member. These may be the last quilts we will have, as the quilters might be calling it "quilts" for good.

The founding families of the Marks Wright families will have their annual reunion Oct. 9. The reunion will be held at the church immediately following the morning worship that day.

Please join with the Little River community in taking time Friday to remember the 93,000 missing or unaccounted for soldiers, the day set aside as National POW/MIA Day.

Also, 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

St. Ruth United Church of God in Christ in West End, where the pastor is Eldress Lillian Kearns, will hold Family and Friends Day at 3 p.m. Sunday at the church. Everyone is invited.

St Mary Church on Old Glendon Road in Carthage, where the pastor is Eldress Betty J. Lee, will have its Fruits of the Spirit program at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Everyone is invited.

Homecoming will be held at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at First Missionary Church in the Needmore section of Carthage, where the pastor is the Rev. Blanden. A children's breakfast will be held after the morning service The service will resume at 3 p.m.

he revival will be the following Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The speaker will be Pastor Smith, of Mount Calvary Church in Sanford.

Holy Temple in Carthage, where the pastor is Elder Allen Moore, is now holding worship services on the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month instead of every Sunday.

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

Revival services will be held at the Johnny Boler Municipal Park at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday. In case of rain, the program will be held at the House of Prayer Holy Church of God in Christ.

Minister Robert Headen is the coordinator of this event. Bishop Larry Brown and members at the House of Prayer are the sponsors. Everyone is invited.

Galilee Missionary Baptist Church will have a pastor's aid program at 3 p.m. this Sunday. The sponsor is Deaconess Shirley Walker. The pastor is the Rev. Charles Nabors. Everyone is invited.

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.

Bobby Collins will be the featured guest on the "Town Talk" television show through Friday. He is a college basketball coach, educator, youth leader and community activist. He will be sharing information about his life story, his basketball camps for children and a golf tournament fundraiser that will be held in Moore County.

Highlights of Taylortown Day will be seen on Town Talk television show next week. he parade, interviews, and Egypt band will be featured.

The show airs on Time Warner Cable channel 3, WYBE TV, at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. daily.

For information about the Bobby "BC" Collins Celebrity Golf Tournament Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Whispering Pines Country Club, call coach Collins at (757) 344-9500. Also, go to the website, www.bobbycollinsbasketballcamp.com. His camp is a nonprofit organization for boys and girls ages 5 to 18.

Opportunities for keyboard players are available 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.

The Rev. Elgett Floyd invites everyone to the weekly services at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church at 198 Gaines St. in Jackson Hamlet. Sunday School is held at 10 a.m., followed by a worship service at 11 a.m. Prayer meeting and Bible study are held each Wednesday at 7 p.m. All are welcome to these services.

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.

Thank you from the "Hill Top Shops" for your support. They include Not "Jus" Any Bag, Bono Abstract Clothing, Sew What?, 360 Creations Beauty Salon and New 2 U Everyday Rummage. Fresh Discipleship Center (Pastor Cora Murphy) is "on the Hill." Minister Gerald and Tia Brown's outreach ministry, also "on the Hill" as well, continues to serve the community.

"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.

Greater Glory Family Worship Ministries is offering Bible study classes for college students. Classes are held on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Bring your own Bible. Singled Out Campus International Ministries is the sponsor.

Andrea Cattle is the founder and president of S.O.C.I.M. The pastor is Shepherdess Bessie Dixon. The overseer is Apostle Michael S. Dixon. Greater Glory is located at 156 Westgate Drive, Taylortown (off N.C. 211 near State Farm Insurance).

Tune in to "Good News Inspiration" on WEEB, 990-AM on Sundays, 6 until 11 a.m. 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 Gospel DJs include veteran announcer Felton J. Capel and new announcer Minister Jason Hackett.

The sick and shut-in list includes Deacon Leroy Alford Sr., Jaion Barrett, Joann Bennett, Carol Blackmon, Garry Brown, Mr. and Mrs. George Brown, Evelyn Clegg, Christine Ellerbe, Sandy George Gaines, Geneva Goins, Phyllis Goins, Cathy Harrington, Alice Jackson, Tamara Jackson, the Rev. Nathaniel McNeill, Pauline Levine, Tim Mason, Willa B. Monroe, Catherine Morrison, Dorothy R. Morrison, Vera Moses, Howard Ray, Lolita Robinson, Mr. Shamberger and Johnnie Stanford.

The community extends sympathy to the family of the late Joseph Kelly, of Jackson Hamlet. Funeral services were held at Love Grove Free Will Baptist Church last Saturday. Please continue to pray for the family.

Please remember the victims of the recent tornadoes and hurricanes. Donations can be made through the Red Cross.

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

God's House of Prayer Ministry will have a two-night revival Friday and Saturday. The program will start at 7 p.m. on Sept. 16. and at 6 p.m. on Sept. 16. All are welcome to attend.

God's House of Prayer Ministry will celebrate its 11th church anniversary at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Douglass Community Center in Southern Pines. Dinner will be served after the service. 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.

The choir at Fellowship House of God in Carthage will celebrate its anniversary at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at the church.

The Divine Spurituals will be celebrating its sixth anniversary at at 3 p.m. Sept. 25 at West End Elementary.

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.

Birthday wishes go out to Elijiah Wilkins (Sept. 11), Mary Dobbins (Sept. 16), Minister Alexander Morris (Sept. 17) and Jovan Wilkins Gore (Sept. 18.)

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