I am not sure if I like Christmas or Easter better! Christmas is decorations, gifts, family, but it is all to remember to celebrate Jesus’ Birthday. Easter, or Resurrection Sunday as many wish to call it, is a day for decorations – different from the Christmas ones; gifts, especially new outfits but not “Christmasy”; and family gatherings but with a totally different feel. This “Holy Day” is to help us remember to celebrate the Empty Tomb and Jesus’ defeat of “death, hell, and the grave”!
In Port O’Connor, we celebrate Christmas accompanied by Thanksgiving. I have said for years that no one can get to Christmas until they have been to Thanksgiving and realize the necessity of having grateful hearts. Christ in coming to Earth as Jesus was a gift that keeps on giving into “eternity” – whatever that means! We pass out Food Baskets and enjoy singing in the cold. Easter begins with our Sunrise Service (7:00 a.m. – Front Beach) where hundreds gather and sing, “He Lives, He Lives, Christ Jesus lives today…” That service is followed by our Bible Study at 10:00 a.m.; Morning Service at 11:00 a.m.; an Egg Hunt following Morning Service; and our Sunday Evening gathering at 6:00 p.m. Yes, it is a full day, but it is the one special day that we celebrate Jesus’ victory! Pastor Joane will be bringing the Easter Sunrise Service Message, First Baptist will set up the chairs and sound system, and the Chapel will have gallons of hot coffee!
The Women’s Service Club will be having their Spring Rummage Sale on Saturday, April 6 at the Community Center. This group of hard working ladies have raised the money to renew the Community Building and is working toward raising the funds for enlarging and refurbishing the Pavilion. They do many special projects all year long, one of which is providing food for the Community Pantry that is in the Chapel. Monthly they collect items that will go on our shelves to be distributed to the families who get in a bind and need a little help with food. We are honored to partner with them and others in this community to provide. Right now, we are averaging about three families each week who are in need of a little help – and thankfully, help has always been available!
On Wednesday we gather at 7:00 p.m. and share a fellowship meal together before we enjoy a message from God’s Word. Our menu is always changing, Wednesday, March 6 we enjoyed baked potatoes and on March 13 we had a “Chili Cookoff” in honor of our departed sister Pat Prather.
Years ago, when one of our family members would reach the age of 80, we would have a dinner in their honor. In March, we always honored Sister Pat Prather with the chili contest. As most of you know, Sister Pat passed from this life on February 10 of this year. To honor her many gifts to our Chapel Family, we had a “Chili Cookoff” in her sweet memory. (We’ll let you know next issue who was the cookoff winner.)
I have always appreciated the challenge, although I am not a good cook. I remember that one year I was disqualified because someone went snooping through the trash and discovered my empty cans of Hormel! It became so normal for me to take the last place trophy that I figured out a path to insuring a better standing – I started entering two different chili pots, so only one of them could be “last place”. The Chapel is a place of great fun as well as a great place to learn God’s Word and benefit from our association with like-minded followers of Christ!
As an interdenominational congregation, everyone will find a warm welcome at the Chapel and all are urged to, “Come, grow with us”!
