By KRISTY McDONOUGHLocal communications director, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsksmcdonough89@gmail.com One of a series of semi-truck loads of food rolled into Abilene and San Angelo on Feb. 23, bringing more than 41,000 pounds of food from Salt Lake City, the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Food Bank of West Central Texas in
Read moreFirst Central Presbyterian Church, along with the city of Abilene, is observing its 140th anniversary this year. A group of Presbyterians gathered at North First and Pine streets to form First Presbyterian Church on Feb. 27, 1881, just two weeks before the first town lots were auctioned on March 15. The current church complex, 400 Orange St., is the result
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CURTIS HOUSE CULTURAL CENTER630 Washington St325-701-7804Facebook Instead of meeting in person for the 2020-2021 programming year, the Abilene Interfaith Council is presenting video interview with local religious figures or tours of local institutions. The latest is an interview with the Rev. Andrew Penns, pastor of Valley View Missionary Baptist Church. The setting is the Curtis House Cultural Center, which Penns
Read moreIDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The market for masks has changed dramatically during the past year. Until then, they were largely worn by health professionals, New Orleans Mardi Gras revelers, and, of course, robbers counting on ‘em to provide incognito status. That was then and this is now. Around the globe, rank and file wear them during all waking moments,
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON In the movie “City Slickers,” Mitch, a city boy, has a conversation with Curly, a rough-looking cowboy. The conversation goes: Curly: Do you know what the secret of life is? Curly: [holds up one finger] This.Mitch: Your finger?Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that, and the rest don’t mean nothin’.Mitch: But, what is the “one
Read moreBy NANCY PATRICK Many of us will talk about the hardships of the year 2020 for a long time. This year has indeed made life difficult for more than one reason. Even though 2021 has begun, I include the recent hardships of the deadly winter in the difficult year that began last March when the COVID pandemic began. I had
Read moreby Mike Patrick We generally consider fibs or little white lies rather obnoxious and inconsequential. But they become the first step down a slippery slope of dishonesty. I understand that people want to protect others from unnecessary hurt. For instance, if a woman asks her husband if he likes her new hairdo, he may say it looks good in order
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS If one tends toward a somewhat cynical view, transitions in life do not seem so significant as they do to others. Graduations, proms, weddings, and even funerals can be described as simply human concoctions that are trivial in their true importance. There is work to be done, decisions to be made, and thoughts to be considered—let us
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By LESLIE STRADER Mashed potatoes and gravy. Fried chicken. Chocolate cake. There’s a reason it’s called “comfort food.” We turn to this nostalgic nourishment (those are some of mine anyway!) when we seek relief from pain or stress or sorrow. There is a kind of soul-ease that comes when our bellies are full of food that is familiar and satisfying.
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Spirit Of Abilene 