Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Shirley Thorne

County Line Correspondent

Christmas has passed with much less partying, multi-family gatherings, store shopping, etc. due to the coronavirus restrictions.

Monday of last week, folks in our community and state were excited and ventured outside to see the “Christmas Star.”  The planets Saturn and Jupiter were passing by the closest since about the year 1220;  the two planets would be so very close that they would appear to the “naked eye” as one bright star.  As photos show, some saw it and took photos with their cameras; some used telescopes to see it and take photos.

Today is Thursday, New Year’s Eve. At the stroke of midnight we will welcome 2021. The past year has been sad and challenging for most of us. Here’s wishing everyone a safe and well “Happy New Year and may 2021 be much, much better for you than 2020.”

Local churches have these service schedules this week, but please contact the church for any updates:

• Calvary Baptist, Sunday worship at 11 a.m.;

• Clarksbury United Methodist, outdoor Sunday worship at 10 a.m. and Bible study at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7.

• Piney Grove AME Zion, outdoor Sunday worship at 10 a.m.

• Pleasant View Baptist, regular indoor services Sunday and Wednesday.

• Salem United Methodist, Sunday worship at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary; social distancing and masks recommended.

• Society Baptist, Sunday worship at 11 a.m. in the fellowship hall; no Sunday evening service; Bible study and prayer at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the education building; masks and social distancing recommended.

For the well-being of all folks in our community, the above services are streamed online via FaceBook, YouTube, or church website as previously stated.

Members of Pleasant View Baptist Church welcomed new members James and Jordan Estes. The couple has two young daughters.

Our community sends get-well wishes to Carolyn Campbell Ferguson and Malinda Jones Smith. Carolyn has been at Davis Regional Medical Center since last Thursday. Malinda was hospitalized last week and is recuperating at home. Betty S. Stroud remains at Iredell Memorial Hospital. Faye Stroud continues to rest at home under treatment for cancer.

Join us in prayer for the Lord’s divine healing and blessings upon Carolyn, Malinda, Betty, Faye, and  others who are having health problems.  Remember in prayer Jana Brown and family; her father died last Saturday.  Also, remember in prayer Ann C. Cline in the recent death of her sister-in-law Nora C. Latham, who was also a first cousin of former County Liner Judy Rupard.

Continue to pray for families affected by the coronavirus.  Pray for our country as the count of infection cases was almost 19.2 million and the count of coronavirus-related deaths was almost 333,500 last Monday. Our state’s coronavirus positive test rate was around 5 percent on Sept. 15, but last Monday our daily positive test rate was 14.7 percent.  The  availability of a vaccine helps,  but we must do our part to return the rate to 5 percent or less.   Folks,  please just wear a mask and stay 6 – 8 feet apart when around others.

For news and memories to share, call Shirley on 336-492-5115 or email sdtlink@hotmail.com.