Aberdeen

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.

To submit items for the Aberdeen section, email shelbi person@embarqmail. com.

- Shelbi Person

Addor

New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church will hold its annual Family and Friends Day Aug. 12, starting with Sunday School at 10 a.m. Lunch will be served between the morning and afternoon services.

The pastor and members of Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church will be the special guests for the 3 p.m. service.

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.

Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church invites everyone to attend Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. each week. The pastor is the Rev. James McKinnon.

Birthday wishes go out to Bessie Brown and Louis Gilmore Sr. (Aug. 1), Evander White (Aug. 2), Sarah McMillian (Aug. 5), Laneva Brown (Aug. 7) and to all others who are celebrating this week.

Sick and shut-ins: Betty Ellerbe, Sarah F. McMillian, Betty Lou Moses, Louise Jones, Carl McRae Jr. and Nora Smith are among the homebound. 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

St. Peters will hold Family and Friends Day on Sunday, Aug. 12. Dinner will be served in the fellowship hall.

St. Peters will hold its revival Aug. 13-15 at 7:30 nightly. Elder Malcolm Curry, of St. Mark in Sanford, will be the guest preacher. Everyone is invited to attend.

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.

The Holy Convention in Greensboro turned out great last week.

Plans are being made for the 25th reunion of the Pinecrest High School class of 1987 on Saturday, Oct. 6. Graduates are asked to look for updates on the Pinecrest Class of 1987 Facebook page, "Pinecrest Class of '87" or "Pinecrest Class of 1987 25th Reunion."

Send email contact information to pinecrest 8725 anniversary @yahoo or call Pauline Little Ross or Vonnie Barber Thomas at (910) 688-3447.

Fredrick and Nicky Canty will celebrate their wedding anniversary this week. Apostle Leonard and Mahalia Williams will celebrate their wedding anniversary this week.

Birthday wishes go out to Isiah Person (Aug. 1), Joyce Morris and Ben Harris Jr. (Aug. 3), James Alston, Latoya Alston and Emil McCrimmon (Aug. 5), Rico McRae and Derrick McRae (Aug. 6), and Jeremy Hargrove (Aug. 7).

Sick and shut-ins: Lewis McLaughlin, Paula Neal, Michael McLean, Charles Jackson, Joe Jackson, Samuel Brisbon, Darlene Harris, Ruth Rogers, Evelyn Clegg, Cornelia Adkins, Minister Wrencher, Margret Thompson and Alma Jones.

- Wilma Monroe

Hoffman

A joint church Bible School is being held this week at the Hoffman Parks and Recreation building on Thompson Drive.

The Murchison family held its family reunion last weekend at the Hoffman Parks and Recreation building. The Claybrook family reunion will be held the second weekend in August in Madison.

Macedonia will hold homecoming Sunday, Aug. 19. Revival services will be held Aug. 22-24 at 7 each night.

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

Sympathy is extended to Betsy Riggs and Bea and Iris Little on the loss of their loved one, Charlotte Riggs. Funeral services were held July 21.

Birthday wishes go out to James Brown (July 28), Mary Jameson (July 29), J.C. Sloan (July 31) Bea Little (Aug. 10), Arnel Little (Aug. 12) and Reginald Little (Aug. 14).

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, Nancy Ellerbe, Lillie 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

The congregation at Cypress Presbyterian Church celebrated the refurbishing of the sanctuary during last Sunday's worship service.

It was led by the interim pastor, the Rev. Dr. Barbara Hedin, and assisted by Bill R. Cameron, chairman of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, and Kathy Greene, of the Renovation Advisory Committee. The sanctuary was rededicated to the glory of God. A covered-dish lunch in the fellowship hall followed the service.

Also recognized during the service were new members Jim and Alex Horne.

On Monday, the Women's Circle will kick off resumption of their meetings with dinner in Aberdeen. All ladies are invited and should plan to meet at the church no later than 6 p.m.

After taking a summer break, the Thursday evening Bible Study will begin at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9 in the church parlor.

Anyone who enjoys quilting is invited to help with the last quilt for this year's harvest sale. The quilters will be working Mondays through Wednesdays, beginning at 9 a.m. in the fellowship hall. Come join the group and enjoy the fellowship.

