Dr. William H. Willimon, a preacher, author, former dean of Duke University Chapel and a Methodist bishop, will preach at Community Presbyterian Church of Pinehurst Sunday, Oct 7.

Willimon will preach at both the 9 and 11 a.m. worship services. He will then provide a inspirational talk in the evening at 6:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

Willimon is currently serving as professor of the practice of Christian ministry at The Divinity School, Duke University. He is recently retired after serving as bishop of the North Alabama Conference of The United Methodist Church, where he led the 157,000 Methodists and 792 pastors in North Alabama.

For 20 years he served as dean of the chapel and professor of Christian ministry at Duke University.

Garnering a reputation as an outstanding preacher, Willimon was named in a 1996 Baylor University survey along with Billy Graham as one of the 12 best preachers in the English-speaking world.

A prolific author, Willimon has written more than 60 books. More than a million copies of his books have been sold.

Willimon has given lectures and taught courses at colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. These include the Belden Lectures at Harvard as well as lectureships at Princeton, Vanderbilt, Pepperdine and Oxford.

For more information about the upcoming worship services and evening program, contact Community Presbyterian Church, 125 Everette Road, Pinehurst, at (910) 295-6848.

Fundraiser

A spaghetti dinner to benefit the South-Atlantic Heart Transplant Fund will be held Saturday, Sept. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Page Memorial United Methodist Church, 115 Main St., Aberdeen.

The cost is $7 per person for a spaghetti dinner, drink and dessert. Plates are available for eat-in or take-out.

For information, contact Jane Henderson at (404) 697-2199 or Mike Fore at (910) 603-8721.

Family and Friends Day

Greater Harvest House of Prayer Ministries, located at 760 Midway Road, Aberdeen, will be having Family and Friends Day Sunday, Sept. 30, at 10 a.m.

Beaver Creek

Beaver Creek Baptist Church will hold homecoming on Sunday, Oct. 7. Lunch will follow the morning service, and at 6 p.m. there will be a concert hosted by the church's cancer support team, featuring the Dennis Family.

The church is located at 2280 Nicholson Road, Cameron.

For information, call (800) 681-8602 or (919) 499-9632.

Pleasant Hill Baptist

On Saturday, Sept. 29, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Kenny Lamm, senior consultant for worship and music for the N.C. Baptist Convention, will lead local worship leaders and music directors in a "Renewing Worship" seminar.

A light breakfast will be available at 8:30 a.m., and the seminar begins at 9 a.m. All music leaders and pastors are encouraged to attend. Churches from sister associations will be invited as well. This free seminar is a prelude to the state worship leaders' boot camp that will be hosted at Pleasant Hill on Oct. 27.

For more information, go to www.worshipsand hills.org. No charge.

On Sunday, Sept. 30, the annual Praisefest service will be held at 5 p.m. Churches from across the Sandhills Baptist Association will be joining together for a time of worship and praise through song. Admission is free.

The church is located at 2237 Camp Easter Road, Southern Pines.

Tag Sale

Community Presbyterian Church will hold its fifth annual tag sale in the church fellowship hall from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, and Saturday, Oct. 20, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This past year, the proceeds from the sale provided funding to 35 young people as they spent the summer at youth conferences and doing mission work. The mission work took the youth to Asheville, where they did some inner city work, to Haiti, where they shared Vacation Bible School and a week at home where they spent time in Moore County working with those who just needed an extra hand.

Community Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of Everette Road and Kelly Road in Pinehurst.

Yard Sale

Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, across from North Moore High School, will hold a yard sale, along with the sale of baked and homemade items, from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 29.

Harvest Sale

Center United Methodist Church will host its annual fall harvest sale Saturday, Sept. 29.

The bake sale will begin at 8 a.m. The church will serve homemade chicken stew and barbecue. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. An auction will begin at 1:30 p.m. Dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. There will also be door prizes.

"Purchase a $1 ticket for a chance to win a five-piece retro garden set," says a spokesman.

Southern Pines UMC

Tommy Sweeley, senior pastor, Charles Albright, associate pastor, and Erin Shore, minister to children and youth, will attend the Catalyst New Generation Leaders' Conference in Atlanta, Oct. 4-5.

Participants in this annual conference will attend workshops on personal and organizational leadership, building relationships and maximizing teamwork.

SPUMC will celebrate World Communion Sunday on Oct. 7. A special offering will be collected to support World Communion Scholarships, the Ethnic Scholarship Program, and the Ethnic In-Service Training Program.

Southern Pines United Methodist Church will sponsor a 1950s-style dinner and a movie on Saturday, Oct. 13. Proceeds from the event will support church youth missions. The featured movie will be "Facing the Giants."

