You may have heard the exciting and thought-provoking sermons by Senior Co-Pastors, Steve and Debbie Chisolm of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) either in the sanctuary at Sunday worship or on the radio on WRR (101.1 F.M.) on Sunday mornings.  But did you know that the music at Central is equally as moving and inspiring?

The talented vocalists and musicians of the Chancel Choir, under the direction of David Aston produce a magnificent musical ministry.

Central particularly takes pleasure in featuring gifted young musicians.    

On Sunday Natalie Homsher will perform “Thanks Be To God” from Handles Messiah.

Homsher is a senior this year at Dallas’ Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

She has been singing all of her life and began private voice lessons in 2010. Her current voice teacher Marsha Anderson is a member of the soprano section of the Chancel Choir.

“Singing opera is my passion, but singing in the choir is a pretty close second,” Homsher said.

She loves to read and English literature and history are two of favorite academic subjects.

She has been a member of the Jr. Jazz Singing Ensemble at Booker T. High School and was Fandman in the school’s 2014 production of “Hansel and Gretel.”

Homsher has been selected to sing the role of First Lady in the schools’ production of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.”

Apsaline Douglas will be playing classical piano on Sunday at Central. She is an eighth grader at Highland ParkMiddle School

Douglas’ parents said that their daughter began showing an interest in the piano when she was two years old.  At age five she was enrolled at Dallas Music in SniderPlaza.

Unlike some children who have to be coaxed to practice the piano, Douglas looked forward to coming home from school each day and playing the piano.

At age nine she auditioned for and was accepted into the Southern Methodist University Piano Preparatory Department, which offers intensive training for pre-collegiate pianists. Her instructor is Kevin Gunter.

“My favorite music to play is the Romantic style, preferably Chopin and other post-Classical period composers,” Douglas said.

“Although piano is my life passion, I also love to write novels, learn about new things (preferably astrophysics), and run in track. My running team is like my second family! I love rainy days, baking, spending time with family, and listening to all types of music from the Top 10 Hits to Classical,” Douglas said.

Come to Central Sunday morning at 11 a.m. for Sunday worship and be delighted by both of these young ladies’ performances.

Located at 4711 Westside Dr. in Dallas, the church is home to Connecting Point of Park Cities (CPPC), an adult habilitation center for people with disabilities, a community garden that supplies fresh produce to some of Dallas’ poorest residents through North Dallas Shared Ministries and a dog park that is open to the community.

Following worship Thanksgiving dinner will be served in fellowship hall and all are welcome.

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Hi, I’m Wheels, the BubbleLife Boston Terrier special contributor.

My owner insisted that I write this story as a public service testimonial encouraging pet owners to have their pet microchipped.

Wednesday afternoon I discovered a small hole in our backyard fence. There is a whole lot of construction work being done in my neighborhood right now, and a space in the alley fence was large enough for me to squeeze under and get out of my yard.

When my owner realized that I was missing from our yard she immediately began searching the neighborhood for me. With no luck finding me, she returned home to print my picture and call friends to help in the search for me.

While she was home, Petfinders called her on the telephone and said that I was being “held” at Vickery Place Animal Hospital. Well, they hadn’t “pawprinted” and booked me but they had read my microchip. The animal clinic staff called the national company of Petfinders with the microchip number and they immediately called my home with information of my whereabouts.

My owner came for me and took me from the nice ladies at the clinic who were feeding me biscuit treats.

This was our first personal experience with Petfinders and we were thankful for the service.

Have your pet microchipped and keep the information updated. If you move or change your phone number, send the new information to Petfinders.

No time is a good time for a pet to get lost, but now with the colder temperatures and the shorter daylight hours, it makes it even more difficult to find a missing dog.

Wheels is a 6-year-old Boston terrier from Grant’s Pass, Oregon. He trained and worked hard with his owner and handlers to achieve his AKC championship in conformation. His registered name is Ch. Sunglo’s Cruisin’ in a Tuxedo. Thank you to the lady who found him in the neighborhood and took him to the animal clinic.

Rose-Mary Rumbley can tell a story.  Whether the story is about herself, her beloved late husband, her dear mother or a local legend of Dallas, the city she so loves, Rose–Mary Rumbley can tell a story.

She can tell it standing in front of an audience or sitting at a desk writing a book.

An octogenarian, Rumbley regularly performs three speaking engagements and book reviews a day because she is in such great demand. 

She has authored six books, “The Unauthorized History of Dallas,” “Dallas. Too,” “Strolling Through the Park,’ “What! No Chili,” “A Century of Class: Public Education in Dallas, 1884-1984” and “Dear Santa, Thanks for the Piano.”

In addition to author and speaker, you will find stage and screen acting credits on her resume.  That is, if she had a resume.  She doesn’t have a website.   She doesn’t need to advertise.  Rumbley is a Dallas icon, a Texas legend and often referred to as “rock star to the senior set.”

What makes her so appealing? 