This past week, Mount Pleasant Christian Church hosted Vacation Bible School, with the theme of "Fishin' on Mission."

Each night, the children were exposed to the biblical theme of the commandment that Jesus gave to all his followers to "go and make disciples of all nations." Jesus told Simon and Peter, who were fishermen, that he would make them "fishers of men."

The sanctuary was transformed into a lake, complete with a dock and fishing pier. A boat was built by Waylon Morris and Bill Harrison, cut out over 100 wooden fish that were painted by the children during the school.

Each night, "LemonJello" the clown would come out with all his equipment to go fishing. Each night, Pastor Greg would explain to him that he had the right equipment for fishing, but that there were things that he wasn't doing or needed to do in a different order. This helped the children learn that God has a proper order and proper ways of doing the things his church has to do.

Snacks were coordinated around the fishing theme, and supper was served to the children and teachers each night. Linda Blue coordinated an army of volunteers to feed the students who attended the church school.

During the week, the children brought their offering in response to the Bible mandate of giving back to God. They gave their pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters that amounted to more than $530 for the four days.

One of the highlights of each night for the kids was the "Tales From the Belly of the Whale." Bill Harrison actually constructed the mouth, ribs and teeth of the whale. The children would get inside the whale, and Hal Abshire told them of the tales of Jonah.

Janae Harrison taught the children the VBS songs about Jonah, the rainbow and the love of God. More than 60 children and teens attended the school. Adding all the teachers and staff, more than 100 people were there each night.

Denise Godfrey and Bill Harrison were the co-directors of the school, and they did one of the most outstanding jobs ever done.

On Aug. 19 at 6 p.m., the church will welcome Right Turn, the gospel singing group that has been to the church before. The community is invited to share this special evening of music.

Mount Pleasant holds worship services at 11 a.m. each Sunday. Dr. Greg Poplin is the pastor. Everyone in the community is invited to attend services.

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

Red Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 1160 Red Hill Road, Cameron, will have homecoming at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5. The speaker will be the Rev. Jeff Person, of Mount Zion A.M.E. Zion Church in Carthage.

Revival services will be held Monday through Friday, Aug. 6-10 at 7:30 nightly. The speaker Monday and Tuesday will be the Rev. George Dark, of Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Sanford. The speaker Wednesday through Friday will be the Rev. Kent McMillian, of Fryes Chapel Free Will Baptist Church in Vass.

Holy Temple Church on Anderson Street, where the pastor is Elder Allen Moore, will begin having services every first and third Sunday. Everyone is invited to attend.

Happy birthday to all who are celebrating this week.

Please pray for our president and all leaders, the 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 call me at (910) 783-7822 (cell) or (910) 947-2208 (home) and leave a message at least one week in advance.

- Irene Ray

Taylortown

Congratulations to Bria Chanelle Scales on her recent graduation from Riverview High School in Columbia, S.C. She will attend a four-year university in South Carolina, and she looks forward to a wonderful college career.

Bria is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William "Billy" Scales Jr. and the granddaughter of Jean Scales and the late William Scales Sr.

Moore County 4-H summer camp will be held at the Taylor House on Main Street next Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. until noon for youths ages 8 to 12. Activities will be provided by Linda Gore, Moore County 4-H coordinator. Refreshments will be served.

Volunteers are invited to help. Contact Linda Gore at (910) 947-3188 or Rose Highland-Sharpe, 4-H adviser, at (910) 295-0013.

The Divine Spirituals of Carthage will be in concert at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11. This is a fundraiser for the church building fund and United Way of Moore County. The Rev. Rose Highland-Sharpe is the coordinator. The pastor, Rev. Charles Nabors, invites everyone to attend this evening filled with great music.

A praise and worship service will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, at Greater Works Church of Deliverance Ministries. Choirs, praise teams and inspirational dancers are invited to share their gifts to celebrate the Lord. Contact Deborah Ratliff at (910) 639-7281 or Minister Karen Stanford at (910) 583-7328. The pastor, Apostle Andria U. Weekes, and members look forward to seeing everyone Aug. 19.

The Taylortown Ministerial Alliance will have the annual "Back-to-School" event at the Johnny Boler Municipal Park on Saturday, Aug. 18, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. There will be a cookout, and school supplies wil be provided for school-aged children. The Rev. Larry Alford is the coordinator. The Rev. Kenneth Stewart is the president of the alliance.

