Don't miss the Harvest of Talents Homes on Tour this Sunday

[December 05, 2013]  The homes of three Lincoln families and the sanctuary of Lincoln Christian Church will be featured in Sunday afternoon's Holiday Homes on Tour, sponsored by the Harvest of Talents for World Hunger. Tour hours are from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Tickets for the event are available at Logan County Quilt Shop, MKS Jewelers, Regions Bank and Lincoln Christian Church for a donation of $8. Tickets will also be available at each tour site during tour hours.

15 Fairway Lane

The home of Bill and Kay Armbruster, 15 Fairway Lane, was built in the fall of 2007 by architect Jim Manning. The home was designed to leave in place many of the stately oak trees framing the lot, although many of these trees have since died and been replaced.

The Armbruster home features wood and natural elements. The wood, color scheme and decor of the house give it an agreeable masculine feel. Large windows offer great views year-round. The house is nestled in the landscape, complementing rather than competing with the surroundings. The location offers a view of the golf course from the home's full-length windows.

The laundry room offers one feature that is somewhat unique — a dog shower. Since the Armbrusters have several pets, it has become a handy area in the home.

As the basement concrete was poured in the fall of 2007, leaves from the trees surrounding the house left impressions in the concrete. The Armbrusters chose to stain the basement floor and leave it bare so that the delightful leaf pattern remains visible today.

Bill and Kay invite you to visit their home as part of the Harvest of Talents tour.

5 Fairway Lane

Close by at 5 Fairway Lane, the home of Dr. John and Sheema Wahab will also be open to tour. Completed five years ago, their Mediterranean-style home was designed to be a modern and beautiful residence that would not serve not only as a home for their active family but also as a great setting to share their traditional hospitality.

In choosing the southern view of the Lincoln Elks Club's 18th fairway and pond, the Wahabs enjoy the scenery of every season from outdoor patios, balcony and expansive windows.

Tour guests will be intrigued and amazed by the family's collection of big-game trophies preserved from their hunting trips to South Africa and the Sahara, including a giraffe (affectionately called Reginald by the children), Cape buffalo, lioness, niala, zebra, wildebeest and various antelopes.

Family is the primary foundational inspiration for the Wahabs' home, and, as such, comfortable accommodations for three generations are integrated into the house on all levels.

The Wahabs are hosting "Mrs. Claus' Workshop" near their kitchen and encourage tour guests to take advantage of this special opportunity for Christmas shopping amid homemade treats and handcrafted items made especially by the Harvest of Talents ministry team for Sunday's home tour. Every purchase will benefit this ministry for hunger relief around the world.

515 Eighth St.

Across town at 515 Eighth St., the cozy one-story dwelling of Betty York is the third stop on the home tour. The house was built in 1971 by Frank Hinman, who lived there for several years. It was most recently owned by Richard and Halcyone Eimer and purchased from the Eimer estate.

In October of 2012, Mrs. York moved from the historic William Maxwell two-story house just up the street, her home for over 40 years, to the smaller house, which better suited her physical needs. Situated on a tree-shaded corner lot, the four-room brick home with patio and two-car garage ideally fits the needs of a couple or single occupant.

Lovely pieces of antique furniture, Harvest of Talents quilts and clocks refurbished by Mrs. York's late husband add to the charm of the home.

Longtime friend Jan Schacht has used her personal collection, many years in the making, to decorate Betty's home for Christmas. Ms. Schacht has adorned the home with a variety of evergreen arrangements that make a perfect backdrop for the many rustic and primitive Christmas decorations that harken back to the early years of our nation.

204 N. McLean

Also included in the tour is the newly remodeled sanctuary of Lincoln Christian Church. The building of bricks and Bedford stone was dedicated on Dec. 5, 1954.

One of the special features of the sanctuary, then and now, are the stained-glass windows of the nave, each carrying a message for those who worship there. On the right, the "I Ams" of Jesus are symbolized in glass. On the left, his entire life is symbolized, including the following events: incarnation, nativity, early life, baptism, atonement, resurrection, victory, the church, "Rock of Ages" and "A Mighty Fortress." The large window at the front of the church is 28 feet high, and the glass is fully encased in stone. The three circles at the top carry the symbols of the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Just below them are the symbols of the four evangelists — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – with the busts of the four evangelists below each. They tell the story of redemption (John 20:30-31). Tours of the stained-glass windows will be conducted from 1 to 3 p.m. by Ron Otto, pastor of the church

Quilt show — 30 years of Harvest quilts

Sunday afternoon the church sanctuary will also feature a display of many of the quilts that been purchased in the 30 years of the Harvest of Talents for World Hunger. The purchasers of these handmade treasures have loaned them back to the Harvest ministry to be displayed, celebrating the 30th Harvest of Talents for World Hunger and honoring the many quilters who have shared their quilting skills. The Harvest of Talents ministry displays these quilts with great thankfulness, acknowledging that they have provided food for many hungry people throughout the world and humbly recognizing the generosity of both the quilters and the purchasers.

All proceeds from the Holiday Homes on Tour will become a part of the 31st annual Harvest of Talents for World Hunger, scheduled for the fourth Saturday in October 2014.