Aberdeen

Turning Point Worship Center presents Community Unity Day from 11 a.m. to 2 pm. this Saturday at Aberdeen Lake Park.

Everyone is invited to come meet friends, enjoy fellowship and have fun. For more information, call (910) 281-2055.

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.

A backyard barbecue and craft fair will be held Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bethesda Presbyterian Church on U.S. 1 in Aberdeen. There will be crafts and artist tables galore, barbecue plates, a "sauce-off" competition, bake sale and a silent auction. Admission is free.

This is a fundraising event to benefit the Moore Free Clinic, the Aberdeen Elementary School Partnership and other mission projects.

Local crafters are invited to participate and set up their table, but there are a limited number of spaces. Please call the church office at (910) 944-1319 for additional information and for an application.

Coming this summer is the creative arts mini camp, presented by Here Two Inspire You. Learn and create stage costumes, props and sets. For more information, call (910) 281-0802.

The Pinecrest High School class of 1987 will celebrate its 25th reunion Saturday, Oct. 6. Event details and information will be posted and regularly updated on its Facebook reunion page, "Pinecrest Class of 1987 25th Reunion."

Class members who are not connected to Facebook are asked to please contact Pauline Little Ross or Vonnie Barber Thomas as soon as possible at (910) 688-3447 or email your contact information to them at pinecrest8725anniversary@yahoo.com.

To submit items for the Aberdeen section, email shelbiperson@embarq-mail.com

- Shelbi Person

Addor

The Sanford District invites everyone to a prayer breakfast sponsored by Love Grove A.M.E. Zion Church in West End at 8 a.m. Saturday, followed by the third missionary mass meeting at 10 a.m. The church pastor is the Rev. Judy Bowden.

The Rev. Charles McKnight and members of New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church will be at Longleaf A.M.E. Zion Church in Robbins at 5 p.m. this Saturday for a pre-Mother's Day celebration. Everyone is invited. The church pastor is the Rev. Angela Headen Davis.

The Rev. McKnight will be the guest preacher at 3 p.m. Sunday for a Men's Day program at Jordan Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church.

New Zion A.M.E. Zion Church will have a fish plate sale starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 12. Mother's Day corsages and boutonnieres made by the pastor's wife, Barbara McKnight, will be for sale. The sale will continue until 7 p.m.. Proceeds will benefit the church.

New Zion will host a free health screening at 3 p.m. May 20. Dr. Kelly King is the coordinator.

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.

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.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Anthony Brown (May 20), Nora Smith (May 4), Lorie Jean Little (May 6) and to all others who are celebrating.

In memoriam: Estell McMillian Gilmore (May 3).

Sick and shut-ins: Stella Gillispie is out of the hospital. Betty J. Ellerbe, Sarah F. McMillian, Phillip McMillian, Betty Lou Moses, Nora Smith and Carl McRae Jr. 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 Church will have Women's Day this Sunday. Evangelist Deborah Sibley will be the preacher. She is a dynamic woman of God. The service will begin at 11:15 a.m., and dinner will be served afterward.

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 Sunday School workshop was held last Saturday at Mount Zion in Greensboro.

Lewis McLaughlin was in the hospital last week.

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. Email contact information to pinecrest8725anniversary@yahoo or call (910) 688-3447.

Birthday wishes go out to Jessica Marsh (May 2), Brian McKinney Jr. (May 4) and Brandon Saunders (May 7).

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 Wednesday at 7 p.m. Macedonia and at 7:30 p.m. at Fletcher's Chapel. Pleasant Hill holds its Bible study at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The QC's Singers will perform Friday, May 18, at the Hoffman Parks and Recreation Building. Doors open at 4 p.m., with the program starting at 7 p.m.

Don't forget to vote next Tuesday, May 8.

Birthday wishes go out to Daniel Kelly (May 5), Frank Smith (May 9) and 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, Johnny King, 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

Cypress Presbyterian Church celebrated Mary Pope's 90th birthday after worship last Sunday. A luncheon was held in her honor in the fellowship hall.

Family members and friends enjoyed remembering the many accomplishments she has made in her 90 years. Congratulations, Mary, and we wish you many more celebrations.

Sunday, May 6, is Cypress Memorial Sunday. The day will begin with a special service in the cemetery at 7:30 a.m., followed by a full breakfast in the fellowship hall. The Rev. Sam McGregor Jr., pastor from South Carolina, will be the guest minister for the day and will preach at the 11 a.m. worship service.

The Presbyterian Women will have a joint meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, May 7, in the fellowship hall. All ladies are invited to attend.

Please remember cereal boxes are still needed for our BackPack Pals program. Thank you for leaving the cereal in the basket in the vestibule.

A bridal shower was held for Crystal Joyner and Shawn Spears Sunday afternoon in the fellowship hall of Mount Pleasant Church. They were encouraged by many friends and church members as they begin their new lives together. The wedding will be held at at 4 p.m. May 19 at Mount Pleasant Church.

The youth will meet at 6:30 p.m. next Sunday for their regular meeting and to beginning their work on the Memorial/Homecoming Day event May 20. That is the day Mount Pleasant annually welcomes home church members who have moved away. The youth will present a program for the church to honor the founding members.

A memorial service is held in which the names of all those church members and family members who have passed away are called and flowers are presented to those families. The congregation will also go to the cemetery for a moment of remembrance and a prayer. The flowers are placed on the graves.

