By LORETTA FULTON “The battle to be like Christ is won or lost in a millisecond.” It happens as quickly as looking away from someone in need–or looking at them. Everyone knows the story of the Good Samaritan, Richard Beck said to a group Feb. 7 at First Central Presbyterian Church. But we don’t become the Good Samaritan ourselves because
Read moreBy JANICE SIX As the season of Lent draws near, even Christians from non-liturgical denominations and traditions can be heard discussing what they plan to “give up” during the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter morning. It’s baffling to me what people choose to “give up” as a spiritual practice during Lent. For example: Chocolate. Yes, it’s considered to
Read moreBy JANICE SIX It was a Tuesday afternoon and I had ventured across the street to First Central Presbyterian Church’s Food Pantry. After greeting the volunteers, who were busy sacking groceries in the back room, I made my way to the lobby and spotted a vacant chair by the window. After a little while, a young woman came and sat
Read moreBy Loretta Fulton Jim McDonald served on the steering committee that formed the Abilene Association of Congregations in 1985, was a member when it began a year later, and stepped aside as the outgoing president during a ceremony Jan. 9. But he made it clear in his last remarks as president that the association’s history isn’t as important as its
Read moreBy Loretta Fulton The season of Advent, the four-week period of anticipation and reflection leading to Christmas, got off to a joyful, musical, and fun start in Abilene Dec. 3. Several churches held events that ranged from a bell choir concert to messy, but fun, chrismon-making, to an auction of chocolate “church mice” and other goodies. The Canterbury Adult Bell
Read moreBy Loretta Fulton Many words have been spoken about Martin Luther’s defiant act during the 500th anniversary of his historic deed that marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation and many more will be. But perhaps none will sum up the action, and the consequences, quite as well as Robert Eillis’ words at a luncheon Oct. 31 at Hardin-Simmons
Read moreBy Loretta Fulton Never talk religion and politics at a polite dinner party–everyone knows that adage–but what about discussing sex in church? The thought of that is enough to make most people squirm, but Tom Copeland, a professor of psychology and counseling at Hardin-Simmons University, proved recently that it’s not only OK, but a good thing. Granted, it wasn’t a
Read moreSubmitted by Cliff Stewart, pastor, First Central Presbyterian Church. Janice Six is associate pastor The entire globe seems brimming with hair-trigger hostility. The mass shooting in Las Vegas reminds us it is not a global problem. It’s personal. It’s in our neighborhood. Our school. Where we work. Home security systems are no longer considered a luxury for the rich. Yesterday
Read moreBy Jacob Snowden Director of Christian Education First Central Presbyterian Church The seeds of something new in religious education are beginning to take root in the Garden State. The “Farminary” is a budding 21-acre farm connected with Princeton Theological Seminary. Why might a seminary venture out to buy a farm? One person is uniquely and eloquently prepared to answer
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Spirit Of Abilene 