By GRACE SOSA This Advent season has been one of the most joyful ones I have experienced. I began the month with an exciting new job, working at my church coordinating children’s ministry. My husband and I bought our first Christmas decorations for our first home. We both finished a semester of seminary and celebrated the graduation of friends. But
Read more
(Editor’s Note: The following devotional first was published in an Advent booklet prepared by Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. A different member contributed each day of Advent.) By Kirk W. Hancock Depression, anxiety, fear, loneliness, shame, rejection, abandonment, self-hatred, abuse, trauma, and grief. People struggle with these problems every day. Normal people with common problems. Their wounds are deep and painful.
Read more
By LORETTA FULTON Two Christmas traditions, Las Posadas and a Living Nativity, will be a part of the Christmas activities in Abilene next week. Las Posadas, a tradition at St. Vincent Pallotti Catholic Church, will be each evening Monday through Dec. 24. Families ares hosts each night. The Living Nativity will be presented outdoors on the west side of Our Savior
Read more
By LORETTA FULTON Technically, the church located at 1402 Grape St. is a United Methodist Church named Grace. But in reality, it is much more than that. It is a symbol of what can happen when two groups of people decide to join for the betterment of both. And, typical of today’s world, the two met on Facebook. Grace UMC, with
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON Christmas time is here! It seems to come around the same time every year as far as I can remember. The only difference, it comes faster nowadays than it did when I was five. It’s a time when families get together, exchange gifts, laugh together, play games, and sometimes cry a little. You drive down the street
Read more
By ROBERT A. FINK “And she brought forth her firstborn son” (Luke 2:7, KJV) Even here a new star has risen above the city underpass, packing-crate home what family tucked in the suburbs ever dreamed of, or imagined a baby swaddled in newspaper, his mother having just given birth and suckled the child, the man she calls husband whispering the
Read more
IDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury The youngster, maybe 6-7 years of age, is on one of those “select” league baseball teams that may play four games or more on a single weekend during most months of the year. Sometimes, they fly commercially to tournaments, but so far, I haven’t heard of any teams chartering planes. But that’ll be
Read more
Every other year, Zion Lutheran Church graces the community with its Journey to Bethlehem, a live reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey to find a place for the birth of Jesus. This year’s version will be performed 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in stations around the church at Zion Lutheran Church, 2801 Antilley Road. Visitors gather in the church
Read more
The Christmas season roared into Abilene the first week in December, with something for every taste available every night. The Abilene Downtown Association’s annual City Sidewalks hit the streets running, with the Christmas tree lighting, parade, caroling, food, and more. Not to be outdone, Hardin-Simmons University staged a fun evening of music and the lighting of a tree on Dec.
Read more
Spirit Of Abilene 