Bishop Michael J. Sis of the Diocese of San Angelo released the following statement March 17 on coronavirus protocols enacted by the diocese, effective immediately. They include canceling public worship services through March 31. The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas recently issued a similar order for Episcopal congregations in this area. Other denominations also are canceling services
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In response to the coronavirus epidemic, the Community Foundation of Abilene issued the following statement Monday afternoon, March 16: The Community Foundation of Abilene is closely monitoring the effects of COVID-19 on our local communities. While there are not currently any confirmed local cases, a number of precautionary measures have been taken that will affect families and small businesses, and
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Editor’s Note: Terry Browder, founder of Sayles Ranch Guesthouses, posted the following reflection on Facebook in response to reactions to the coronavirus pandemic. It is reprinted here with permission. By TERRY BROWDER We are experiencing some scary and uncertain times with this COVID-19 pandemic. We fear the unknown. As I traversed the aisles of our local H.E.B. grocery store to
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS Like many others, I have constructed a list of one-liners over the years. These are phrases or paragraphs that have spoken truths clearly and, often, in unexpected ways. I frequently have these on separate small pieces of paper and they have no particular relationship to one another except that, for some reason, they spoke to me at
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON Open any social media page, and you see a myriad of political jibes. The Democrats criticize the Republicans, and the Republicans criticize the Democrats. You read the articles and recognize how selfish people are being, just thinking about what they want. In too many cases, reactions have become hateful and sometimes violent. We tell ourselves the world
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Editor’s Note: March is Women’s History Month. Nancy Patrick writes about a woman she met when helping her son move to Virginia to begin a position as pastor of a historic church. Send stories or suggestions for stories about women to feature during Women’s History Month to editor@spiritofabilene.com By NANCY PATRICK My son’s position as a pastor in a historic
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By LORETTA FULTON Two of Abilene’s spunkiest women, longtime friends Ellie Hamby and Dr. Sandra Hazelip, are planning a monumental trip in celebration of their 80th birthdays two years from now. In January 2022 they will embark on their “80/80 World Journey,” hitting all the cities visited by Englishman Phileas Fogg in the Jules Verne novel, “Around the World in
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It’s time to “spring forward” with Daylight Saving Time kicking in early Sunday morning. Officially, DST begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8. But just to be on the safe side, move your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday night. For those who don’t like Daylight Saving Time, it comes to an end at 2 a.m. Nov.
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS Anthropologist Adam P. Johnson has suggested an analogy concerning how students and, by implication, all humans change and grow. He suggests that during the baking of a cake the initial state is just a collection of ingredients in a bowl. If the ingredients are varied, the resulting cake will be different. Furthermore, the real magic occurs when
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