To learn more about the missions and ministries of Southern Pines United Methodist Church, call the church office at (910) 692-3518 or visit the website www.southernpinesumc.org.

SPUMC is located at 175 Midland Road in Southern Pines.

Congregational Church of Pinehurst

The Congregational Church of Pinehurst UCC is making plans for the 25th anniversary of the church. A quilt project, physical archives of the church history and an oral history project are all in progress. The culmination will be a homecoming picnic on Saturday, May 14, with a special service on the official anniversary date of Sunday, May 15, 2013.

Dr. Robin Meyers will be the guest speaker and workshop coordinator. Meyers is one of the most powerful and prominent theologians in the world and is a gifted speaker and author.

These activities will be open to the community and will be co-sponsored by Seven Lakes Chapel in the Pines. A local mission project will be a main focus of the year.

Two adult education offerings continue this week with Marcus Borg's " Embracing an Adult Faith" Sunday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and "Listening to Scripture: Strategies for Interpreting the Bible," Wednesday afternoons from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Call the church or email Pastor Brent Bissette at brentuccp@embarqmail.com for more information.

The church is located at 895 Linden Road across from Elliott's restaurant. For information, call the church office at (910) 295-2243, or visit the website youarewelcomehere.org.

Concert

Jesse Davis, music director of First Baptist Church, Pinehurst, will perform a concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, at the church, located at 7373 N.C. 211. Davis, a North Carolina native, regularly performs as a soloist with orchestras and gives numerous recitals in the U.S. and Europe. The pianist is the winner of national and international awards.

Sunday Night Music

The gospel group Glimpse of Glory, of Aberdeen, will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Vass United Methodist Church, 111 Alma St., Vass.

Refreshments will be served in the fellowship hall after the program.

For information, call (910) 245-7660.

Anniversary

Doubs Chapel United Methodist Church will celebrate its 125 anniversary with a Founders Day on Sunday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m., followed by a covered dish meal in the fellowship hall.

The Rev. Robert Ray, a former pastor, will bring the message.

That evening at 7 p.m., Ray will open revival, which continues through Wednesday, Oct. 8, with services at 7 p.m., led by The Rev. Ray Gooch.

Fifth Sunday Sing

Putnam Friends Church will hold a Fifth Sunday Sing at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, featuring local area singers.

The church is located at 136 Putnam Church Road, Putnam.

High Holiday Services

Kol Nidre services will be held at Temple Beth Shalom Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. On Yom Kippur morning, Sept. 26, children's services are at 9 a.m. and adult services are at 10 a.m., with Yizkor and Ne'ilah at 5 p.m.

A "Break the Fast" dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. (reservations required). Guests and nonmembers wishing to attend holiday services are requested to call the temple at (910) 673-5224 to make arrangements to attend.

Temple Beth Shalom is located at the corner of Jackson Springs Road and Hoffman Road in Foxfire Village.

Rally

Spaulding Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, 8254 Main St., Taylortown, will host a "Seasons Rally" Sunday, Oct. 7, at 3:30 p.m.

The Rev. Zack Rogers and the St. John Holiness Church of Laurinburg will participate. Events leading up to the rally are plate sales Wednesday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and a gospel festival Saturday, Oct 6, at 6 p.m. Also on this date, two drawings from donation tickets will be held.

Holy Temple

A gospel singing, featuring the Sensations, will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Holy Temple Church.

Community Day

"Wake Up America! Remember the height from which you have fallen!" is the theme of the upcoming Community Day events featuring a gospel concert and tent revival at Ashley Heights Baptist Church.

The events will begin under the tent Sunday morning, Sept. 30, featuring the Southern gospel group King's Cause, of South Carolina.

After a free hot dog lunch for the first 500 persons who register that day, the gospel concert continues through the afternoon as King's Cause is joined by the local gospel group, Renewed Hearts, of Rockingham, and the Music Ministry of Ashley Heights Baptist Church.

The tent revival continues the next three nights, Monday, Oct. 1, through Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. with Pastor David Jackson, of Goldsboro, well-known local musicians Bruce and Sammy Frye, performing as Brothers Twice, and Dr. Ron Baity, founder and president of Return America.

Ashley Heights Baptist Church is located on N.C. 211, about five miles south of Aberdeen.

For more information, call the church office at (910) 944-1952 or go to the church website at www.Ashley HeightsBaptistChurch.org.

Interfaith Worship Service

National Alliance on Mental Illness-Moore County (NAMI-MC) is hosting an interfaith worship service Sunday, Oct. 7, at 4 p.m. at the Sandhills Alliance Chapel, 425 Magnolia Drive, Pinehurst.

