Aberdeen

Turning Point Worship Center will present an Eves Ministry spring social starting at 5:30 p.m. April 21 at Aberdeen Lake Park. For more information, contact Vera Burks at (910) 986-9236 or April Wicker at (910) 691-2799.

Turning Point Worship Center, at 16433 U.S. 15-501, holds worship services every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Bible study is held at 7:30 p.m. each Wednesday. All are welcome. The pastors are Stoney and Brenda Locklear. For more information about Turning Point, call (910) 281-2055.

A backyard barbecue and craft fair will be held Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bethesda Presbyterian Church on U.S. 1 in Aberdeen. There will be crafts and artist tables galore, barbecue plates, a "sauce-off" competition, bake sale and a silent auction. Admission is free.

This is a fundraising event to benefit the Moore Free Clinic, the Aberdeen Elementary School Partnership and other mission projects.

Local crafters are invited to participate and set up their table, but there are a limited number of spaces. Please call the church office at (910) 944-1319 for additional information and for an application.

Covenant Love Church presents the "God Belongs in My City" prayer walk Saturday. The meeting time is at 11 a.m. followed by the walk at noon. Everyone is invited to take part in this silent prayer walk. For more information, visit GodInFayetteville.org.

A benefit gospel sing for 6-year-old Tayden Locklear will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at Union Pines High School. Admission is free. The Sycamore Singers, Hall Memorial praise team, Harvest Church praise team and the McNeill Gospel Singers will perform. For more information, call (910) 947-6036 or (910) 986-5952.

Happy birthday wishes go out to Ursula McLean (April 27) and Sandy Person (April 25).

- Shelbi Person

Addor

Pastor Charles McKnight invites everyone to attend a three-night revival at New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church today (Wednesday) through Friday. Services begin at 7 p.m.

The guest preacher will be Dr. Staccato Powell. He is an accomplished preacher and teacher and serves as pastor of Grace A.M.E. Zion Church in Raleigh. He will share his knowledge, wisdom and experience.

Different choirs will sing each night - Mount Zion on Wednesday, Trinity on Thursday and Poplar Springs on Friday. Services begin at 7 p.m. 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. Please notify the pastor, the Rev. Charles McKnight, of a sickness or the need for prayer at (910) 639-1893.

The 21st Century after-school program at New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church 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.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Rodney Gilmore (April 12), Gladys Bright (April 13), Laneisha and Lekeisha Womack (April 14) and to all others who are celebrating.

Sick and shut-ins: Louise Jones and Ella R. Cotton are in the hospital. Evelyn Crawford is home from the hospital. Betty J. Ellerbe, Sarah F. McMillian, Phillip McMillian, Betty Lou Moses and Nora Smith 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.

- 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 St. Peters Church family thanks everyone who attended its sunrise service and morning worship service service on Easter Sunday. Breakfast was served after the sunrise service.

St. Peters will have its missionary revival April 16-18 at 7:30 nightly. Evangelist Tina Harris will be the preacher. Everyone is invited to attend.

St. Peters will have Women's Day on Sunday, May 6. Evangelist Deborah Sibley will be the preacher. She is a dynamic woman of God. The service will begin at 11:15 a.m., and dinner will be served afterward.

The United Church of God Sunday School workshop will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28, at Mount Zion.

St. Peters holds Bible study at 7:30 p.m. on the Tuesdays after the first and third Sundays of the month. Prayer meeting is held at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday.

Birthday wishes go out to Lekeisha and Laneisha Womack (April 14), Abriea Alston (April 15), Yolanda Stancil (April 16) and Sharonda Wilson (April 17).

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

- Wilma Monroe

Hoffman

Bible study is held every 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. each Saturday.

The Chester Hart Sr. celebration will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at the Hoffman Parks and Recreation Center. Families are reminded to bring covered dishes.

Fletcher's Chapel will hold a Rainbow Tea at 6 p.m. April 21 at the Hoffman Parks and Recreation Building. The donation is $10.

The quarterly union will be held April 27-28 at Highland in Laurinburg.

The OC's Singers will perform Friday, May 18, at the Hoffman Parks and Recreation Building.

