Aberdeen

Turning Point Worship Center, located at 16433 U.S. 15-501 south of Aberdeen, holds worship services at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday. Bible classes are held at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday.

To submit items for the Aberdeen news, please email shelbiperson@emnbarqmail.com.

- Shelbi Person

Addor

Spiritual Emphasis Week is taking place this week at A.M.E. Zion churches in the area. It began Monday.

Services will be held at Allen Chapel today (Wednesday), New Zion on Thursday and Trinity on Friday. Services are from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome 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.

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.

If anyone is in need of food, heating assistance and shelter, please contact 211, the United Way of Moore County.

The community was saddened to learn of the passing of Jessie Mae McNeil last week. The funeral was conducted Tuesday at Poplar Springs Baptist Church. The community was also sad to learn of the passing of Corenia Nealy and Pat Reeves. Please keep the families in your prayers.

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

Sick and shut-ins: Marie Berry is in the hospital. Sarah F. McMillian is in rehab. Betty J. Ellerbe, Betty L. Moses, Louise Jones 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.

We wish everyone in the community a Happy New Year.

- 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 thanks everyone who turned out for its Watch Night service on New Year's Eve. Breakfast was served after the service.

St. Ruth in West End will have a New Year's revival today (Wednesday) through Friday at 7:30 nightly. Elder Timothy Worthy will be the preacher.

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.

Ora Jones was home from New York visiting family for the holidays. Darryl Person came home to visit his family for the Christmas holidays.

Birthday wishes go to Penni Spencer (Dec. 30), Albert Settle (Dec. 31) and James Alston Jr. (Jan. 2).

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 10 a.m. Saturday.

The three churches will hold a joint Bible study Wednesday, Jan. 25, before the fifth Sunday home union Jan. 29 at Pleasant Hill. The Rev. Charles Bethea is in charge of the service. The host pastor is the Rev. C.E. Cunningham.

The Red Hat Club will meet at noon Saturday at the Beaver Dam Center. All members are asked to attend.

Genia Little Taylor and her family, from Madison, visited the Little family over the holidays.

Sympathy is extended to the families of Eugene Dunlap and Jessie McNeil on the passing of their loved ones.

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, Lang Harrison, Albert Hailey, Lacy Jackson, Mattie White, Cathy Harrington, Lula Smith, Juanita Gilmore, Leana McRae, Arlene McRae, Thelma McKoy, Dan McKoy, Eugene Martin, Johnny King, Nancy Ellerbe, Lillie Ellerbe, Bunie Ellerbe, Jimmy Ellerbe, Rebecca Utley, Cynthia Royster 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

Happy New Year to everyone from the Little River community!

Cypress Presbyterian Church will celebrate the Lord's supper at the 11 a.m. worship service Sunday. The following Sunday, Jan. 15, the handbell choir SUCCEED will perform at the 11 a.m. worship service.

Choir rehearsals have resumed at 7 o'clock on Wednesday evenings.

For further information on the activities and programs at Cypress Presbyterian Church, please visit the church website at www.cypresspres.org.

This past Sunday, on New Year's Day, more than 110 worshipers filled the pews of Mount Pleasant Church, beginning the new year in worship. Everyone greeted one another with "Happy New Year."

Joel Norton sang a beautiful solo title "Mary Did You Know?" and it was so inspiring that the congregation was in silent awe it was finished. He received a grand ovation for his offering of his talents to the Lord.

The children were challenged to see the new year as a gift from God that will be filled with blessings and surprises.

Everyone is invited to share in the life of the church. Many events are already in the planning stages for every age group of the church.

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

Minister John Ray, of Body of Christ Outreach Ministry on Lemon Springs Road in Sanford, will speak at Synagogue of Christ, where the Pastor is Louise Kiniel, on Friday, Jan. 13.

St. Ruth United Church of God in West End, where the pastor is Eldress Kearns, will have its New Year's revival today (Wednesday) through Friday at 7:30 nightly. The speaker will be Elder Tim Worthy, of Jackson Hamlet.

Irene Ray has recovered from her October accident and went back to work Tuesday. She thanks everyone for their prayers.