Additionally, the special service in observance of National Mental Illness Awareness Week was planned by members of several local congregations in an effort to increase public awareness and education of mental illness. It is free and open to all.

The featured guest speaker for this service is Pete Earley, an investigative journalist and the author of the highly-acclaimed "Crazy: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness."

Earley is the recipient of many journalism awards, including the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Finalist for General Nonfiction for "Crazy" and the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Social Justice.

For more information, visit www.nami-moorecounty.org., or www.linden lodgenc.org., or call (910) 295-1053.

Gospel Singing

The Royal Lights, of Dillon, S.C., will be performing at Love Grove Freewill Baptist Church at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30.

The church is located at 293 Dawkin St., Jackson Hamlet.

Fifth Sunday Cinema

The Village Chapel will hold its Fifth Sunday Cinema Sunday, Sept. 30, at 5 p.m. in Chapel Hall.

The featured film is "Luther," a 2003 biopic about the life of theologian and reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546), starring Joseph Fiennes. An independent film, it covers Martin Luther's life from his becoming a monk in 1505 to the1530 Diet of Augsburg (an attempt by the Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire to calm tensions over Protestantism).

What happened at Augsburg pushed open the doors of religious freedom, and Luther's influence extended into economics, politics, education and music. Today more than 540 million people worship in churches inspired by Luther's Reformation.

The Village Chapel is located at 10 Azalea Road, on the Village Green in Pinehurst.

Appreciation Day

Pastor Appreciation services for Bishop Roy A. McKoy and co-pastor Costella R. McKoy, of The Worship Center, 150 Eastman Road, Southern Pines, will be held Sunday, Oct. 28, at 4 p.m. The guest speaker will be Pastor Kent L. McMillian, Fryes Chapel Freewill Baptist Church.

Homecoming

Middle Cross Baptist Church will be holding homecoming Sunday, Sept. 30, with worship starting at 10:50 a.m.

The guest speaker will be Pastor Chris Williams, from Woodleaf Baptist Church near Salisbury. Williams is a 1992 graduate of Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute.

A covered dish lunch will follow.

For additional information, contact Pastor David Reynolds at (910) 947-2261.

Missionaries Speak

The Rev. Cecil and Tonya Eshelman, missionaries to Russia, will speak at Sandhills Assembly at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 30. The church is located at 6481 U.S. 1 North in Southern Pines.

Tonya Eshelman, who had never seen a Bible until she was 24 years old, was born and raised in Siberia. American-born Cecil Eshelman met her while serving as a missionary in Russia and Mongolia. They wed in Russia and then served as pastors of an Assembly of God Church on North Carolina's Outer Banks.

The Eshelmans have returned from Khabarovsk, a city in the Russian Far East, where they have served for seven years. This family will be returning to Russia in December for more overseas service.

Bible Study

This year, Community Bible Study will cover the "Servants of God," which encourages participants to recognize God's power and availability not only in ancient times, but throughout history. The course covers the period from Joshua's leadership through King David's rule in Israel by exploring the books of Joshua, Ruth, and 1 and 2 Samuel.

Open to all men and women, Community Bible Study is an interdenominational Bible study and welcomes people from all backgrounds and levels of Bible knowledge.

The expanded weekly schedule has times on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

For further information and locations, contact Merle Lewis at (910) 255-6179 or (605) 321-6353; email mlewis27330@nc.rr.com; or Roy Longhta at (910) 215-8717 or email rlonghta @nc.rr.com.

Pinebluff UMC

Pinebluff United Methodist Curch will hold homecoming Sunday, Oct. 14, with Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m.

The Rev. Gregory Minnick will be the speaker.

Dinner on the grounds will follow the service.

The church is located at 275 E Philadelphia Ave. in Pinebluff.

For information, call (910) 281-3468.

West End UMC

The United Methodist Women will host their annual Harvest Dinner Friday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m. in the fellowship hall at West End United Methodist Church. Tickets are $8 each, which includes buffet, dessert and tea. > Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the various missions of the West End United Methodist Women. >Call Anneliese Feggeler at (910) 673-3734 to purchase tickets.

Bread of Life Ministry at West End United Methodist Church meets every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This ministry is for seniors (widows, widowers and the elderly). It is a time of fellowship and devotion with a home-cooked meal provided at a charge of $5 per person.

The Welcome Home Bible Study will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, in the fellowship hall.

Greater Glory

Greater Glory will observe its annual musicians appreciation celebration Friday, Sept. 28, at 7:30 p.m., with the keynote speaker Elder Mario Kilpatrick, an associate of New Gethsemane United Holiness Church in Kinston. The celebration will conclude on Sunday, Sept. 30, at 6 p.m., with Pastor Tony Fairley, of the House of Refuge Deliverance Church in Hartsville, S.C., as speaker.