Mr. and Mrs. Vinnie Livingston honeymooned in Florida for a week.

Birthday wishes go out 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, Albert Hailey, Lacy Jackson, Mattie White, Cathy Harrington, Lula Smith, Juanita Gilmore, Arlene McRae, Thelma McKoy, Dan McKoy, Eugene Martin, Johnny King, Nancy Ellerbe, Lillie Ellerbe, Bunie Ellerbe, Jimmy Ellerbe, Rebecca Utley, Arnell Little, Mary Jamieson 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

Thanks to all who attended Cypress Presbyterian Church's beautiful sunrise service at Woodlake on Easter Sunday. While the weather was chilly, the sunrise, along with the music and message, was beautiful and warmed the hearts of those attending.

Bible study resumes this Thursday evening at 7:30 in the fellowship hall.

The youth groups will meet at 5:45 Sunday evening at Vass Methodist Church. All youth in the community are invited to attend. Supper will be served.

The Rev. Sam McGregor Jr. will be the guest minister May 6.

This past week, Mount Pleasant was filled with special services for Easter. It was quite a joy to have James and Janell Howington back from their extended visit in Florida.

Last Thursday, 68 people gathered to share a meal commemorative of the Last Supper. Laughter and joy could be heard as the worshipers shared their lives and joy of the Easter season.

After the meal, the worshipers gathered in the sanctuary, where the service of lights was observed. A candle was lit for each of the disciples - 11 white and one red representing Judas - and the Christ candle. Each disciple's name was called as his candle was lit from the Christ candle.

A short meditation was given by Dr. Greg Poplin, and then the names of the disciples were again called. As the pastor extinguished each candle, he said, "Where are you or I need you after their name." The last name called was Judas, and the pastor stated, "Judas, I called you friend."

The building had been darkened for this service, and the only light that remained was from the Christ candle and a light shining brilliantly on the cross of Christ. The cross was then draped in black to signify the blackness that seems to have overcome the light of the world.

The light on the cross was slowly dimmed, leaving only the single light from the Christ candle. The pastor then held the light of Christ out for all to see and extinguished it with his bare hand. He then said to the congregation, "Our sins have put out the light of God. Leave this place in silence, for the son of God is now dead."

Easter Sunday began early at 6:45 p.m., with 135 people gathered to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord for a sunrise service. The day was crisp and beautiful. As the pastor began the brief meditation, a flock of geese flew overhead honking as if to trumpet "Christ is risen."

After the sunrise service, everyone was invited in to share the Easter breakfast prepared by the deacons and assisted by the women of the church, who had gotten up even earlier and baked more than 200 biscuits for the breakfast. A special thanks to Sue Simpson, Jo Marks and Linda Blue for all the extra help is preparations and set up for the meal.

Sunday morning services began with the baptism of nine people - Ian Barton, Melissa Barton, Jane Barton, Stephanie Hohman, Cynthia Hohman, Shawn "Scooter" Haynes, Tony Grimaldo, Elaine Holub and Denise Godfrey. Each was presented a certificate of baptism and given the right hand of fellowship into the church.

Janet Chilton provided the most beautiful organ music for the day, with selections that added to the joy of the day.

The choir sang two special anthems. The first was "Love Grew Where the Blood Fell," featuring soloist Steve Hohman. The second was "Gone," featuring a solo and duet by Pastor Poplin and Janet Chilton.

The children were treated to an Easter egg hunt after the worship service, and Pastor Greg explained to them that Easter had nothing to do with eggs or bunnies, but the true meaning of Easter was about a lamb - the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Each child present was given a small stuffed lamb to help them remember.

The senior group of Mount Pleasant was hosted by its newest members, Art and Karen Hill, of Woodlake, for a spring picnic and boat rides Tuesday for its monthly meeting. Everyone had a wonderful time and enjoyed the Hills' hospitality.

