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.

For the month of January, Turning Point will hold corporate prayer night at 6:30 each Sunday. Prophet Duane White will be the guest speaker at Turning Point on Jan. 23-25 at 7:30 p.m.

Pastor Locklear will be the guest speaker at Harrington Chapel, at 151 S. Carlisle St. in Southern Pines. Worship service will start at 7:30 p.m.

Anyone needing more information on worship and prayer events for January at Turning Point, call (910) 281-2055.

Bethesda Presbyterian Church, located at 1002 N. Sandhills Blvd, in Aberdeen, will host a 13-week divorce care program beginning Jan. 5. It will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. each Thursday. This is an encouraging and helpful program for those dealing with the pain of separation and divorce. It is a video-based program followed by group discussion.

The cost is $25. Scholarships are available. Child care will be provided. Call (910) 944-1319 to register.

Birthday wishes goes out to Mother Matthew and Mother Wrencher from St. John Church partners in Carthage, as well as Fran Irvin (Jan 6) and Ivey Brown, Pasty Brown and Kelly Grissett (Jan. 7).

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

- Shelbi Person

Addor

The first checkup meeting for the Sanford District of A.M.E. Zion churches will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Fair Promise A.M.E. Zion Church in Sanford. The first checkup for the Central North Carolina Conference will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, in Greenville.

The E.N.C.E.D. convocation and ordination will be held Friday and Saturday, Jan. 20-21, in Greenville.

Shiloh A.M.E. Zion Church will have its 100 Men and Women in Red program at 4 p.m. this Sunday. The guest preacher will be the Rev. Anna Maynor, pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church in McColl, S.C. Everyone is invited to attend.

A celebration funeral service for Jessie Mae McNeill was held Jan. 3 at Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church. The pastor, the Rev. James McKinnon, did the eulogy. The service of committal and interment was conducted at Wayne Cemetery.

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.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Connie L. Covington and Zamire McCants (Jan. 12), Latisha Womack (Jan. 15) and to all others 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, Phillip McMillian 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

The Dotsy Covington family thanks everyone for the kindness shown during their time of bereavement.

The family of Patricia Ann Murphy Monroe also thanks everyone for the many acts of kindness shown during their time of bereavement.

St. Peters thanks everyone who turned out for its Watch Night service on New Year's Eve.

The St. Ruth church family in West End thanks everyone who attended its New Year's revival last week. Elder Timothy Worthy was 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.

Leon and Monica Lyons will celebrate their second wedding anniversary Jan. 16.

Joshua Brown celebrated his birthday Saturday with his family.

Birthday wishes go to Gary Alston (Jan. 6), Barbara McGoogan (Jan, 7), Julian Brewer) Jan. 9), Sade Thompson (Jan. 12), Latoya McLaughlin and Aaron Jackson (Jan. 14), Yasheila McGhee (Jan. 15) and Brandon McRae (Jan. 16).

Sick and shut-ins: Lewis McLaughlin, Paula Neal, Michael McLean, Charles Jackson, Joe Jackson, Hoover Brown, Cornelia Adkins, Evelyn Clegg, Minister Wrencher, Carolyn Swinnie, Denise Cow, Conrad Dailey, 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.

Macedonia will hold a church meeting at 7 p.m. Friday

A Father, Son and Holy Ghost program will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Fletcher's Chapel.

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 is planning a singing program at 6 p.m. Feb. 4 at Fletcher's Chapel. For more information, please call (910) 281-3417 or (910) 692-8088

The community was saddened to learn of the passing of Elizabeth Perkins Thompson last Thursday. She has family in the community. Please keep the family in your prayers.

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

Cypress Presbyterian Church regrets that the SUCCEED handbells group had to cancel its performance scheduled for this Sunday. Hopefully it will be rescheduled in the near future.

The youth groups will meet at 5:45 p.m. this Sunday at Vass Presbyterian Church.

Cypress will host a spaghetti supper Saturday, Jan. 28, to dedicate the renovated fellowship hall kitchen. Cypress Gospel Boys will provide the entertainment. Contributions of dessert and tea are appreciated. Please join the church for this special occasion.