Please pray for the entire world, our president and all leaders, sick, bereaved shut-ins and caregivers.

- Irene Ray

Taylortown

The mayor, Town Council, town clerk and town staff, Taylortown Ministerial Alliance and local residents hope everyone will have a healthy, peaceful and prosperous New Year!

All the best for a great new year from the "Hill Top Shops" owners! 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.

Elder Timothy Worthy will lead a New Year's revival tonight (Wednesday) through Friday at 7:30 at St. Ruth United Church of God in West End. Pastor Lillian Kearns invites everyone to attend. Elder Worthy is a member of the Taylortown Ministerial Alliance.

The Taylortown Ministerial Alliance had Watch Night services Saturday at Spruill Temple Church of God in Christ. The speaker was Bishop Larry Brown. The pastor at Spruill Temple is Elder Jerry Chesney. The president of the Alliance is the Rev. Kenneth Stewart.

A job program through Sandhills Community College called Pathways to C.N.A. (certified nursing assistant) in the basic skills education department will be offered this spring semester. Call Twana McKnight at (910) 695-3782 or Rose Highland-Sharpe at (910) 695-3783.

The program is free and offers students the opportunity to earn a GED (or to review math and reading) and to study occupational lessons to prepare for transitioning to the C.N.A. class. GED graduates will be eligible for a scholarship to pay for the C.N.A. program.

Keyboard-musician positions are available at some local churches in Moore County. For more information, call (910) 295-0013 (Rev. R. Highland-Sharpe).

Musical selections by Taylortown Head Start parents, grandparents and former students are featured on "Town Talk" television show this week. These instrumental, vocal and mimes are performed by Jared McCormick, Evangelist Loretta Butler, Brenda Spencer, Jonathan Flowers, Buck Ritter, Tyangela McAllister and Minister Lequita Jones.

"Town Talk" airs daily at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Time Warner Cable 3 of Southern Pines. Rose Highland-Sharpe is the videographer and producer. Happy New Year from Rose and the "Town Talk" staff! Thanks for your support since 2000 (and 1996-2000 in Sanford)

Michael Robinson, the Taylortown "Music Man," is available to teach guitar lessons. Call (910) 691-9283. Michael also conducts "Taylortown Jams," which 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." 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.

Happy New Year from the ladies who continue to help with MANNA! at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays at Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Some of the helpers include Melba Bostic, Esther McNeill, Hulene Morrison and Kathy Murphy. Pastor John Roberts is the day-to-day operations manager for MANNA! The pastor at Spaulding Chapel is the Rev. Charles Allen.

Many thanks for your continued prayers and support of Edward and Sharonda Wilson.

Special thanks to the Taylortown Ministerial Alliance for its continued support and prayers for those in need of assistance in our community.

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 rosesharpe37@gmail.com. WEEB Gospel family members include veteran announcer Felton J. Capel and substitute announcers Pastor Ren Lee and Niniji Lloyd.

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.

The January prayer list includes Deacon Leroy Alford Sr., Jaion Barrett, Carol Blackmon, Mr. and Mrs. George Brown, Evelyn Clegg, Christine Ellerbe, Sandy George Gaines, Phyllis Goins, Cathy Harrington, Alice Jackson, Pauline Levine, Rosa Mills, 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

The Gospel Mellowtones will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday at New Hope Church in White Hill.

Evangelist Betty Ray will preach at the 11 a.m. service Sunday at God's House of Prayer Ministry.

A talent show will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 22 at at God's House of Prayer Ministry. Sponsored by Minister Freddie Kelly, Sr.

Evangelist Jacqueline Harvin will be the guest speaker at 6 p.m. Jan. 28 at New Birth Church in Lemon Springs.

Minister Frederick Kelly will be the guest speaker for the "Bringing in the New Year With Jesus" program at 11 a.m. Jan. 29 at God's House of Prayer Ministry. The program sponsored by Anita Finch.

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 pastor.

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 Andre Pringle (Jan. 1), Tonia Foxx (Jan. 2), Tiffany Wilkins (Jan. 4) and Isaiah Harris (Jan. 6).

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