Archive for ‘Gatherings’

Charter buses headed to Lubbock for memorial service

1 Commentby   |  11.09.11  |  Gatherings, Updates

Abilene Christian University is providing free transportation today for those who wish to attend tonight’s “A Celebration of Life” memorial service in Lubbock for Anabel Reid.

Two charter buses – one for students and faculty from the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and a second for other friends – will leave campus at 1:30 p.m. today. Anyone is welcome to ride on the bus with priority reserved for current students, faculty and staff.

The memorial service begins at 5:30 p.m. at Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock. Afterward, the church will provide dinner for the ACU guests before they return to Abilene.

Passengers can board the charter buses in front of the Zona Luce Building on Campus Court. Seating on the second bus is first-come, first-served and open to all.

ACU will provide a live audiocast of the service at 5:30 p.m. in the McCaleb Conference Center of the Hunter Welcome Center. Later tonight, a video replay will be available on this blog.

Audiocast of memorial service is today at 5:30 p.m.

0 Commentsby   |  11.09.11  |  Gatherings, Updates

For those who cannot be in Lubbock today to attend the memorial service honoring Anabel Reid, a live audiocast will be made available to members of the ACU family.

“A Celebration of Life” for Anabel will begin at 5:30 p.m. today in the McCaleb Conference Center of the Hunter Welcome Center, the same time the service begins in Lubbock at Broadway Church of Christ.

Later tonight, a video replay will be available on this blog.

Chapel service helps draws ACU family together

0 Commentsby   |  11.08.11  |  Gatherings

ACU president Dr. Phil Schubert

Several thousand members of the entire Abilene Christian University community – students, faculty, staff, plus neighbors and other friends – committed Monday morning’s Chapel in Moody Coliseum to worship and encourage each other in the largest gathering of people on campus since last Friday afternoon’s accident. Friends and family followed along online via livestream of the event.

The devotional period including singing and prayer, and recognition of the family of Anabel Reid, the 19-year-old sophomore who died in the accident. The Reid family, from Petersburg, Texas, was present.

ACU president Dr. Phil Schubert’s closing words:

“Billy Graham tells a story of the words that were found pinned on the wall of a Nazi prison cell in Europe. It said, “I believe in love even when I don’t feel it. I believe in God even when He is silent.’

I know we have many unanswered questions and a range of emotions – sadness, anger, hurt, uncertainty. We can search for all the answers in times like this, but we may never find them. Or in times like this, we can search for God and we will always find Him. Our enemy may try to use this tragedy to tear us down and discourage us. But I can promise you that our Father will use this trial to build us up and bring us together.

The heartbreak we feel began at a specific spot on a specific road last Friday afternoon. But our healing will take place over a long period of time. The road to recovery will run through classrooms, dorm rooms and counselor’s offices. Healing will occur along sidewalks, in sanctuaries, and in moments of stillness with God. Our suffering is severe, but this ACU family is strong. Our pain is real, but so is our God.

I want to remind us of a truth that we must never forget. This past Friday, 16 members of our family embarked on a mission trip. They, like all of us should be, were enthusiastically engaged in fulfilling the mission of God – serving children and orphans in the name of Christ. We’ve grown used to safety in western Christianity. Sometimes it’s even difficult to scare us.

But throughout history, the mission of God has never been safe. It never has been and never will be. Part of ACU’s Promise includes the adjective ‘authentic,’ which describes what kind of spiritual growth best equips us to make a real difference in the world. For something to be considered ‘authentic,’ it must be tested. It must be tried and found to be true.

This tragedy, this trouble, it shouldn’t surprise us. Someone once asked C.S. Lewis, ‘Why do the righteous suffer?’ ‘Why not,’ he replied, ‘They’re the only ones who can take it.’ None of us want to be tested like this. But here we are. Long before the ACU Promise, Jesus made a promise to his followers – ‘I told you these things so that in me, you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world.’

Students, I can’t begin to express how proud I am of you. For the way you have responded, the love and support that you’ve shown to each other, the way you’ve grieved together, the way you’ve honored God and your friends like Anabel, and the resolve you’ve shown to be God’s hands and feet in a world that so desperately needs you – needs your love, your kindness, your compassion, your selflessness, your smile … the hope in your eyes that only comes from knowing God. You are so amazing. And you are strong.

And may we all remember that in this world that we will have trouble, but in Christ we have peace. Trouble will strike and we will grieve, but we will never give up. And we will never stop doing the work that God has called us to.

May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, and bring healing to our hurt as we continue to join the mission of God and bring hope to this world.”