Other groups and special guests are expected to appear on program.

All of these services will be held in the sanctuary of Greater Glory, located at 1000 W. New Hampshire Ave., Southern Pines.

Call (910) 281-0369 or (910) 281-2023 for more information on these and other events.

Old Bethesda

The 85th homecoming service at the historic Old Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen will be celebrated on Sept. 30, at 11:15 a.m. An intergenerational Sunday School class will be held at 10 a.m.

The theme of Sunday School will focus on "Mission at Bethesda." Scriptures will be looked at that pertain to mission work and Jesus' command to go out into the world and help those in need. There will be speakers from the assistance team, Family Promise, 2 cents a meal, Christmas Child, Mission Fair, youth mission trips and Christ Care groups to talk about the mission work going on at Bethesda Presbyterian.

The Rev. Jonathan Wallace will preside over the worship service. A past summer intern, the Rev. John McFayden, returns as guest minister.

In more than 30 years of service as a Presbyterian minister, he has served congregations ranging from 50 to more than 2,000 members in Virginia, Maryland and Illinois.

Following the worship service, worshipers will gather in the grove beside the church to share a dinner on the grounds.

Trammell Concert

The Mark Trammell Quartet will perform at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Saturday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m.

Pleasant Hill is located on Camp Easter Road. The event is part of the Sandhills Baptist Association's Praisefest Weekend and will benefit BackPack Pals, now serving 1,100 children weekly. Admission is free; however, a love offering will be taken.

BackPack Pals was created by Moore County Schools in 2005 to meet the needs of children known to have little or nothing to eat on the weekends.

This is the third year the Trammell Quartet has visited the Sandhills and entertained for the benefit of BackPack Pals.

For more information, contact Linda Hubbard, director of the BackPack Pals program, at (910) 692-5959.

Auction, Plate Sale

A World Mission auction and plate sale will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at Crossroads Community Church, Carthage.

The event takes place in the church fellowship hall. Items to be auctioned include furniture, appliances, exercise equipment, home decor and more.

Barbecue or fried chicken plates, with all the trimmings, will be available for $7, furnished by Talbert's Catering.

The church is located at the intersection of Vass-Carthage and Niagara-Carthage roads, in Carthage.

For information or directions call (910) 949-3971.

Luncheon Event

Dr. Rex Rogers, president of SAT-7 USA, will discuss the Middle East during a complimentary information luncheon, "Cry for Hope," Tuesday, Oct. 2, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Homewood Suites, 250 Central Park Ave., Pinehurst.

SAT-7 is a Middle East-based satellite television broadcast ministry with more than 15 million daily viewers.

SAT-7 broadcasts on two satellite systems with five channels in Arabic, Farsi and Turk 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Uniquely, SAT-7 Kids channel is the only Christian satellite television channel for kids in the Arabic speaking world.

The luncheon is free to all who register. The briefing is not a fundraiser.

RSVP by registering at www.sat7nc.event brite.com.

For further information call toll-free (866) 744-7287 or visit www.sat7usa.org.

Teen Defensive Driving

Culdee Presbyterian Church will be offering a defensive driving class to youth who are 14 to 18 years of age.

This class is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 30, from 2 to 4 p.m.

This class is free of charge, and refreshments will be provided by the church. Instructors for this class will be a combination of members of various law enforcement agencies and from the Department of Transportation.

For a registration form, call the church and they can either mail you a form, email it, or you can pick up a copy at office. Class size will be limited. Deadline is Sept. 27.

This information, or the registration forms, can be mailed to Culdee Presbyterian Church, 916 N.C. 73, West End, NC 27375.

For additional information, call (910) 295-6685.

Prayer Service

Each Wednesday at 11 a.m., First Baptist Church Southern Pines will celebrate a service of prayers, the Lord's Supper and healing (first Wednesday of the month).

The church is located at 200 East New York Ave.

Music Circle

McDonald's Chapel Presbyterian Church welcomes traditional musicians and listeners to a monthly music circle. It is held the third Sunday of each month, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the fellowship hall of the church, located at 1374 Foxfire Road, Aberdeen.

Any interested acoustic musicians are invited to participate in a casual jam session of a variety of traditional music. For more information, call Jill McCloy at (910)692-5094.

Market Place Ministries

Market Place Ministries meets the first Thursday of each month from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. at Russell's Seafood.

All denominations are welcome. For more information, call Dwight at (910) 639-4084.