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

Synagogue of Christ, on Stage Road in Carthage, where the pastor is Eldress Louise Kiniel, will have its choir anniversary at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Body of Christ Outreach Ministry on Lemon Springs Road, where the pastor is Larry Ray, celebrates Communion on the first Sunday of the month. Sunday School is held every week at 10 a.m. followed by worship at 11:15 a.m. Prayer meeting is held at 6 p.m. and Bible study at 7 p.m. every Wednesday.

Minister John Ray, of Body of Christ, is unable to speak April 13 at Synagogue of Christ as announced earlier.

St. John United Church of God in Carthage will hold Youth Sunday at 11:15 a.m. April 22, with guest speaker Jay Baker, from Rhema Kingdom Life Center Inc. in Raleigh. Pastor Hester will be the guest speaker at at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 27, at Greater Faith United Church of God in Biscoe.

Happy birthday to all who are celebrating this week.

Please pray for our president and all leaders, sick, bereaved, shut-ins and residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities and caregivers.

If anyone has community news, please email me at aminnieirene@yahoo.com or contact me at (910) 783-7822 (cell) or (910) 947-2208 (home) and leave a message at least one week in advance.

- Irene Ray

Taylortown

The Rev. Carolyn Sanders Radcliff invites everyone to the "Let's Talk About Substance Abuse Awareness" session at 6 p.m. Monday, April 23, at the Taylor House on Main Street.

Robert Grooms, community collaborative specialist with Sandhills Center for Mental Health (Daymark), and Katie Ratcliff, clinical social worker, will make presentations regarding substance abuse issues. The program is free and open to the public.

The support group sessions are held from 6 to 8 p.m. every Monday. The Rev. Carolyn Sanders Radcliff is the facilitator. Call (910) 295-2779 for more information.

B.J. Bennett, Tonya Morrison, and Sheldon and Carolyn Mooney are featured on the "Town Talk" television show this week. Other local business owners are noted as well. The Sandhills Community College Flyers basketball team's national championship celebration will be featured next week through April 30.

The show airs daily at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Time Warner Cable channel 3 of Southern Pines. The host is Rose Highland-Sharpe.

A fish dinner and baked goods sale sponsored by Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church missionaries will be held starting at 11 a.m. Friday. For more information, call Katrina Chaffin at (910) 255-3179. The pastor, the Rev. Charles Allen, invites everyone to this fundraiser.

Lottie A. Mason and family are sponsoring a huge yard sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday on "the Hill." There will be a fish, chicken and chitterling plate sale as well. Call Lottie at (910) 603-7931 for more information. Thanks in advance for your support.

Evangelist Tina Harris, a former Taylortown resident, will be the guest preacher for a revival April 16-18 at St. Peter United Church of God . Services are at 7:30 p.m. She thanks everyone for their support. The pastor is Bishop C. L. Curry.

Gladys Garris and area senior citizens are having a "Spring Hawaiian Luau" from 4 to 7:30 p.m. April 28 at "the pond" near her residence. The donation is $20. The menu includes barbecue ribs, vegetables, beverages and desserts. Gladys says, "We're still cooking. We're not done yet!"

Nominations are being accepted for the 2012 Mother of the Year for the Moore County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Send a one-page, typed nomination letter that includes information about that "special lady's" community involvement and accomplishments to Moore County NAACP, Mother of the Year Committee, P.O. Box 1351, Southern Pines, NC 28388. It must be postmarked by April 22.

The event will be held at the Douglass Community Center at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 29. The guest speaker will be Charmine Fuller-Cooper, director of the N. C. Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation- Clearinghouse Program (Governor's Task Force to Determine the Method of Compensation for Victims of North Carolina's Eugenics Board).

O'Linda W. Gillis is the branch president. For more information, call (910) 947-1422.

Galilee Missionary Baptist Church will have a series of "Healthy Living" classes with a focus on exercise per FirstHealth Moore Regional outreach professional Cindy Layton. The classes will be held on Mondays beginning at 6 p.m. The pastor is the Rev. Charles Nabors.

Galilee has changed its Bible study time to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays instead of 7 p.m. The Rev. A. Wade, one of the assistant pastors, usually teaches a series each season on specific subjects. An outline of the subject is distributed to the participants. The study is very thorough and interesting. The pastor, the Rev. Charles Nabors, invites everyone to attend.

