Addor

The Sanford District Lay Council member kickoff drive will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday at St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church in Cumnock. All lay leaders and pastors are asked to attend.

The Central North Carolina Conference Lay Council convocation will be held Saturday, Feb. 25, at St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church in Durham.

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.

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

Sick and shut-ins: Sarah F. McMillian is in rehab. Betty J. Ellerbe, Betty L. Moses, Phillip McMillian, 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.

- 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 United Church of God Southern District quarterly union Saturday and Sunday in Greensboro was wonderful.

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.

Quentin Anderson celebrated his birthday Sunday with his family.

Birthday wishes go out to Tanya Marks, Joshua Wall, JaColby McKinney and Crystal Gillispie (Feb. 3) and Azariah Wright (Feb. 5).

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 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 Red Hat Club is planning a singing program at 6 p.m. Feb. 4 at Fletcher's Chapel. All choirs are invited to attend.

A Sweethearts Tea will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at Fletcher's Chapel. Jessie Spell is in charge.

Rising Star No. 584 of the Order of the Eastern Star will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 7. All members are asked to attend.

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, 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 Cypress Presbyterian Church youth group will meet at 5:45 p.m. this Sunday. Supper will be provided. All youth in the community are invited to attend.

The women's circles will meet at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday in the fellowship hall.

Please mark your calendar now for Sunday, Feb. 12, when the SUCCEED handbell choir's rescheduled performance will be held during the 11 a.m. worship service. It will include music and puppets.

Cypress Church is at 1220 Cypress Church Road. For more information on its programs, please visit the church website at www.cypresspres.org.

This past Sunday was a wonderful day at Mount Pleasant Christian Church. More than 155 people gathered for worship. The choir's anthem was titled "Ten Thousand Years."

Dr. Poplin shared the story of the five stones that David gathered from the brook before going to face Goliath during the children's sermon. Dr. Poplin was questioned by many of the parents after church concerning the memory makers "rocks" he had given each of the 20 children who came forward.

The next senior citizens group lunch meeting will be held held Tuesday, Feb. 14, in the fellowship hall. Everyone in the community is invited to attend this special gathering and share in the fellowship and food.

The junior and senior youth will meet at 6:30 this coming Sunday night. All youth from the community are invited and encouraged to attend this special time of fellowship and learning.

The senior ladies' and men's classes held a surprise birthday party for Daisy McFadyen this Sunday morning during Sunday School. Sunday was her 80th birthday, and her daughter, Marie, treated the senior classes to sausage and blueberry biscuits, orange juice and coffee and strawberries. There were 29 in attendance for this surprise event.

The church is collecting slightly used blue jeans for the homeless. These donations will be taken to the Highfalls Elementary School to help the school win $5,000 in a contest sponsored by Levi Straus. Anyone who would like to donate jeans for this ministry is encouraged to call the church at (910) 245-7405 , or they can be dropped off at B&L Auto.

The senior ladies' class is also hosting a basket shower for little Olivia Spell. Olivia arrived about six weeks premature but is doing well and gaining weight. Olivia is the daughter of Adam and Stephanie Spell and the granddaughter of Hal and Lynn Abshire. Coy and Martha Blue are the very proud great-grandparents.

February is American Heart Month. Show your support by wearing red to raise awareness of heart disease.

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

Body of Christ Outreach Ministry on Lemon Springs Road, where the pastor is the Rev. Larry Ray, will have Ethnic Day on Feb. 19.

The church celebrates Communion on the first Sunday of the month. Sunday School is held every week at Sunday 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 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

Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church will have its Founders Day program at 3:30 p.m. Sunday Feb. 19. This will be the 107th year celebration.

Anyone who would like to make a donation for an advertisement or honorary acknowledgement in the commemorative booklet is asked to contact LaFaye Ellerbe at (910) 420-2995, Connie Raye at (910) 295-7381 or Doris Lee at (910) 295-4353. All inclusions for the booklet must be received by Feb. 10.

Join Spaulding Chapel's members and the pastor, the Rev. Charles Allen, for this wonderful reunion and celebration.

Bostic Recreation Center in Candor will be the site for a Rainbow Tea and gospel music entertainment at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. This is part of a pre-anniversary program for Overseer Nathaniel Malloy, the pastor of Word of Life Ministries.

Dennis Hardison, of New Creation Ministries in South Carolina, will provide the music. The meal and entertainment are included for the donation of $25. The rainbow colors are red, white, blue, and purple. Donations for the tickets must be received by Feb. 4. Call Gladys Garris at (910) 255-3132, Bridget Little at (910) 691-5979 or Stephanie Stevens at (910) 315-7837.

A musical Rainbow Tea will be sponsored by Long Leaf A.M.E. Zion Church at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19. The event will be held at Westmoore Elementary School on N.C. 705 near Robbins. Musical guests include the Angelaires, Pastor Mike Collins and his choir, and the Mount Olive A.M.E. Zion Church choir. Pastor Angela Headen Davis invites everyone to attend.

A black history program will be held Sunday, Feb. 29, at Long Leaf A.M.E. Zion Church. The time will be announced later. Everyone is welcome.

St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church will have a sweetheart banquet, with a theme of "The Power of Love," at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. The event will be held at the Jackson Hamlet Community Center. The donation is $12. Contact any member for more information. Pastor Elgett Floyd invites everyone to attend.

Elder Darrell Harris is the featured guest on the "Town Talk" television show later this week through mid-February in segment two of the Martin Luther King Jr. youth program recently held in Southern Pines. "Town Talk" airs daily at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Time Warner Cable channel 3. The host is Rose Highland-Sharpe. Thanks for your support.

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.

Condolences are extended to the family of the late Tina Shamberger Blackston. Please continue to pray for the family.

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.

Pathways to C.N.A. (certified nursing assistant) in the basic skills education department at Sandhills Community College will begin later this month (the start date have been extended). Call Twana McKnight at (910) 695-3782 or Rose Highland-Sharpe at (910) 695-3783. This free program 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 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 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, 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

Evangelist Jacqueline Harvin will speak at 11 a.m. Feb. 26 at God's House of Prayer Ministry for its Love of Jesus program. The program is sponsored by Anita Finch.

A Darrell Kelly memorial celebration will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Douglass Community Center in Southern Pines. The program will be given by his father, Deacon Freddie Kelly Jr.

Fellowship House of God will hold a Sweetheart Ball at 6 p.m. Feb. 11. Pastor Mary Kelly will be the guest speaker. The location of the program will be announced later.

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.

Oakridge A.M.E. Zion Church in Vass will have a Valentine Ball at 4 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Vass Community Center.

A donation of $15 a couple and $8 for singles is required. Everyone is invited to attend. Please dress up and come out and hear beautiful music. Food also will be served. For tickets, call (910) 215-2902, (910) 528-1707 or (910) 245-7946.

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 Jerrold Smith Jr. (Feb. 5) and Chris Burns (Feb. 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