Local real estate agent and history buff, Ken Lampton believes it is her delivery and timing.  “She is almost a stand-up comic,” he said.

A stand-up comic is really what she wanted to be, but her mother did not think that was a reputable job for a southern lady. So Rumbley was groomed toward acting and reviewing.

 “I took ‘Expression Lessons’ formally known as ‘Elocution Lessons.’ The teacher lived in a big house on the corner of Knox and Abbot. We were taught to enunciate,” Rumbley recalled.

During a recent presentation at the Lakewood branch of the Dallas Public Library, Rumbley shared her first on-stage recitation. 

With her usual humor she prefaced the poem with the comment, “It was funny back then.  It’s just normal today.”

“I don’t know why there must be boys.

They’re simply in the way.

Teasing me all day...those mean old boys.

You bet I'll never marry one

I have my plans all laid.

I’m going to stay at home with my children

And be a nice old maid.”

She was 3 years old when she recited the poem and throughout her life, her love of the stage never faltered.

In 1958 a new Casa Manana,“ House of Tomorrow,” was built in Fort Worth, in the same location as the original amphitheater of the same name built in 1936 by Billy Rose.

Rumbley was ready to join the troupes of the new theater-in the-round. In 1962 when Casa presented “Damn Yankees” Rumbley was on stage in the role of Doris.  Her second performance at Casa was as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella.

She went on to the DallasMusic Hall, where she played opposite such famous actors as John Davidson and Ginger Rogers. and then to the big screen where she appeared in “Paper Moon” with Ryan and Tatum O’Neal.

Rumbley wrote her first book in 1984, entitled “A Century of Class: Public Education in Dallas, 1884-1984”.  Actually it was her dissertation for her doctorate.

Her second book, “The Unauthorized History of Dallas,” was published in 1991.  It was only natural that the book be a history of the city she loves.

Born and reared in Dallas, Rumbley was the only child of Amy and Phil Brau of German heritage.

“Mother was born in Dallas in 1894.  She really saw the city grow.  My grandfather had a bakery on Main Street, The West End Bakery, that he opened in 1880,“ said Rumbley. 

“I’ve traveled all over, but I have never lived anywhere but Dallas,” Rumbley boasts of her Texas roots.

Following the “Unauthorized History of Dallas,” was her next book, “Dallas, Too.”

The dust jacket of “Dallas, Too” reads, “Stories I’m telling again because I want to hear them myself.”

Rumbley’s books are filled with stories that you never tire of hearing over and over.

They contain anecdotes about local politicians, legends and landmarks. 

Although the stories are factual, they are not dry, boring stories, but human interest stories like R. L Thornton and his buddy, Big Tex and legends that have become a part of East Dallas culture like the “Lady of the Lake,” the ghost of White Rock.

Landmarks aren’t limited to buildings with historic markers like Old Red Courthouse, but include and remember places like the popular nightclub, Lou Ann’s, once located at the corner of Greenville Avenue and Lovers Lane and the famous downtown striptease establishment, The Colony Club.  The stories are about life — life in Dallas.

Many of you likely know Carol Roark from the J. Erik Jonsson Dallas Public Library.  Roark was manager of the library’s special collections. Roark knew where everything was and where to look to find whatever you were looking for on the library’s seventh floor dedicated to Texas history.

I asked Roark what made Rumbley’s books so popular.  

“Rumbley has a way of turning history into stories that enchant and enthrall because she is such a good storyteller,” Roark said. 

Beth Bentley, local preservationist, and resident of Vickery Place Conservation District said she especially enjoyed Rumbley’s “A Century of Class,” about the Dallas school system.  “I have often used it for research and reference,” Bentley said.

Between writing, speaking and acting, Rumbley was also teaching.  She headed up the drama department at DallasBaptistUniversity for 12 years.  Today she teaches speech and drama to fourth graders at WestDallasCommunitySchool.

She also leads local tours pointing out “places of interest” and relaying their history through fascinating stories from a tour bus.  And, oh yes, she and her daughter, Jill, perform each year in the Senior Follies, a musical theater review with singers and dancers 55 & older,  

Rumbley doesn’t seem to be slowing down and I guess some of us are too selfish to encourage her to do so.  I for one cannot imagine Dallas without the influence through books, lectures and reviews of Rose-Mary Rumbley.

The Book Trotter’s met Monday night at Times Ten Cellar to discuss their November book selection, “A Place at the Table,” by Susan Rebecca White.

The story follows three very different characters from very different backgrounds who make their way to New York City, the melting pot of America, in an attempt to find a new life, putting behind  them the loneliness and isolation of their past.

Alice had lived through a difficult childhood of racial prejudice in 1920’s North Carolina.  In New York she becomes a culinary star to the city’s literary elite and the author of a grass roots cookbook.

Bobby endured the heartbreaking childhood of an outcast; bullied by an older brother and unaccepted by his parents because he was gay.  In New York he finds the love and acceptance that he had previously only known from his grandmother.