Women's Conference

Beaver Creek Baptist Church Women on Missions will hold a Women's Conference titled "The Story Lives On," Saturday, Sept. 29, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is for ages 18 and up.

Facilitators and speakers include Dr. Gael B. Hogan, a writer, artist and teacher; and Doris Holland, who will give her testimony.

Breakout sessions include a discussion on breast cancer with Robin Saenz, the "Power of Pink" coordinator at the Lee County Health Department; Operation Bandannas, with Mary Bass Gray, founder and director of this military ministry; and "Standing Firm in a Spiritual Battle," with Tracy Moore, wife of Dr. Darrin Moore, senior pastor of Beaver Creek.

Registration is $30.

Contact the church office or Jeanette Sellars at (910) 986-3986 for information.

The church is located at 2280 Nicholson Road, Cameron. Call (800) 681-8602 or (919) 499-9632.

Rummage Sale

The Seven Lakes Chapel in the Pines is holding its annual rummage sale Saturday, Oct. 20, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Old West End Gym.

"If you have items you would like to donate, call either Butch Allen at (910) 673-3312, or Don Truesdell at (910) 673-1970," says a spokesman.

Reading Room

The Christian Science Reading Room, at 173 NE Broad St., welcomes visitors weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Here Christian Science periodicals, including the Christian Science Monitor and books and CDs, are available for purchase or borrowing.

For further information, call (910) 692-7759.

Martha's Place

Martha's Place, a soup kitchen sponsored by Page Memorial United Methodist Church, offers a free hot lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays.

In addition to volunteers from Page Memorial UMC, there are now volunteers from Calvary Chapel, The Village Chapel, Pinehurst UMC, Aberdeen First Baptist, West End UMC, Bethesda Presbyterian, and First Baptist of Southern Pines. Currently, more than 80 people are representing these churches.

Martha's Place is not accepting clothing until further notice. Martha's Place is in the fellowship hall of Page Memorial United Methodist Church of Aberdeen. Visit www.pagememorial umc.org for more information.

Healing Service

A healing service is held the second Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m. at The Village Chapel, Pinehurst.

The service includes the -reading of God's Word, -confession, prayer, the Sacrament of Holy Communion and the anointment with oil.

UUC of Sandhills

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Sandhills (UUCS) meets at the Whispering Pines Community Building, 1320 Ray's Bridge Road (behind the WP Rescue Squad Building). Services are held at 10 a.m. every second and fourth Sunday.

The UUCS was established five years ago and is an emerging member of the Unitarian Universalist Association and a member of the Universalist Convention of North Carolina.

To learn more, visit www.uucsandhills.org or www.uua.org.

Prayer Hour

St. James Lutheran Church, on the corner of Gaines Street and New Hampshire Avenue, Southern Pines, is holding a Saturday morning prayer hour each Saturday at 10 a.m.

For information, call (910) 295-6735.

Health Ministry

Sandhills Health Ministry meetings are held at 9 a.m. on the third Monday of the month, at Pinehurst United Methodist Church, Airport Road, Pinehurst.

Inquiries may be -directed to (910) 295-1577.

Food Wagon

David Bibey Ministries will have its world mission food wagon set up across from Matthews Market, at the intersection of Carthage-Vass and Niagara-Carthage roads, each Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., selling barbecue plates, with slaw, baked beans and roll, as well as barbecue sandwiches and hot dogs. For information, call (910) 949-3971.

Community Shows

The Rev. Rose Highland-Sharpe's inspirational television and radio shows include "Town Talk" on Time Warner Cable 3 and "Good News Inspiration" on 990 AM-WEEB of Southern Pines (990 is on the Internet, too).

"Town Talk" is a service to the community spotlighting faith-based programs, nonprofit agencies and individuals with overcoming testimonies. Highland-Sharpe is the producer and host. The show airs daily at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

"Good News Inspiration" offers gospel music, preaching, church information and other public service announcements. Rose Highland-Sharpe is the Sunday program director and lead announcer. The show airs Sundays from 6 to 11 a.m. (other services air 11 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2:30 p.m.).

Those who would like to be on the program or who have church and community announcements should contact Highland-Sharpe at rosesharpe37 @gmail.com, or call (910) 295-0013.

Celebration

A "Celebration Explosion" for Bishop Arvetra Jones Jr. will be held Sunday, Sept. 30, at Southern Pines Primary School, 1250 W. New York Ave., Southern Pines.

The doors open at 3 p.m., and the event begins at 5:30 p.m.

Jones is celebrating his 50th birthday, 29 years in radio and 30 years of marriage to Evangelist Ruth C. Jones.

The event is free, but a celebration offering will be taken.