Every summer in July, Pastor Carolyn and I do “something different” for the Beacon of Faith. Usually it involves answering questions so that readers can get to know us better.  This year it was Pastor Carolyn’s turn to 

come up with the questions and she decided to focus on a combination of childhood memories and the here 

and now. I’m not sure I want to think this hard, but here are my answers!  

 

#1 – What is one of your favorite places from childhood? 

One of my favorite places from childhood is my Bunting grandparents’ farm in southeastern Nebraska. When 

I was growing up, the white farm house, red barn, chicken coop and wash house – along with the other “out” 

buildings, garden and pasture – reflected their German orderliness. It was not an especially beautiful place, 

but there was a sense of calm there in which I basked. 

    

#2 – What was a favorite game from childhood?      

Since I mentioned the farm in question #1, the game that came to mind was “No Ghosts Are Out Tonight” 

which I played with my cousins and brother outside, in the dark (not an artificial light to be found), at the 

farm. It was a modified version of “Hide and Seek”; the person who was “it” wandered around shouting, “No 

Ghosts Are Out Tonight” with the hope of catching the ghost before it caught you by falling down out of a 

tree or jumping up out of the cellar. It was a thrill a minute! 

 

#3 – What was a favorite story from childhood?  

As is true of many people, I loved the Little House on the Prairie series. On the more unusual side, our family 

owned all of the books in the Wizard of Oz series – there are more than 30 of them. My Dad read both of these 

series out loud.  

 

#4 - What is one of your favorite spots in your home? 

Every morning I sit on the love seat in my kitchen/dining area, eat my bowl of cereal, drink a cup of coffee, 

and reflect on the arriving day. There’s a bay window behind me where the cats sit and greet their friends (real 

or imagined?) with various cries and chirps. Eventually they turn their attention to me with stares and an occasional meow that say, “Let’s get this show on the road, Mom.” 

 

#5 – What is one of the hardest decisions you had to make in the last year? 

During the last year I had the privilege of deciding what to do on a two-month-long sabbatical! The details 

concerning what I decided can be found elsewhere in this newsletter. 

                                                                                                                             

Worship 

#6 – What is one of the best choices you’ve made recently? 

I was not going to participate in the Community/Church Garden this year because, having been a part of it for 

two years, I knew the commitment it required and also because I would be gone (see #5 above) during the 

harvest. However, I could not quite give it up. So, I asked Deb Allen and Nancy Hooper if they would like to 

partner with me in the task of creating and caring for two rows. It’s been great to share the work with these 

two determined women, and Deb and Nancy have even taken on some extra rows. I look forward to the harvest, which will feed my need for fresh tomatoes as well as meeting needs at OPEN M. (Thanks also to Ed 

Pleasant for his volunteer efforts.)   

 

#7 - What is something you are anticipating (not church related)? 

I suppose my sabbatical is church related…but I am anticipating that with excitement and some anxiousness. 

(Two of my adventures will require a good deal of reliance on the Holy Spirit. And, I think I’ll miss our 

church family and my colleagues in ministry!) Other than that, I am anticipating finishing my outside work at 

home now that the church garden is in. (Would anyone like to spread mulch?)