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

We hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July!

The fourth missionary mass meeting for the Sanford District will be held this Friday. There will be a candlelight march beginning at 7 p.m. at Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Congratulations to Walter Dyle and Tyonica Durant for being the first runners-up last Saturday in the Bible memory contest during the Sunday School convention in Sanford. They are members of New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church. The pastor, the Rev. Charles McKnight, and all the members are proud of them.

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 this week to Erin and Eric Lyon (July 6), and Alex "Trey" Bagley (July 7).

In memoriam: Sheldon F. Cox (July 1).

Sick and shut-ins: Edna McCrimmon is in rehab. Betty Ellerbe is in the hospital. Sarah F. McMillian, Betty Lou Moses, Louise Jones 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

Lewis McLaughlin is back in Pinelake nursing home.

Wendy Nottage was home last week visiting her family. Joe and Cynthia Jackson were home visiting from New Jersey.

St. Peters will hold Vacation Bible School July 9-13 at 7:30 nightly. 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 will be held July 24-29 in Greensboro.

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 8725anniversary @yahoo or call Pauline Little Ross or Vonnie Barber Thomas at (910) 688-3447.

Gwen and Leroy Alford celebrated their wedding anniversary this week. Gloria and Robbie Person celebrated their wedding anniversary Sunday.

Birthday wishes go out to Jackie Moultrie (July 4), Danny Harris (July 7), Kiki Alston and Mantasis Ingram (July 8), Wendy Nottage and Roxy McKeithan (Jul 9), and Sharrita Wilson and Essence McKeithan (July 10).

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

- Wilma Monroe

Hoffman

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.

The Hart family reunion will be held this Friday and Saturday. Call Tommy Hart at (910) 281-3898 for more information.

Macedonia will hold its quarterly church meeting at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The home union will be held July 21 at Fletcher's Chapel. The Rev. C. Bethea is the host pastor. Macedonia will be in charge of the service.

Fletcher's Chapel will have its homecoming July 22.

The interdenominational union will be held July 29 at Fletcher's Chapel.

Birthday wishes go out to Arelene McRae, Mary Jamison and 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, 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

Come out and support our local farmers as the produce stands are now opening, with many local favorites for sale.

This past Saturday, the Mount Pleasant Church fellowship hall was filled with more than 100 people gathered in secret to surprise Mildred Seagroves for her 80th birthday. Her children had decorated the fellowship hall.

Mildred had been told that she was being taken out to dinner by two of her daughters. The surprise was on her when her daughter turned into the church parking lot and said let's go in here for just a minute. Mildred said that until she saw the church sign that had "Happy 80th Birthday Mildred Seagroves," she had no idea that something was up.

The guests were treated to a buffet of fried chicken, baked beans, slaw, green beans, rolls and hush puppies. Ice tea, pink lemonade, water and coffee were served along with birthday cake.

Sunday services featured all patriotic music, with lots of congregational participation. The congregation pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and sang proudly the hymn of our country and our faith.

Dr. Poplin brought the message from Proverbs 13:34 titled "Getting America Back to God."

Vacation Bible School will be held July 24-27 from 6 until 8:30 each evening. This is a modified version, with classes being held for three days and the commencement on Friday, followed by an ice cream, cookie and cake fellowship in the fellowship hall. It is for children ages 3 to 15.

Preregistration is available for all those who wish to attend, or they can register on the first night of the school. Parents must register their children and provide an emergency contact numbers and any allergies their children have.

Every family in the community is welcome to attend this Vacation Bible School that will focus on being fishers of men.

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.

Cypress Presbyterian Church's Thursday evening Bible study is taking a summer break through the end of July. It will resume in August.

Cypress Summer Enrichment, a free day camp for kids ages 6-13, will be held on Monday through Wednesdays, through July 18, in the Cypress fellowship hall. (There will not be camp on July 4.)

Lunch and snacks will be provided each day. Registration forms may be obtained by calling (910) 245-7397.

As summer comes in with a vengeance, don't forget that your pets need even more support from their two-legged parents. The wild bird population continues to need our help as foliage begins to dry up, berries disappear and water becomes scarce.

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

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

Happy Fourth of July! Be safe and enjoy your family, festivities, food and fellowship. God bless America!

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

Linda Gore, coordinator of Moore County 4-H, will give the "mission moment" this Sunday during the morning services at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. She will provide information regarding 4-H clubs and camps. The pastor is the Rev. Charles Nabors.

Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church will have a worship service at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 15. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Oscar Rush, of Union Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Franklinton, N.C. Members of his congregation will accompany him. This building fund program is sponsored by the trustees and the pastor, Rev. Charles Allen. Everyone is invited. Spaulding is located at 8254 Main St.

Summer camp continues through this Friday at the Taylor House. Town Councilman Jeff Moody and his wife, Nadine, are providing fun activities for school-aged children from 8 a.m. until noon.

Contact Moore County 4-H regarding 4-H Summer Adventures 2012. There are several different camps through Aug. 4. Call (910) 947-3188.

Mobile computer lab classes are available for churches and agencies through human resources development at Sandhills Community College. Classes will be brought to various community groups. Call Jenny at (910) 695-3926 for more information.

Bishop Larry Brown thanks everyone for the visits, phone calls, cards and prayers during his time of illness.

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.

Spruill Temple Church of God in Christ has a prayer service from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday. Call in your prayer request at (910) 295-0071.

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.

July's prayer list includes 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

Pastor Mary Kelly celebrated her 12th pastoral anniversary Saturday at the Douglass Community Center in Southern Pines. She was also ordained as an apostle.

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 6:30 p.m. Intercessory prayer is held every Saturday at 8 a.m. Pastor Mary Kelly is the church pastor.

A car show will be held at 9 a.m. July 21 at the Vass Park. The event is sponsored by Minister Freddie Kelly Jr. and God's House of Prayer Ministry. More details will be announced at a later time.

Oakridge A.M.E. Zion Church holds worship services on the second and fourth Sunday. The pastor is the Rev. Walter Cotton.

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.

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