Faith Matters

Christmas services for those who grieve

Several churches will be hosting “Blue Christmas” or “Quiet Night” services for people who are grieving this holiday season. Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 S. Pioneer Drive, will host a Blue Christmas service at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17. The Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St., will have a Quiet Night Holy Eucharist service at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17. Grace Lutheran Church, 1202 S. Pioneer Drive, will host a Blue Christmas service at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21.

HSU graduate goes from combat medic to neonatal care

Air Force veteran and former combat medic Bonnie Ressler has spent her life protecting the vulnerable. This December, she graduates from Hardin-Simmons University’s Physician Assistant program and steps into a neonatal fellowship shaped by faith, resilience, and service.Click here to read HSU news release.

Bonnie Ressler

Short Takes and Reminders

ACU to debut intercollegiate golf tournament in 2026
Officials from Abilene Christian University Athletics, Golf Channel and HNS Sports Group announced a new collegiate golf tournament, the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate. The competition will be held annually at Halbert National in Granbury. The inaugural event will take place October 19-21, 2026. Click here to read ACU news release.

HPU nursing student awarded scholarship 
Howard Payne University nursting student Alexandria Martinez has been awarded a scholarship from two organizations. Martinez is a senior nursing major from Lubbock. Click here to read HPU news release.

Alexandria Martinez

Make a craft Christmas tree at the Grace

The Grace Museum will host a Christmas tree craft session 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23. The collage craft is free with the price of admission. The event is for all ages.

Overeaters Anonymous Resumes In-Person Meetings

Overeaters Anonymous (OA) Abilene will host face-to-face meetings at 10 a.m. every Saturday at the Breakfast on Beech Street (BOBS) location, 301 Beech St. Since March 2020, Abilene Overeaters Anonymous (OA) meetings have been exclusively available via Zoom. OA is not a diet club. Following the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, OA is a fellowship of individuals who support one another in recovery from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors. For more information, call or text Mary C at 325-665-4160; Email: oastepperpi@gmail.com

Cookie Crawl benefits Christian Homes

Christian Homes & Family Services is hosting a Cookie Crawl, with large and small boxes available. Order online and pick up your box at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, 102 Cedar St. Click here to reserve a box.

Christmas in Abilene

There’s no excuse for not getting in the Christmas spirit, with numerous concerts, theatrical presentations, and special events leading to Dec. 25. There is plenty more in store before Christmas day. Click here for a full rundown.

Short Takes and Reminders

Universal Human Rights Month
The Grace Museum will feature a display in observance of Universal Human Rights Month through Dec. 30. Universal Human Rights Month celebrates the landmark document that “enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” Click here to read more from the Grace Museum.

HSU Values on Display at Big 12 Championship
Tim Ismail’s journey from Shelton Stadium to the Big 12 Championship proves that greatness isn’t measured by division — it’s built on toughness, discipline, and effort. Click here to read HSU news release. 

Hardin-Simmons graduate Tim Ismail with BYU team

HPU earns Model UN awards in Switzerland
Howard Payne University’s Model United Nations (MUN) team recently competed at the St. Gallen Model United Nations 2025 Conference in Switzerland, where HPU had the most awarded delegation. Click here to read HPU news release. 

HPU Model UN team in Switzerland (HPU Photo)

McMurry names court for Sam Nichols

McMurry University has named the basketball court in the Phillips Family Student Activities Center Sam Nichols Court in honor of Coach Sam Nichols, Class of 1972, the all-time winningest coach in McMurry women’s basketball history. Click here to read McMurry news release.

HSU Carol Sing

The public is invited to the fourth annual Hardin-Simmons University Carol Sing at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2. The community sing-a-long will be in Logsdon Chapel on the campus of Hardin-Simmons. Providing the music will be the HSU Concert Choir, Chorale, Worship Ensemble, Brass Quintet, and Handbells.

