KOSCIUSKO — I worked for about ten years as secretary/treasurer at my church.  I would go in early on a Monday morning to take care of the offering from Sunday and type up any notes that I had left, and tie up odds and ends.  I would always go in around 8 a.m. when the church was quiet before the pastor would come in and get all my work done.

I had heard people in the church talk about the “church ghosts” walking around in the church, and they would tell me to watch out.  I didn’t believe in ghosts so I just laughed and said “I’ll be careful.”  I would always lock the doors so no one would just walk in and scare me.  I am talking about living, breathing people.

Early one Monday morning as I opened the back door, I heard someone walking down the hall.  I called out and asked “who is it?”  Quietness.  So I thought I was hearing things so I went back into my office and started to work.  Of course it’s quiet, no one here but me.  When the pastor came in, he would turn on “Bocefus” and then I would hear only that.

So I enjoyed the time by myself.

I was adding on the calculator and I heard a door close.  I figured it was the preacher so I just kept working.  When he didn’t stick his head in my door, I called out to him.   Quietness.  Then I heard another door shut and footsteps.  I got up and looked down the hallway and there was no one there.  But I still heard footsteps walking on hard floors, and the footsteps sounded close.  Now I have to say, I really didn’t believe in ghosts but I HEARD FOOTSTEPS AND DOORS CLOSING.

I walked into the sanctuary and still nothing.  I stopped and listened, being very still.  No more sounds.  I slowly walked back to my office, this time locking my door.

Then, I heard several notes being played on our old organ.  No one had played it in years.

Well, then my imagination began to go into overdrive.  I started to think about how old our church was, over 100 years old.  Then I started thinking about how many funerals had been held there in our old church.  Probably hundreds.  

I am sitting very quietly, and very still waiting to see if I heard anything else.  About that time, I heard “Do you want to party?”  I never thought of Bocefus on CD in the preacher's office.

Oh my goodness, I jumped out of my chair and ran out the back door.  No I DID NOT WANT TO PARTY WITH ALL THE UNKNOWN SOUNDS!    My friend and preacher caught me as I ran out the back door and I nearly knocked him out!  He was puzzled as to  what was wrong with me.  I told him the things I had heard.  He said he believed it was just the old church groaning with age.  I’m not sure.  I still don’t want to believe in ghosts, but using my imagination, I could conjure up several.



Southwestern

Ghost Soup

1 butternut squash baked

1 chopped onion

2 Tablespoons butter

1 large can chicken broth

3 t. chili powder, 2 t. cumin, 1/2 t. cayenne pepper, dash of black pepper

Sour cream

Remove pulp from squash.  Sauté onion in butter.  Add squash and seasonings.  In blender process until smooth.  Return to pot and heat.  Serve with a dollop of sour cream.