By LORETTA FULTON Before Jeff Key started his annual State of the World address, the one he does annually for First Central Presbyterian Church, associate pastor Janice Six offered a different perspective. Actually the perspective came from her daughter when she was a child. She wanted her mother to sing, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” but
Read moreBefore the day gets too busy I take a few minutes to be still and quiet and listen to the birds singing their songs, and they remind me that whatever I do today will not make any difference to them.
Read moreBy JANICE SIX It was a Tuesday afternoon and I had ventured across the street to First Central Presbyterian Church’s Food Pantry. After greeting the volunteers, who were busy sacking groceries in the back room, I made my way to the lobby and spotted a vacant chair by the window. After a little while, a young woman came and sat
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON Growing up in the ’50s and ’60s, segregation of races was something that was just a part of life. In the small town in which I lived black and white mixed very little. Part of the town we designated as “colored” town. The schools were separate and the only time I can remember stepping into the black
Read moreLIFELINES By LARRY BAKER My words came back to help me. No, I didn‘t muff the line. I know the cliché says, “Your words will come back to haunt you.” Larry Baker I have seen it happen–words previously written, pulled out of a file folder and read for others to hear. The exchange took place between two ministers. One was
Read moreBy Loretta Fulton Jewish immigrants were more than welcomed in West Texas during the late 19th and early 20th centuries–even if their religion was a mystery to most. A story in the Ballinger Ledger in 1911 explained, sort of, why a store in town would be closing on a Saturday. The real reason was that the owner was Jewish and
Read moreIF YOU GO What: “My Neighbor’s Faith,” a study of world’s religions When: 7 p.m. most Mondays, Jan. 22-April 30 Where: The Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest Gerhart Hall, 602 Meander St. Teacher: Mark Waters, McMurry University religion professor Cost: Free; book, “My Neighbor’s Faith,” may be purchased SCHEDULE Jan. 22: Introduction to the course and introduction to
Read moreBy Loretta Fulton “Determined, dedicated, delightful.” Those three words pretty well define Jan Eastland. Two words that she never let define her were “cerebral” and “palsy.” Even though Eastland has lived with the neurological disorder her entire life, she never let it define her. That was proven again Jan. 12 when a reception was held for her at Hardin-Simmons University
Read moreBy Loretta Fulton Jim McDonald served on the steering committee that formed the Abilene Association of Congregations in 1985, was a member when it began a year later, and stepped aside as the outgoing president during a ceremony Jan. 9. But he made it clear in his last remarks as president that the association’s history isn’t as important as its
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Spirit Of Abilene 