By LORETTA FULTON A new banner for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church proclaims, “St. Mark’s is Not a Place, But a People,” and as if to emphasize the point, the banner currently is on the move from one place to another. Effective July 12, the banner will be stretched across the front of Abilene Community Theatre’s Black Box Theatre, 809 Barrow
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By CARLO SOSA-ORTIZ As I ruminate over our country’s new year of independence, I cannot help but think about previous Independence Day celebrations when our country saw brighter days – a country not in the midst of riots or global health pandemics, days when July 4ths were spent watching Will Smith save the world from aliens and grilling hotdogs with
Read moreBy NANCY PATRICK In case you hadn’t noticed, “smart” stuff surrounds us: phones, homes, classrooms, cars, and even a little contraption called Alexa. We can give her commands such as “set the timer for 20 minutes” or “play (song) for me.” I usually forget Alexa sits right there on a table in my den and opt to set my kitchen
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON I was probably around ten when my dad bought a box of fireworks for us to ignite in a July 4th celebration. Excited about the events, I begged to be able to fire at least one of them ahead of time. My dad let me choose one, and I chose a package of 50 “Black Cat” firecrackers.
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS I suspect that I am not the only one frustrated, angered, confused, and altogether discombobulated by the world today. Frankly, it is difficult not to get discouraged and, I am afraid, let that discouragement lapse over into our spiritual lives. As I fight that concern, I realize that one of my problems is that I am thinking
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By STEVEN T. MOORE for George Floyd I’m reading a children’s book about knights and castles to Mrs. Walker’s class,their tiny faces beaming as I read each page.But this morning, I’m only watching the black boys and black girls because of last night’s news:another unarmed black person dead. I turn the page, see the black boy in blue.He will be delayed during 3:30
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Dr. Jerry Taylor, founder of the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies & Spiritual Action, is asking friends of the center to form a prayer cell to begin functioning as a “Prayer & Meditation Think Tank” with individuals across the Carl Spain Center network. “As you gather to meet virtually or by phone,” Taylor said in an announcement, “please ask
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By LORETTA FULTON For years, Randy Harris joked that he was “the Church of Christ’s only monk,” but he may have to come up with a new calling card. Recently retired from teaching at Abilene Christian University, Harris will continue his leadership in a program that he founded at ACU, the Contemplative Ministers’ Initiative. To date, five classes of 12
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON “Black Lives Matter!” Ok, now that I have your attention, let’s talk about it. Do you feel the pain in that phrase? As a Christian, I know “all lives matter” in the eyes of Jesus. He died for us all. The lives of everyone on the face of this planet now, in the past, in the future,
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