Taylortown's "2012 Celebrations" will be held Friday, Aug. 31, through Sunday, Sept. 2. There will be a dinner, dance and fashion show at the Southern Pines Elks Lodge starting at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 31. It lasts until 12:30 p.m. For ticket information, call Joann Faulkner at (910) 295-0423, James Thompson at (910) 295-5978, Josephine Faulk at (910) 295-3378, or Marvin and Tara Taylor at (910) 638-3464.

Interested golfers should call James Thompson at (910) 295-5978 for a captain's choice tournament at the Southern Pines Elks Lodge golf course. On Saturday, Sept. 1, the parade begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by a cookout, music and games until 3 p.m. at the Johnny Boler Municipal Park.

Sunday services will be held at the Boler Park beginning at 11 a.m. and will be led by Apostle Andria Weekes and the congregation of Greater Works of Deliverance Ministries.

For hotel accommodations, call the Comfort Inn-Pinehurst at (910) 215-5500 and ask for the "Taylortown Weekend" rate.

Town councilman Jeff Moody and a group of health-minded residents meet on Monday and Thursday evenings at 7 to walk around the community. Get healthy and start moving! Contact Jeff on Richardson Street for more information.

Congrats to Arjae and Mighia Matthews on their new services, Voice of Deliverance Ministries at Simply Storage, at 4500 Billy Williamson Drive in Atlanta. Their services begin at 5 p.m. each Sunday and focus on sickness, depression and addictions. Attendees can dress casually and just come as they are. Call (888) 308-3068. Mighia is the daughter of Ministers Ann Brown McDonald and Carl McDonald.

Earn your GED and become a nursing assistant I at the same time. Health care basic classes start today (Wednesday), and Basic Skills Plus classes begin Aug. 20. Classes run Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Call Twana McKnight at Sandhills Community College at (910) 695-3782.

Mobile computer classes are available this summer for your church or community center through Sandhills Community College by calling Jenny Troyer at (910) 695-3926.

Evangelist Carolyn Mitchell (our town clerk) invites everyone to listen to her broadcast, "Words of Life," on WEEB 990-AM, 10:30-10:45 a.m. Evangelist Mitchell has been providing this teaching ministry for many years at WEEB. Thanks for listening.

The Rev. Kenneth Stewart invites local ministers to attend the Taylortown Ministerial Alliance meeting on the second Saturday of each month at one of the local churches in the early afternoon. The Rev. Kenneth Stewart is the president.

The Pinecrest High School class of 1977 invites former students close to their age from our community (such as the classes of 1976 or 1974) to the 35th reunion June 30. Contact Ella B. McMillan at (910) 715-8149.

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.

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.

Join Spruill Temple Church of God in Christ for weekly services. Call in your prayer request at (910) 295-0071. The pastor is Elder Jerry Chesney.

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.

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

"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.

August's prayer list includes Cheryl Parraway, Deacon Leroy Alford Sr., Jaion Barrett, Mr. and Mrs. George Brown, Bishop Larry Brown, Evelyn Clegg, Christine Ellerbe, Sandy George Gaines, Phyllis Goins, Cathy Harrington, Luther Headen, Alice Jackson, Pauline Levine, Rosa Mills, Willa B. Monroe, Catherine Morrison, Dorothy R. Morrison, Evelyn Morrison, Vera Moses, James Murphy, Lolita Robinson, Mr. Shamberger, Johnnie Stanford and Patrice Taylor.

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. and worship at 11 a.m. every week. Bible study is held every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Intercessory prayer is held every Saturday at 8 a.m. Pastor Mary Kelly is the church pastor.

St. Mark Free Will Baptist Church in Vass will celebrate the Rev. Chester Little's 10th pastoral anniversary at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. The church will hold Family and Friends Day at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 23. The program is sponsored be Linda Henderson. Everyone is invited to attend.

St. Marks has Sunday School at 10:30 a.m. and worship services at 11:30 a.m. every Sunday. Bible study is held at 5:30 p.m. each Thursday. The pastor is the Rev. Chester Little.

Oakridge A.M.E. Zion Church holds Sunday School at 10 a.m. and worship services at 11 a.m. on the second and fourth Sunday.

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