By Loretta Fulton Each December, members of Religion News Association, including Spirit of Abilene creator and editor Loretta Fulton, vote on the top religion stories of the year. Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza was selected as the top religion story of 2024. The re-election of Donald Trump, with strong support from Latino and white evangelicals, came in second.
Read moreBy Danny Minton A young couple set out on a journey ninety miles from home. Today, the trip would take a couple of hours, but for them to walk the distance would take several days, especially considering that the young woman was in the final days of pregnancy. Arriving at their destination, they find all the family guest rooms are
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By Jim Nichols Most people have a small number of Christmas memories that sit in their mind and bring joy, despair, concern, or absolute delight. It is, admittedly, a mixture of emotions. We remember people and events and treasure who was present and where we were. One of my Christmas memories concerns a person I had not met at the
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Hanukkah and ChristmasClick here to read an article published by Religion Unplugged concerning Hanukkah and Christmas falling on the same day. Click here for a list of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worship services. Hanukkah, with its various spellings, and Christmas fall on the same day this year, which is an unusual occurrence. Hanukkah, also is known as the Jewish Festival
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury I have never been a superstitious person—not until the recent Friday the Thirteenth. Truth is, I’ve chuckled at others who won’t walk under ladders, change routes when black cats crossed their trails or wear the same unwashed “lucky” garments to extend sports victory strings. Sad memories of my mid-morning calamity remain tender. But, tears
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By Jay Moore My office window offers a terrific view of the old red-bricked, red-roofed T&P depot that is a reminder of our railroad beginnings. This time of year, the old girl (now 114 years old) is gussied up, adorned with festive Christmas wreaths, Christmas lights and a Christmas tree twinkling just inside the door. The whole scene reminds me
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By Glenn Dromgoole Christmas begins at the manger. It doesn’t end there. If we don’t get beyond the manger, the wise men, the shepherds, the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, we really miss the point of Christmas. Christmas isn’t so much about the miraculous way Jesus of Nazareth was born as it is about the way he lived. And the
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By Loretta Fulton Sanctuaries will be filled with the soft glow of candlelight, the beauty of poinsettias, and the music of Christmas carols as Abilenians join Christians worldwide to celebrate Christmas Eve. This year, Christmas Eve falls on Tuesday, Dec. 24. Everyone is invited to any of the following services. Catholic and Episcopal churches also have services on Christmas Day.
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Las Posadas, a reenactment of the journey of Joseph and Mary to find a place to give birth to Jesus, will be observed at St. Vincent Pallotti and St. Francis Catholic Churches beginning Dec. 16. “Posada” is the Spanish word for “inn,” which Mary and Joseph were searching for. Instead, they ended up in a barn, with a manger serving
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