By LORETTA FULTON Growing up in a Southern Baptist household, Chesna Riley struggled with the persistent call to the ministry that she began feeling as a young teenager. The Southern Baptist Convention prohibits women from serving as pulpit ministers, although some other Baptist churches do ordain women. “I had for a long time assumed I was not called and pursued
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By NANCY PATRICK The holiday seasons that include Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s evoke many emotions from many of us. As a child and young adult, I felt excitement and anticipation as I waited for the holidays. My family had many aunts, uncles, cousins, along with our parents and grandparents. These early occasions provided the few times we all had
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON On Christmas Day: Many will gather around the tree to open fancy gifts wrapped in bright paper and ribbons. Others will gather to open gifts not as fancy or as professionally wrapped. Some will gather with small gifts due to a loss of income. Others will have no gifts at all. On Christmas Day: Many will gather
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By LORETTA FULTON Brandon Hudson was announced Sunday as the new senior pastor at First Baptist Church. Hudson, his wife Jill, daughter Sophia, 15, and son Quinn, 13, are expected to move to Abilene in early February. Hudson has been senior pastor of Crosscreek Baptist Church in Pelham, Alabama, since 2013. Robert Ellis, chairman of the pastor search committee at
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON The fourth candle of Advent (third to some) is the “Shepherd’s Candle” or the “Candle of Joy.” It, first of all, represents the joy that overcame the shepherds in the fields when angels appeared and told them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the
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CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION GIVEN TO DONORSBruce Migliore, Scott Dueser, John Connolly, Domingo Perez, Gail Waldmann, Paul Slabaugh, Armando Tamez, Ron and Mary Lou Sipe, Johnny and Lydia Rose, Larry and Pat Johnson, Angie Craghead, Dan and Grettal Cottner, John and Sylvia Herrera, Rick Martinez, Sr., Carl and Mary Migliore, Leah Parrish and Family CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION GIVEN TO PRIESTSMsgr. Bob
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By DARRYL TIPPENS “It is important to remember the deep, in some ways anguished seriousness of Advent.”—Thomas Merton, Seasons of Celebrations A friend of mine endured a hair-raising escape from Tehran, Iran, one night in 1979. As the city fell to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Yasmin (let us call her) received an urgent call from the American embassy telling her
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By JIM NICHOLS At a holiday time it is a question asked innocently. “Will you be traveling to see family?” I asked my young friend and there was a pause that made me realize that might not have been a good question. His response was, “On the first day I’ll be with my mother and family in one city and
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By LORETTA FULTON It’s official! The 2022 Christmas season is underway, with concert music, light displays, Living Nativity scenes, opera, a Christmas parade, and more festivities. Following is a partial list of upcoming Christmas events. To add to the list, send information to editor@spiritofabilene.com ABILENE COMMUNITY BAND CHRISTMAS CONCERTThe Abilene Community Band will present its Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m.
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