By JIM McDONALD Advent – THE anticipated arrival of all times, the emergence of Christ on earth. We Christians celebrate Advent in many ways. We use calendars, candles, songs, music, parties and decorations such as trees (which symbolize the eternal life Jesus Christ provides), hanging greens, chrismons (ancient symbols for Christ or some part of Christ’s ministry) and other ways. Some themes
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Don’t give me a fruitcake for Christmas © Glenn Dromgoole Don’t give me a fruitcake for Christmas this fall. The last one you gave me I couldn’t eat at all. What are those green things and blue things and red? Are they still alive, or dormant, or dead? I knew I couldn’t eat it, right from the start, because of
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By LORETTA FULTON Everyone got in on the fun at the last of three Advent Music Series concerts sponsored by the Grace Museum. The last concert was held Dec. 18 in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church, all decked out in Christmas splendor. Seven speakers introduced seven Christmas carols, providing a little history. And then the large crowd gathered for
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The third of three concerts in the Advent Music Series, sponsored by the Grace Museum, will begin at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church. The first concert, featuring the Key City Jazz Quartet, was held at the Grace. The second, featuring a piano, cello, and violin, was held in the office of the Abilene
Read morePhotos courtesy Aldersgate United Methodist Church Members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church invited neighbors to the church’s community garden on Dec. 9 for the lighting of a Christmas tree. The lights are set on a timer so that they will come on each night. Church members and guests enjoyed hot chocolate, candy canes, and singing of Christmas carols. The
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By DANNY MINTON One of my favorite stories at Christmastime is “The Other Wise Man” by Henry van Dyke. It’s the story of Artaban, a man who studied the stars. He and his companions in the east had been studying the stars looking for a sign they had discovered in an ancient book. The sign would signify the birth of
Read moreNancy Patrick at new home in Illinois, far from home, on Christmas 1974. Nancy and her husband, Mike, had just moved to Illinois for Mike’s first pastorate and they were among strangers for the first time. By NANCY PATRICK Every year by Thanksgiving, our society transforms into a charitable, adoring, nostalgic, and sentimental group of people who seem to
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By DAN STIVER There is a story about St. Francis of Assissi where he calls out to an almond tree, “Speak to me of God!” and the almond tree breaks into bloom. Whether or not this happened, it is consistent with St. Francis’ attitude towards this world of nature. He is famous for speaking to wild animals and enjoying nature
Read moreBy DARRYL TIPPENS The week before Christmas in 1999 Madeleine L’Engle, the author of the classic novel A Wrinkle in Time, lost her son, Bion. This was not the first, nor would it be the last, of the great sorrows endured by this gifted author. I caught a glimpse of her challenges when I met her a few months before
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Spirit Of Abilene 