This past Sunday, more than 170 people filled Mount Pleasant Church for worship. About 29 children came forward to the pulpit area to share the children's sermon with Pastor Greg.

The choir shared a special anthem titled "Here at Thy Holy Table" in preparation for the observance of the Lord's Supper. The church was blessed with the special music of Dr. Linda Scott and Janet Chilton during the music for meditation at offertory and during communion.

This week, the senior youth began its meetings. The group meets on Sunday evenings, and the new youth leaders of the group invite all the youth of the community to join them as they begin their ministry. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

On Tuesday, the senior citizens group held its monthly meeting for soup and sandwiches and then were treated to a time of information and discussion by Moore County Commissioner Nick Picerno. If you are interested in attending these meetings, just come to the church fellowship hall at 11 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month. There is always lots of food, fun and fellowship. Contact the church office at (910) 245-7405 or Dan Peavey at (910) 245-7407 for more information.

This year, Mount Pleasant is following the theme of "Putting God First in All Things!" Everyone in the community is invited to join 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, April 13.

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

- Irene Ray

Taylortown

Community members will be participating in some of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. festivities in Moore County.

Lyric Barrett, a member of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church and a sixth-grade student who excels in academics, cheerleading and sports at West Pine Middle School, will represent Taylortown during the reading of biographies of famous African-Americans during Monday's program at the H.A. Wilson Auditorium at Southern Pines Primary School. She is the daughter of Charetta Barrett.

Other MLK activities include the following: A program will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Sandhills Community College's Owens Auditorium. The speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Joshua A. Haire Jr. Faith Missionary Baptist Church will sponsor a service at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at H.A. Wilson Auditorium at Southern Pines Primary School. The speaker will be the Rev. Dr. William Smith (friend of Dr. King), and music will be provided by the Rev. Dr. Paul G. Murphy and the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills. The Rev. Fred Walden and the Rev. Joseph Thompson are the coordinators.

Monday's festivities include the annual MLK March in downtown Southern Pines, beginning at 11 a.m. and concluding with a youth program at Southern Pines Primary School's H.A. Wilson Auditorium at 12:15 p.m. The march is sponsored by the West Southern Pines Civic Club Inc.

The Moore County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is sponsoring the youth program, with keynote speaker Elder Darrell Harris. Marcus Yancey, Moore County NAACP youth president, will co-preside. Elijah Harris, Elder Harris' son, will give closing words. Moore County youths will provide brief biographies of famous African-Americans.

Thomas J. Gibson will be one of the featured vocalists at the VIP Gospel Explosion at the Solid Rock Holiness Church in Bennettsville, S.C., at 4 p.m. this Saturday. The church is at 1004 Hamlet Highway. Thomas is a member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Jackson Hamlet. He is a local recording artist on tour with his new gospel CD.

Gladys Garris, Brigitte Little and Stephanie Stevens are planning a Rainbow Tea as part of a pre-anniversary program for Overseer Nathaniel Malloy, the pastor of Word of Life Ministries. The event will be held Feb. 18 at Bostick Recreation Center in Candor. Music will be provided by Dennis Hardison, of New Creation Ministries in South Carolina.

A donation of $25 includes the meal and entertainment. The colors are purple, red, white and blue. The donations for the tickets need to be received by Feb. 4. Call Garris at (910) 255-3132, Little at (910) 691-5979 or Stevens at (910) 315-7837.

The Rev. Edward N. Williams thanks everyone for attending the annual candlelight service last Sunday at Providence Presbyterian Church.

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.

The Taylortown Ministerial Alliance meets monthly at one of the local churches The president is the Rev. Kenneth Stewart. Thank you to the alliance for their prayers and services to those in need.

A free 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.

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 (Rev. R. 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 rosesharpe37@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 community prayer list includes Cathy Brown, 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

A talent show will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 22 at at God's House of Prayer Ministry. It is 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 is 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), Isaiah Harris (Jan. 6) and Arthur Harvin, Sr. (Jan. 11).

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