A Celebration of Life service in Reid’s honor will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas. Schubert announced that one day in Chapel next week will be devoted to honoring the difference Anabel made at ACU and in the lives of many people.

Students find comfort, encouragement at Nine O’Clock

0 Commentsby   |  11.07.11  |  Gatherings

Some 800 Abilene Christian University students – supported by faculty, staff and friends in the community – attended a special version last night of Nine O’Clock, the Sunday night praise and prayer service held in the auditorium of University Church of Christ. It was the first time for some to be together since news Friday afternoon of a bus accident that sent 16 members of the ACU family to four hospitals, some of whom remain in critical condition.

One, 19-year-old sophomore Anabel Reid of Petersburg, Texas, died of her injuries.

“In great respect, we ask big questions of You,” prayed Brent Isbell, preaching minister of the University congregation. “More than answers, we need You: Your Spirit, Your presence … show us the way forward.”

Dr. Jeff Arrington, associate vice president for student life, updated students on the conditions of those injured, and echoed Isbell’s prayer. “It’s not somebody else’s news, God. It’s ours and it’s more than we can stand,” he prayed.

Dr. Mark Hamilton, who spoke at Friday night’s candlelight prayer service in Beauchamp Amphitheater, also prayed. Hamilton is professor of Old Testament and associate dean of the Graduate School of Theology.

The audience linked arms and sang Nine O’Clock’s traditional closing song, “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.”

Another devotional service will take place Monday during ACU’s daily Chapel at 11 a.m. in Moody Coliseum, and will be livestreamed for friends and family around the world.

Many thanks to Gary Rhodes for his images of this gathering.

Services for Anabel Reid scheduled for Wednesday

0 Commentsby   |  11.05.11  |  Gatherings

A Celebration of Life service for 19-year-old Anabel Reid will be held Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas.

She died Friday of injuries from the one-vehicle bus accident that sent 16 people from ACU to area hospitals. As of Saturday evening, seven remained hospitalized, three in critical condition.

Sunday, Monday devotionals open to all

0 Commentsby   |  11.05.11  |  Gatherings

Students, faculty, staff and friends are invited to attend the Nine O’Clock devotional in the auditorium of University Church of Christ on Sunday, Nov. 6.

The traditional 9 p.m. gathering is a time of praise and prayer that this week will be devoted to friends and families of those injured in Friday afternoon’s bus accident.

Monday morning’s Chapel at 11 a.m. in Moody Coliseum also will be a time of reflection and worship. The 30-minute event is open to anyone who wishes to support the ACU community.

Overflow crowd joins in prayer service at ACU

0 Commentsby   |  11.05.11  |  Gatherings

Members of the ACU community participated in a candlelight prayer service in the Beauchamp Amphitheater (Photo by Garrett Hoskins)

Hundreds of students, faculty, staff and friends filled ACU’s Beauchamp Amphitheater tonight in an outpouring of love for victims of the bus accident earlier today that took the life of one student and left others with injuries ranging from minor to critical.

A few hours earlier, the bus containing 16 representatives from the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences rolled over on U.S. Highway 83 at the intersection of County Road 234 in Runnels County. The group was on its way to Medina Children’s Home in Medina, Texas, for a weekend of mission work.

Hugs and tears were shared throughout the hour-long candlelight prayer service led by Dr. Mark Hamilton, associate dean of the Graduate School of Theology.
Hamilton quoted Psalm 130: “Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord.”

“This is not a night for explaining things, but it is a night to remember things,” he said. “God weeps with us more than we know, and God will have to straighten this out.”

Amanda Wilson from Walsenburg, Colo., one of the passengers who suffered minor injuries, came straight from Hendrick Medical Center to attend the service. “You are all such an amazing community. Your prayers and your support are so important to everybody involved in this,” she told the gathering.

After singing and a time of prayer, Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president for student life and dean of students, gave updates on the conditions of those involved in the accident and said the ACU family will continue to find ways to support and encourage the families affected by the tragedy throughout the coming days.

See emergency.acu.edu for the latest information.

The hour-long service helped bring the campus together on a chilly Friday night. (Photo by Garrett Hoskins)

Hundreds of students attended the service to participate in praise and prayer. (Photo by Hannah Vickers)

Prayer service set for 9 p.m. tonight

0 Commentsby   |  11.04.11  |  Gatherings

A prayer service has been scheduled for 9 p.m. in the Beauchamp Amphitheater at ACU (at the base of the Tower of Light, west of the Chapel on the Hill). Everyone is welcome.

We are still waiting on information from ACU representatives who are on site.