The Sunday Scoop: Community Friends Church

The Sunday Scoop is a series on churches in Moore County. The series covers the latest activities from Bible school to missions and everything in between. Welcome.

Community Friends Church is like its name — friendly!

Pastor Richard Talbert said the services and congregation are laid back, and they encourage listening to the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Richard Talbert at Community Friends Church in Carthage welcomes visitors June 17, 2022.

Worship services begin at 11 a.m. Sundays, and on Sunday evenings at 5 p.m., a casual youth service is offered, and everyone is invited.

“We want to hear what’s on everybody’s heart,” Talbert said.

A praise and worship service is held on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

“There are teenagers singing, and we want them to,” Talbert said.

The “Friends” in the church name is from the Quaker denomination, which enjoys a quiet time having fellowship with the Lord in the pews.

The Sunday Scoop Community Friends Church

Community Friends Church is at 3879 U.S. Highway 15-501 in Carthage.

The congregation is made up of a wide range of ages, with youth and teens, and attendance varies from 35 to 55.

“I had my first funeral and wedding this year and now have my first baptism on Sunday,” Talbert said about being a new pastor.

Talbert is a retired Moore County sheriff deputy who spent the last 10 years of his career in the detective and narcotics field.

Talbert’s wife, Janet, and his adult daughter, Kristen, and her family, attend Community Friends Church. He has a son, Dale, also living in Moore County.

The stained-glass window at Community Friends Church.

“It’s an odd story about how I ended up being the pastor. We attended here for six years, and sometimes the preacher asked me to speak what was on my heart and to yield to the Holy Spirit,” Talbert said.

After quadruple heart bypass surgery in April 2020, Talbert filled in as pastor when the pastor ended up having the same surgery. That pastor accepted a position at another church, and the elders asked Talbert to come on board for a four-month trial. That was a year ago.

“I had been working on a degree because I hadn’t been to college. I had a lot of training at the sheriff’s department but wanted that degree,” Talbert said about earning his bachelor’s degree in theology. “But never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be a pastor. I know it’s all His plan.”

“The Lord said it’s coming,” Talbert said about something good happening in the church.

If you would like to have your church featured in this series, please email [email protected].

Feature photo Pastor Richard Talbert at Community Friends Church in Carthage welcomes visitors June 17, 2022.

~Article, photos and video by Sandhills Sentinel Journalist Stephanie M. Sellers. 

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