Short Takes and Reminders

Grace Museum candle-making class
Be inspired by Texas artist Gail Norfleet’s current exhibition as we apply dried flowers to glass to make Christmas themed candle holders. The class is 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4. No experience needed. BYO drinks and snacks to enjoy while you work. Cost is $30. Click here for tickets.

HPU plans $6 million tennis center
Construction will soon begin on a $6 million tennis center for Howard Payne University, with a lead gift of $4 million given by alumni Ronnie and Teri Andrews of Houston. The state-of-the-art facility will include a 3,300-square-foot clubhouse with locker rooms, a team room, coach’s office, a study room and outdoor-accessible restrooms, and eight courts. Click here to read HPU news release. 

Screenshot

McMurry student wins library honor

Michelle Ramirez, acquisitions assistant at McMurry University, was awarded the 2025 Ricki Brown Award for Outstanding Library Service in the Abilene Library Consortium and AISD Library.

Michelle is the first McMurry recipient of this prestigious award and the first non-librarian ever to receive it. She is also a first-generation college student and TRIO member, set to graduate from McMurry in December 2025.

Michelle Ramirez

HSU names Outstanding Young Alumni

Hardin-Simmons University has announced the Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipients for 2026! They will be honored at a banquet on campus Feb. 27. Honorees are Kayla (Willis) Dillman ’14/’16, Dr. Juvenal Havyarimana ’11, and Pastor Geoffrey Turner ’08. Click here to read more about each recipient.

Short Takes and Reminders

The Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest will have a service on Thanksgiving Eve, and the Christian Science Church will have a Thanksgiving Day service. The public is invited to both.

The Thanksgiving Eve service will begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, at Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St.. The service will include hymns, prayers, and the Holy Eucharist.

On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, a service will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Christian Science Church, 1201 S. Pioneer Drive. The service will include hymns, inspirational readings, and an expression of gratitude.

Grace Museum offering candle-making class
Be inspired by Texas artist Gail Norfleet’s current exhibition as we apply dried flowers to glass to make Christmas themed candle holders. The class is 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4. No experience needed. BYO drinks and snacks to enjoy while you work. Cost is $30. Click here for tickets.

HPU Christmas Concert Dec. 2
Howard Payne University’s Yellow Jacket Band and Concert Choir will join with the Central Texas Community Band and Brownwood Community Chorus to present the Christmas at HPU community concert. This year’s concert, at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2, will also feature students from Coggin 6th grade, directed by Ashley Foust, music teacher at Coggin. The performance, which is free to the public, will be held in HPU’s Mims Auditorium.

McMurry hosting Garrison Lecture Series

The McMurry University Walter F. and Virginia Johnson School of Business will host its annual Garrison Lecture Series at 12 noon Nov. 20  in the Mabee Room in the Garrison United Methodist Campus Center. This year’s program will feature local entrepreneurs Daniel Noworatzky and Bailey Kimmel, who will share their personal paths to building successful businesses with an audience of students and community business leaders. Click here for tickets. Click here to read McMurry news release.

Short Takes and Reminders

Abilene Ballet Theatre’s 39th anniversary production of The Nutcracker will usher in the holiday season with four productions beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at the Paramount Theater. Click here to buy tickets. Click here for more information.
HPU Serves Thanksgiving meal
Area residents are invited to the annual Thanksgiving Feast at Howard Payne University on Thursday, Nov. 27. Serving times will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the HPU Mabee University Center. The meal is free, but donations are requested. North Lake Community Church in May will lead and coordinate the event. Reservations for meals to be delivered can be made by texting the delivery coordinator at 325-200-3445 until noon on Monday, Nov. 24. 

McMurry partners with AISD for automatic admission

McMurry University and AISD have partnered to offer high school seniors automatic admission and a scholarship to McMurry if they earn a 3.5 GPA or rank in the top 35 percent of their class. The program extends through August 2028. Click here to read McMurry news release.