(Editor’s Note: Bishop Sis has canceled the Ash Wednesday services that were scheduled to be held in Abilene Feb. 17) By LORETTA FULTON Weather and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic permitting, Bishop Michael Sis of the Diocese of San Angelo will be in Abilene Wednesday for two Ash Wednesday services. But those services won’t be in one of the four local
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By LORETTA FULTON Libby Rankin didn’t know it, but she waited almost a year for an award she should have received on March 26, 2020. That was the date of the annual Hardin-Simmons University Round Table Scholarship Luncheon when the winner of the Woman of Virtue Award and the recipient of the scholarship are announced. But COVID-19 intervened in March
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON Holidays when I attended elementary school in 1950’s Plano always brought a festive time. The Halloween carnival had each classroom decorated differently with a different game inviting you to participate. At Christmas, we drew names and exchanged gifts with classmates. I remember Easter and an egg hunt at the Haggard farm. However, it was Valentine’s Day that
Read moreIDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The clever and ever-so-simple message Julie Andrews conveyed in Mary Poppins—a classic if there ever was one–provided encouragement that thrilled a nation. We often chose to believe the obvious–that “just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down”–but it would have taken sugar fields much bigger than the “old cotton fields back home” to sweeten
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS Conflict is a regular part of our lives. This is no different than in Jesus’ time. His teaching about loving our enemies presumes we have at least one. His teaching on turning the other cheek presumes we have already been struck on one side. And yet, one of the centerpieces of his beatitude list in Matthew chapter
Read moreFuneral service for the Rev. Eddie Jordan, pastor of New Light Baptist Church, has been rescheduled. A memorial service celebrating a life of faith, hope, and love, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at First Baptist Church, 1333 N. Third St. The funeral originally was scheduled for Feb. 18 but was postponed due to the severe winter
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Editor’s Note: As a part of Black History Month, the Rev. Matthew M. Lubin Sr., pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, comments on a recent survey by the Barna Group about the relationship between Black Americans and the Black church, both historically and currently. Click here to read the entire survey. By Rev. MATTHEW M. LUBIN SR. The Black Church in
Read moreBy MARIANNE WOOD I have arrived. No, not at heaven’s gate. And not at some new success level, but yes, to a special status: a church lady, the kind of woman who cooks for, cries with, and cradles her church. The church ladies of my youth held tea parties and decorated the sanctuary for different seasons. In modest dresses and
Read moreBy NANCY PATRICK As we approach the season of Lent, many people contemplate “giving up something” (sacrificing) to represent the sacrifice Christ made for his disciples. I don’t always participate in Lent, but I’ve thought about it more this year than usual—probably because of the tremendous hardship and involuntary sacrifice 2020 has inflicted on so much of humanity. My retirement
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Spirit Of Abilene 