Amelia, plagued by family secrets and a debilitating marriage, struggled as wife and socialite.  In New York she finds a job and self-worth utilizing those very same talents frittered away on her husband.

The novel’s fictitious chic Manhattan eatery was fashioned after New York’s Café Nicholson, a real café famous for southern influenced cuisine and literary regulars like Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams.  Through the café, the three main characters of the book meet and meld harmoniously with food the common culture.

“A Place at the Table” makes your mouth water and your eyes tear as you live through the joys and sorrows that people often endure before finding where they belong.

While they discussed the book, the club members enjoyed novel inspired foods like southern fried chicken, pound cake, pea salad, pimento cheese and crab dip.

Next month the group will meet at Toulouse for dessert and after dinner drinks and they will reveal to each other their all- time favorite books.  The completed list will be compiled and shared on BubbleLife, just in time for Christmas shopping ideas. 

There is always something cooking at Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and on October 21— it was fresh apple pie.

The oldest church in Dallas, (Central celebrated its 150 anniversary last October) you might know it would lay claim to more than its share of good cooks.

During the fall and winter months, the holiday season, members often bake pies in the church kitchen to take to Dallas shelters for the homeless.

At the helm Tuesday morning was Lisa Huisenga.  She has been baking pies since she was a young girl.

“I learned from my mother.  She was a wonderful pie maker, often winning blue ribbons,” Huisenga said.

A good pie starts with a tasty crust.  You’ve heard it—the crust can make or break your pie.  Not only did Huisenga’s crust pass the taste test on the finished product, it was nearly “fool-proof” to handle. 

What were some of her secrets?   Chilled water, unsalted butter at room temperature and not over working the dough were some of her tips for a good crust.

Butter produces a rich crust.  “For a lighter, flakier crust, I use shortening, preferably Crisco, instead of butter,” she said.

My favorite trick that I learned from her was rolling the crust between two pieces of waxed paper.  It worked like a charm— I will never dust the kitchen counter, cabinets and floor with flour, again.

Apple of choice was Granny Smith.  “Use a tart, firm apple like Granny Smith or Jonathon, never an apple with a soft flesh.” Huisenga advised. 

Another trick was to soak the unpeeled apples in vinegar water to remove any chemicals and the peeled apples in lemon water to keep the white flesh from turning brown.

Other church members helping out with the baking of the pies were Margaret Wilson, Paquita Mueller, Rosemary Davenport and Jim Clark.

Mothers, grandmothers and mothers-in-law got credit for the most part when the group was asked how they developed their talent for cooking. 

Mueller was an exception.  “My German husband had a very sophisticated palate and I learned to cook for him,” she said.  She loves to cook pot roast, and says her specialties include plum and apple tarts.

Wilson was only 21 years old when she married and her mother-in-law who prepared meals for a large family taught Wilson to cook.  Coconut cream pie with meringue is one her favorite pies to make.  However, Wilson family tradition allows each child or grandchild to choose their favorite pie on their birthday.

Clark said as a boy he helped his mother who worked outside the home get dinner ready for the family.  “By the age of ten or eleven, I could get a meal on the table,” he said... One of his favorites to cook—chicken fried steak.

“We always had a family garden when I growing up,” Davenport said.  Her mother taught her to cook basic, home-grown foods.  “But it was my mother- in-law who exposed me to setting a beautiful table and the art of entertaining,” she said.  However, Davenport still enjoys cooking old-timey, down home meals.

Even Central’s senior co-pastor, Dr. Debbie Chisolm, shares her flock’s flair for culinary arts.  In fact, repeated wins of the church’s chili cook-offs and ice cream churn- offs resulted in the minister’s ban from future competitions. 

She enjoys baking and has on occasion baked the bread for communion during Sunday’s worship service.

“I learned to cook from my grandmother, Margarita Fuentes,” Chisolm said.  “I lived with her until I was seven years old and she taught me to cook tortillas, pancakes, enchiladas, soups and other foods of our heritage. She even taught me to flip an egg without breaking the yolk.  I love to cook Mexican food,” Chisolm said.

The church smelled heavenly throughout the afternoon while the pies were baking.  When out of the oven they were cooled and boxed for Central deacon, Buzz Dicken, to deliver to Union Gospel Mission.

Central Christian church is located at 4711 Westside Dr. just off Mockingbird Lane.  Sunday worship is at 11 a.m. Sermons are broadcast at 9 a.m. on WRR (101.1 F.M.)

The church is home to ConnectingPointParkCities, a habilitation center for adults with disabilities; AcersCommunityGarden named in honor of members Ebby Halliday Acers and her late husband, Maurice, and CentralDogPark, a community dog park. 

It is a church that reaches out to the community and it offers its members many volunteer opportunities.  Visit Central Sunday morning.  The fairly small congregation is diverse and friendly and very welcoming.