An open computer lab is available at no cost to qualified students at Sandhills Community College from noon until 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays (Causey Hall). The lab offers instruction on completing online applications, interviewing tips, computer skills and information regarding the fastest-growing jobs in the Sandhills.

For more information, call Jenny Troyer at (910) 695-3926 in the Human Resources Development program.

The Moore County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has the "Get Out the Vote" campaign." Please register to vote. For more information on voting, contact the local NAACP at (910) 947-1422.

The Taylortown Ministerial Alliance thanks everyone for their prayers and support. The president is the Rev. Kenneth Stewart. All local ministers are welcome to participate. The ministers meet at one of the local churches at 1:30 p.m. on the second Saturday each month.

Thanks for supporting the "Hill Top Shops" this year. 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.

Thanks for your support of MANNA!, which is at 11 a.m. each Tuesday at at Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Special thanks to the preparers and hostesses, including Melba Bostic, Esther McNeill, Hulene Morrison, Kathy Murphy and others from Spaulding Chapel and the community. Pastor John Roberts is the day-to-day operations manager for MANNA. The pastor at Spaulding Chapel is the Rev. Charles Allen.

Job-seeking skills/career, basic skills and GED classes are available at the Westmoore Center in Robbins and at the Day Reporting Center in Carthage. Basic skills and GED classes are available at the Northern Moore Family Resource Center in Robbins, 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.

Jobs are available at Smithfield's meat packing company 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.

Job-ministry positions as keyboardists are available at some local churches in Moore County. For more information, call (910) 295-0013 (the Rev. Rose Highland-Sharpe).

Learn how to play the guitar with Michael Robinson, the Taylortown "Music Man." Call (910) 691-9283. Michael also conducts "Taylortown Jams," which are music sessions open to experienced musicians from noon to 6 p.m. every Saturday at the Taylor House on Main Street. If you have a passion for playing any musical instrument, please join this lively "jam session." There is no charge for the jam session or music classes. The classes are open to all ages.

The United Way of Moore County thanks the many local churches, ministries and faith-based organizations for considering making a donation in 2012. 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.

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 until 11 a.m. each Sunday. 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 rose-sharpe37@gmail.com. WEEB Gospel family members include veteran announcer Felton J. Capel and substitute announcers Pastor Ren Lee and Niniji Lloyd.

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 for the week includes Deacon Leroy Alford Sr., Jaion Barrett, Carol Blackmon, Melba Bostic, Mr. and Mrs. George Brown, Evelyn Clegg, Christine Ellerbe, Sandy George Gaines, Phyllis Goins, Cathy Harrington, Alice Jackson, Pauline Levine, Rosa Mills, Town Councilman Jeff Moody, Willa B. Monroe, Catherine Morrison, Dorothy R. Morrison, Evelyn Morrison, Katrina Morrison, Vera Moses, Ann Odom (Grady Odom's wife, and friend of Mrs. Garris), Lolita Robinson, Mr. Shamberger, Johnnie Stanford, and Patrick Walker.

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 has Sunday School at 10 a.m. every week. Worship services are held every first and third Sundays of the month at 11:30 a.m. and special programs or worship on second and fourth Sundays. Bible study is held every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Intercessory prayer is held every Saturday at 8 a.m. Pastor Mary Kelly is the church pastor.

St. Marks Free Will Baptist Church will have a spring revival today (Wednesday) through Friday at 7 p.m. The Rev. C.L. Wall, from Candor, will preach Wednesday. Pastor Mary Kelly, of Vass, will preach Thursday, and Pastor Kent McMillian will preach Friday.

St. Marks has Bible study at 5:30 p.m. each Thursday. Sunday School is held every week at 10:30 a.m., and worship services are held at 11:30 a.m. every Sunday.

Bishop William, from Sanford, will be preaching at 4 p.m. Sunday at Holy Temple Church on Anderson Street in Carthage. The pastor is Elder Allen Moore.

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.

Birthday wishes go out to Wenona Thomas (April 10) and Evangelist Betty Ray (April 12).

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