This year, the younger children of the church will help in making sure that all the graves in the cemetery will have a small handful of flowers placed on each one.

The service for Memorial Sunday will begin at 10 a.m., and the service of remembrance will be at 11 a.m. All of this will be followed by a covered-dish meal in the fellowship hall. Afterward, a memorial service will be held at the Wright Cemetery, where the oldest graves of the founding fathers are located.

On May 13, the men of the church will be in charge of the worship service, and the focus of the service will be to thank God for the women in their lives. The men will fill the choir, and many will share their love and tributes to the women of God in their lives.

A parent-child dedication is also planned for that Sunday.

Everyone is invited to attend worship at Mount Pleasant Church each Sunday morning.

This year's community Vacation Bible School will be held June 18-22 at Vass First Baptist. There will be classes for all ages, and supper will be served each evening.

A look forward to a few days that might be of interest to residents: National Day of Prayer is Thursday. the Sanford Pottery Festival is this weekend. Nurses Day is this Sunday, and watch for the Shriners this Friday and Saturday as they raise funds through a paper drive for the Children's Hospital.

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

A Women's Conference will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday and at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 5, at Body of Christ Outreach Ministry on Lemon Springs Road, where the pastors are Larry and Mellanie Ray. The speakers will be Minister Veronica Ingram and Minister Alice Pearson. All are invited to attend.

Body of Christ Outreach Ministry celebrates Communion on the first Sunday of the month. Sunday School is held every week 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.

St. John United Church of God in Carthage will hold Family and Friends Day at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 20. The guest speaker is Bishop Samuel Wright, from True Gospel United Church of God in Sanford.

Happy birthday to all who are celebrating this week.

Please pray for our president and all leaders, 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 contact 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 community was saddened to hear of the passing away of Ruth Morrison and Minister Mary J. Cowan.

Minister Cowan was a longtime beloved public school teacher, talented writer, orator, church and community leader, and faithful member at The Worship Center.

Ruth was a retired administrative assistant at J.P. Stevens Carpet. She was an avid marathon runner, even in recent years, and she served for many years as a dynamic Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher, and devoted member at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. Ruth served in several other auxiliaries but was best known as the "Rapping Grandmother of the Gospel."

Please continue to pray for the bereaved families.

Gladys Garris thanks everyone for participating in last weekend's "Spring Hawaiian Luau." Thanks so much for your support!

The Moore County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People had to cancel the 2012 Mother of the Year program last Sunday. For further information, call O'Linda W. Gillis, the branch president, at (910) 947-1422.

Lee Williams and The Spiritual QC's will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, May 18, at the Hoffman Parks and Recreation complex (former Hoffman Elementary School). The doors will open at 4 p.m.

Contact members at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. Also, you can contact the staff at Graham's Barbershop, Anointed Creations and Quality Cuts Barbershop. For more information, call (910) 281-4476.

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.

Everyone is invited to the "Let's Talk About Substance Abuse Awareness" sessions at the Taylor House on Main Street. The support group sessions are held from 6 to 8 p.m. every Monday. The Rev. Carolyn Sanders Radcliff is the facilitator. Call (910) 295-2779 for more information.

A job seekers career academy will be held at the National Guard Armory Thursday from 10 a.m. until noon and 1 until 3 p.m. There will be resume-writing and interviewing workshops. For more information, call Jenny at Sandhills Community College at (910) 695-3926.

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.

An open computer lab is available at no cost to qualified students at Sandhills Community College from noon until 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays (Causey Hall). The lab offers instruction on completing online applications, interviewing tips, computer skills and information regarding the fastest-growing jobs in the Sandhills.

For more information, call Jenny Troyer at (910) 695-3926 in the Human Resources Development program.

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.

The Taylortown Ministerial Alliance thanks everyone for their prayers and support. The president is the Rev. Kenneth Stewart. All local ministers are welcome to participate. The ministers meet at one of the local churches at 1:30 p.m. on the second Saturday each month.

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.

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.

Please remember those on our prayer list, including Deacon Leroy Alford Sr., Jaion Barrett, Carol Blackmon, Melba Bostic, 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, Evelyn Morrison, Katrina Morrison, Vera Moses, Ann Odom (Grady Odom's wife, and friend of Mrs. Garris), Lolita Robinson, Mr. Shamberger, Johnnie Stanford, Patrice Taylor 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

God's House of Prayer Ministry will be having a Love program at 7 p.m. Saturday. The program is sponsored by Evangelist Jacqueline Harvin.

The Gospel Mellowtones will sing at 6 p.m. May 19 at the Douglass Community Center in Southern Pines. The group will also perform at 6 p.m. May 26 at Randolph High School.

Another Love program will be given at 11 a.m. May 20 at God's House of Prayer Ministry. It is sponsored by Evangelists Betty Ray and Jacqueline Harvin.

On May 27 at 3 p.m., Deacon Freddie Kelly Jr. will be ordained and give his introduction sermon at the Douglass Community Center in Southern Pines. All are welcome to attend.

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 Women's Day program will be held at 3 p.m. May 6 at St. Mark Freewill Baptist Church in Vass.

A pastor's aide program wil be held at 3 p.m. May 18. A pastor's aide program will be held at 7 p.m. May 25 at the church. It is sponsored by Minister Suggs.

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.

Birthday wishes go out to Ann Townsend (May 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