B.O.B.S., or Breakfast on Beech Street, will begin serving sit-down hot meals again beginning Monday, July 19. Since the onset of COVID in 2020, service at B.O.B.S. had been limited to take-out meals that included breakfast bars, bottled juice, and coffee, plus a sandwich and fruit for lunch. Beginning July 19, the traditional hot breakfasts will return, plus the sandwich
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By ROBIN SAYLORAbilene Christian University The COVID-19 pandemic might feel like déjà vu for ACU graduate Kent Brantly, who contracted the deadly Ebola virus in 2014 while serving as a medical missionary in Liberia. Six years later, Brantly and his family returned to Africa, where Kent works in Zambia at Mukinge Mission Hospital. Read a Q&A conducted in 2020 with Brantly
Read moreBishop Scott Mayer has eased COVID-19 restrictions for churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas. Masks will still be required for indoor worship social distancing requirements will be lifted. The diocese issued the following statements, with changes effective Sunday, May 16: After more than a year of living with COVID-19, we may finally be seeing a light at the
Read moreThe following news release was issued Friday, April 20, by Bishop Michael Sis of the Catholic Diocese of San Angelo. Effective May 8, the diocese will enter Phase Two Protocols, which ease some restrictions. Changes are as follows: Facemasks for attendees are not mandated but are strongly encouraged. Every pew may now be used. The social distance requirement of six
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By LORETTA FULTON Thinking of going shopping for a new Easter outfit? Be sure to add “white mask” to the list. A year after Christians were stunned by the closure of churches on Easter Sunday, life is somewhat back to normal. In 2020, the traditional Easter celebrations with flowers, music, sunrise services, breakfasts, and egg hunts fell victim to the
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By LORETTA FULTON Many churches. ministries, and religious institutions are continuing with COVID-19 protocols, including wearing a mask, despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement that the statewide mask mandate will be lifted effective Wednesday, March 10. The governor’s order also allows restaurants to return to 100 percent seating capacity, effective March 10. Reactions to the governor’s announcement vary from “it’s too
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Pew Research CenterAnna Schiller As the coronavirus pandemic continues to cause deaths and disrupt billions of lives globally, people may turn to religious groups, family, friends, co-workers or other social networks for support. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in 14 countries in the summer of 2020 reveals that more Americans than people in other economically developed countries say the outbreak has
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By DARRYL TIPPENS “Life has never been normal.”—C. S. Lewis In the midst of the pandemic with its endless disruptions and tragic loss of life, it’s tempting to shout, “This is unprecedented—the worst ever! Nothing like this has ever happened before!” It’s easy to think such thoughts, but they are not true to the facts. It’s been this bad before
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By LORETTA FULTON More than a dozen Abilene churches, including one with two campuses, are canceling in-person worship services Nov. 22 and Nov. 29, and in some cases farther into the future, following a public letter signed by fifteen Hendrick Medical Center officials and community leaders expressing concern over the growing number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Also, Bishop Michael
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