The Refuge

07/03/2026

Join us at 5 pm on July 5th for singing, Communion, prayer, and a sermon entitled "Humble of Heart" from Abilene treasure, Rev. Janice Six!

Editor’s Note: Janice Six, associate pastor of First Central Presbyterian Church, is retiring effective June 1. Following is a Q&A with Janice. Click here for stories and photos from Janice& #82…

06/14/2026

Reminder: No services this evening with so many out of town!

Worship wherever you are on summer vacation—and see everybody back on June 21st.
✝️⛪️💜

06/07/2026

Join us tonight at 5 pm as Rev. Janice Six brings us Good News from Matthew 9!

06/01/2026

“The problem with religious nationalism is not that it asks too much of Christianity for the nation; it asks too little of Christianity and too little of the nation,” writes Russell Moore.

“Second Chronicles 7 is the Word of God. It is right that we read it. But ‘My people’ does not mean our country; it is the covenant people who come to God under the blood he has provided. ‘Heal their land’ is not a promise that if America performs enough public religiosity, God will restore national greatness. It’s a promise to set all things right in Jesus Christ.

The problem is not worship or repentance. We need all those things. But we need them the way God commands that we come into his presence, through Jesus Christ.

We do not come to God by way of a National Mall stage, an Oval Office video, a remembered founding, or a reclaimed country. We come through a torn veil, by blood, to a throne of grace. And we come not through a mascot but through a mediator. We can’t ‘rededicate’ ourselves any other way but that.

That’s not the gospel America deserves. None of us do. But it’s the gospel we need. It’s the only gospel there is.”

🔗Read more at the link in the comments.

05/23/2026

Join us tomorrow, Sunday, May 24th, at 5 pm at 2510 Bel Air Drive as we celebrate Pentecost Sunday with Christians around the world! NOTE: You might want to wear RED, the color most associated with the observance, AND you might want to wear something comfortable since we--kids and adults alike!--will be acting out Bible stories.

P.S. The Day of Pentecost is often called the "Birthday of the Church," so there WILL be birthday cake for dessert. 🎂

CAN. NOT. WAIT.

05/10/2026

UPDATE: Because of severe thunderstorms predicted tonight, we are canceling tonight’s service. May you find Communion and companionship wherever you are! 🙏

It's the Sixth Sunday of Easter, and our church of 15 believers became 14 this week as one went to meet his Jesus. While we are all sad that a kidney transplant didn't happen for our brother and friend, this poem and today's hymns will bring us comfort during our service tonight.

"Easter" by Shannon K. Evans

Bring in your dead.
Bring in your flattened.
Bring in your hopeless cases
and your lost causes.
Bring in your trampled hearts.
Bring in your dry eyes
that have long shed all tears.
Bring in everything that has lost its pulse.

And wait.

There is a resurrection song;
can you hear it?
There is a promise that hangs overhead.
There is a life to come,
a world unseen,
a presence of something too real to believe.
There is an angel in your ear, whispering,
_no really, all shall be well_.

Today we profess what we don’t really believe,
hoping that our hearts can change,
hoping against all logic
that logic does not exist.
Today we ask for grace to believe
once and for all,
and instead we are given the grace
to believe just one day more.

🙏🙏🙏

Please lift the family of Charles Hines in prayer this week and in the weeks and months to come as they navigate life without their beloved son, husband, nephew, and cousin.

Painting attribution: Lorrain, Claude, 1600-1682. Easter Morning, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt University Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://act.library.vanderbilt.edu/artworks/46720 [retrieved May 10, 2026]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Lorrain_025.jpg.

02/06/2026

Tuesday, Feb. 10th at 7 pm at the Curtis House!

At The Refuge, we are STILL talking about the night Rev. Penns preached for us. He holds a WEALTH of local history to share, and this promises to be a very special evening.

Hope to see you there!

Join us next week as we hear from Rev. Andrew Penns about the history of Black churches in Abilene!

We'll learn all about the people of these churches, their struggles, and their triumphs. Come learn more about the history of our community!

EDIT/CORRECTION: Our presenter is Andrew Penns (not Penn). We apologize for the typo!

02/05/2026

Join us this Sunday at 5 pm as guest speaker Shawna Mitchell-Hayhurst shares drumming, songs, and a message--all from Native American tradition.

If you've heard Shawna teach or play at Abilene Interfaith Council meetings, you know how special our worship service will be.

Also, we'd love for you to stay for dinner! We are planning to enjoy foods rich in the legacy of those who have walked and loved this land first so bison chili, corn, berries, and more are on the menu.

01/11/2026

Join us tomorrow as we learn about the baptism of Jesus and hear a message, “By Our Fruits We Are Known,” from guest preacher Rev. Scottie Shelton.

Worship at 5 pm, with a free fellowship dinner to follow! All are welcome. 💜

Official Live video for “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" by Chris TomlinAvailable now on the Deluxe Edition of 'Burning Lights': http://smarturl.it/Burni...