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
Read moreBy CAROLYN NEWMAN I do not go to church in town,I go to church in my nightgown.I do not want to be a crier‘Cause I cannot sing in choir. I’ve done that for 53 yearsSee me holding back my tears?The next best thing for you and meIs pioneerdrive.tv. I do miss my Sunday School friendsMy teacher’s expertise never ends.Our leader
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“The Year of COVID-19” won’t be celebrated by many people, but don’t discount the innovation and creativity that continues to pop up because of the pandemic. Spirit of Abilene would like to share the innovative and creative ways that congregations, or individuals, are coping with the chaos brought about by the coronavirus. What does your “Everyday Ministry” look like during this
Read moreEditor’s Note: Nancy Patrick is a regular contributor to Spirit of Abilene. Her columns usually carry weight, but she recently posted the following “Lessons Learned,” with both insight and humor, on Facebook. Read and enjoy. Lessons learned from COVID-19 quarantine from Nancy Patrick 1. I know there is no one I had rather been quarantined with than my sweet husband
Read moreEnglish singer and hymn writer Andrew D. Brewis is hoping to raise money for Christian Aid’s COVID-19 Appeal with his new single, This Is The Time To Pray. The new song, based on a poem by the late William Aubert Luce, was released on Saturday, May 23. To hear Brewis perform the hymn, go to thetimetopray.com. Brewis is a Christian Science pratitioner,
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The pre-recorded Sunday Mass from Bishop Michael Sis of the Catholic Diocese of San Angelo has a new look–everyone is wearing a mask. The diocese sent the following email explaining the new look: When your parish is able to return to offering public Mass in the coming weeks, you’ll notice a few changes. Among other safety precautions, all clergy, staff,
Read moreTo participate, visit https://lacatholics.org/consecration/or or facebook.com/usccb to join the live-stream and pray as one nation. CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SAN ANGELO Bishop Michael Sis As the world continues to face the ongoing effects of the pandemic of the coronavirus, I invite you to join your prayers with millions of others on Friday, May 1, 2020. At 2 p.m. Central Time on that day, we
Read morePioneer Drive Baptist Church alerted its members of a plan that is being studied for a gradual reopening of the church, based on advice from health professionals. The plan was laid out in an emailed newsletter. Under the plan, in-person worship would resume June 7, “with social distancing protocols in place.” The first phase would include reopening church offices on
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