By LORETTA FULTON Downtown Abilene was eerily quiet Sunday morning as parking lots at St. Paul United Methodist, First Central Presbyterian, and First Baptist churches were practically empty. That doesn’t mean nothing was happening inside. St. Paul and First Baptist broadcast services live as usual, although with no congregations, and First Central Presbyterian aired via Facebook. Sunday morning was challenging.
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By LORETTA FULTON The man behind the newest and perhaps the grandest pipe organ in Abilene doesn’t even consider himself a professional organist. Try telling that to members and visitors at First Central Presbyterian Church who are graced by the skills and dedication of Larry Wolz, who is entering his 40th year as organist at First Central and 50th as
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By LORETTA FULTON The hymns of Francis Jane (Fanny) Crosby will be featured Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the Wednesday evening programming at First Central Presbyterian Church, 400 Orange St. Guest speaker will be Glenn Dromgoole, a member of First Central, former editor of the Abilene Reporter-News, prolific writer, and owner, with his wife, Carol, of Texas Star Trading Company. A
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By LORETTA FULTON Flash back to 2008 and place yourself on a street corner in downtown Abilene. That’s where D Grant Smith was when an experience changed his life. Always small and insecure, Smith was standing on a street corner when he saw a rough looking, much bigger guy on the opposite corner. Smith feared that the guy was going
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By SARA CORE Today, one is rarely admitted to the hospital unless it is for major illness, surgery or injury. Therefore, hospital patients tend to be more ill, possibly in pain, and may be looking at a life change. These factors often lead to some level of fear. The patient may be wondering, “Can I care for myself now?” “How
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By SARA CORE What in the World is an Anamcara? Spiritual direction is a spiritual practice or discipline as old as the church itself. For centuries, Christians from many parts of the church have used the ministry of a spiritual director, who is someone wise and experienced in the study and practice of faith. A spiritual director meets with a
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By LORETTA FULTON Sue Lucas went from being a skeptic about labyrinths to an evangelist and all it took was an open mind and the enthusiasm of those who understand the spiritual benefits. The conversion experience came during a workshop on labyrinths at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. Most of the people attending had walked labyrinths in various places all
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By LORETTA FULTON People who love scholarly lectures are in for a treat, with three coming up within the next few days. One speaker, Jason Byassee, will do double duty, speaking at the Festival of Faith at First Central Presbyterian Church and during the 2019 Summit at Abilene Christian University. Hardin-Simmons University also will hold its annual Cornerstone Lecture Series
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By LORETTA FULTON Larry Wolz will celebrate 50 years in church music, 38 of them at First Central Presbyterian Church, with an organ recital at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at the church, 400 Orange St. A reception will follow. The program, titled, “Fifty Years on the Organ Bench,” will include pieces by various composers, including one composition by Wolz,
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Spirit Of Abilene 