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 is conducting a fundraiser in the form of creating a souvenir brochure to commemorate the activities and other happenings not only for the church, but also for friends and family, other churches and businesses.

The price for the ads will be $100 for full-page, $50 for half-page and $25 for quarter-page. An ad for an eighth of a page, in the form of a business card or any other typed, camera ready document will be $12.50. Payment is requested up front. The deadline is July 14 and the cut-off date is July 21.

Committee members are Lorine McCants (chairperson), Juanita McNeill, Juliebird Person and Kenny Washington. For more information, call (910) 948-4243.

All proceeds will benefit the church. All of this is being done for Family and Friends Day, which will be held Aug. 12. Lunch will be served between the morning and afternoon services.

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.

Jordan Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church will hold a Women's Day program at 3 p.m. July 15. The message will come from an array of talented speakers. The host pastor is the Rev. Anna Bird. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Shiloh A.M.E. Zion Church will celebrate its annual Women's Day program at 3 p.m. July 15. The guest preacher will be Minister Cristal Graham, from Friendship Grove A.M.E. Zion Church in Raeford. Everyone is invited to attend. Mary Brown is the chairperson. The Rev. Lula Oliver is the pastor.

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

In memoriam: Archie McMilllian (July 11) and Justine Green (July 12).

Sick and shut-ins: Betty Ellerbe is home from 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

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

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.

Carl and Terri Locklear celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary Monday. Steven and Portia Terrell celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary Monday.

Birthday wishes go out to Robert McLaughlin and Shanesha Ingram (July 12), Lee Settle (July 15), Quan Swinnie (July 17) and Terry Bailey (July 17).

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 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 Mae McLaughlin and Arlene McRae (July 10) Evin Ratliff (July 12) 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

The summer enrichment program continues for two more weeks at Cypress Presbyterian Church. Twenty-six children were registered last week. It is not too late for 6- to 13-year-olds to participate. The free day camp meets on Mondays through Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the fellowship hall.

It will conclude with a closing celebration at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 21. Hot dogs, hamburgers and watermelon will be served.

Improvements to the sanctuary are nearly complete, and the congregation is anxiously waiting to return to worshiping there soon.

Anyone looking for a church family is invited to join Cypress during this exciting time.

Last Wednesday, July 4, was a quite day at Mount Pleasant, with the regular services canceled so everyone could celebrate Independence Day with families and friends.

The quietness of the day ended abruptly as a storm approached about 4:45 p.m. By 5:20 p.m., the power was out, and the damage from the severe high winds was being revealed.

The church lost two of the beautiful Bradford pear trees in the front of the church. The winds tore away large sections of the vinyl siding. The church sign, used to advertise special events, was rolled into a ball. Shingles were blown off the roof, and straight line winds pushed a tremendous amount of water through the front doors of the church and into the vestibule, wetting the carpet inside the church. The flowers in the cemetery were mostly piled down along the property line fence or scattered over most of the church property.

Many volunteers came out Thursday and Saturday to help repair the damage and remove the debris. A special thanks goes to Jimmy Hennings, the chairman of the board of directors, for his rapid response and talents in getting the church ready for worship on Sunday. A special thanks to all the members who came out Saturday to make sure all the debris was picked up and the grounds were in order.

Those who have loved ones buried in the cemetery are encouraged to stop by and check the plots of their loved ones and see if the flowers need to be replaced.

The church will hold Vacation Bible School July 24-27 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The theme of the school will be "Go Fishing." Plans are being made for the best Bible school ever.

Parents of children in the community who plan to attend either have to preregister their children or register them the first night of the Bible school. This is a requirement. Children cannot be dropped off without a parent registering them.

The church is excited about the school and the many special events and activities that are planned

The choir continues to practice on Wednesday nights, and everyone is invited to come share in this special ministry.

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, at 1160 Red Hill Road in Cameron, where the pastor is Kenneth Headen, will celebrate Choir Day at 3 p.m. this Sunday. Everyone is invited.

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

The Taylortown Ministerial Alliance will have its annual worship program at 6 p.m. Saturday at Spruill Temple Church of God in Christ. The pastor is Elder Jerry Chesney. The president, Rev. Kenneth Stewart, other officers and members invite everyone to attend.

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 will be held at the Taylor House on Main Street Monday through Wednesday, Aug. 6-8, 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 needed. Contact Linda Gore at (910) 947-3188 or Rose Highland-Sharpe, 4-H adviser, at (910) 295-0013.

Congratulations to Bryan Scales Jr. and Travis Scales (quarterback) on their recent graduation from Pinecrest High School. These cousins excelled in academics and sports during their four years at Pinecrest. They are headed for a great collegiate life and awesome careers. Mother, Dana, and grandmother, Jackie (Travis), are so proud. Dad, Bryan Sr., mom, Wylea, and grandmother, Jean (Bryan Jr.), are proud, too. Hats off to the Scales family!

Congratulations to Elder Lee Marvin Harris Sr. and Valerie Dickerson Harris on celebrating 32 years of marriage with a grand ceremony to renew their vows at Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church last Saturday. A fabulous reception followed at Down Memory Lane banquet hall near Pinehurst (close to the bowling alley area). Lee and Val have been a help to many people in Moore County with their fundraising efforts and outreach services.

Jump-start your job search by earning your GED and becoming a nursing assistant I at the same time. Health care basic classes begin July 18, 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.

Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church in Southern Pines will host free career and life skills classes Tuesday, July 17, through Thursday, July 19, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Classes are sponsored by Kingdom Life Christian Ministries (KLCM), San Antonio.

Apostle Tyrone McCreary is the pastor of KLCM and a former resident of West Southern Pines. (His mom is Theresa McCreary Black, and his family includes the Mason family.) Contact Trinity members for more information.

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.

Eddie Raines thanks Tamara Thompson for her excellent care as his nurse at the local hospital last week. Tamara has a dual career as a nurse and police officer. She is the daughter of Town Councilman James L. Thompson (retired police officer) and the late Betty Jean Thompson (she was a nurse). Her grandmothers are retired educator Alyce Caldwell Thompson and retired nurse Peggy Gaddy Huff.

The community extends sympathy and prayers to the family of the late Junius Nathaniel Cassady. Please continue to pray for the family.

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

A Joy Night program will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at God's House of Prayer Ministry.

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.

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.

Congratulations to Celester and Deaconess Catherine McKeithen on their 26th wedding anniversary July 1 and also to Perry and Evangelist Betty Ray on their 38th wedding anniversary July 6.

Birthday wishes go out to Linda Kelly and Ruby Faulk (July 3), Celester McKeithen (July 4), Braxton McKeithen (July 5), Vivan Fairley (July 11), Edward Kelly and Melique Vample (July 14) and Linda McArthur (July 16)

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