We are entering the Holiday Season, where we increase our thankfulness for our multiple blessings. I do not remember when, but for the past many years, the Port O’Connor churches have provided tangible expressions of love to the needy in our area. We will be gathering at First Baptist Church on November 12 at 6:00 p.m. for our annual Community Thanksgiving Service. Our Catholic Pastor at Saint Joseph will be delivering the message, and the ladies of First Baptist will be providing snacks for a time of fellowship following. There will be a special love offering received to help provide the food for these generous baskets of thanks. Everyone needs to be as gracious with their offering as possible because we all know how high groceries are!

I have said it for many years, “No one can reach Christmas without passing through Thanksgiving”! Most of us make special plans for Christmas gatherings. We plan special family times and special family meals. Our family has already begun giving out assignments for certain favorite dishes. I have not heard yet, but I am sure our family baker (Vicky) will be providing special desserts!

The Pilgrims were devout people of God who gave thanks in the middle of all conditions of life. They arrived at Cape Cod “with no friends to welcome us, nor inns to entertain nor refresh our weather-beaten bodies”. In the winter they experienced weather that was so sharp and violent than half their number died. Food was so scarce that they had daily rations of five (5) grains of corn. But spring finally came with a fall harvest. Governor William Bradford set aside a special day of thanksgiving to God for His provisions.

The giving of thanks to God was always a natural response on the part of the Pilgrims, and it was never associated with absence of hardship. The Pilgrims understood thanksgiving in its fullest Biblical sense. The Lord was with them. He did watch over them. He would sustain them. He would give them the courage and strength to persevere. Instead of complaining, they found cause to be grateful and joyful. “The Lord was with us in all our ways, for which let His Holy Name have praise forever, to all posterity.”

Last year, in Port O’Connor, we had over fifty (50) families who found themselves in need of food. With our combined efforts and the generosity of our churches, the Women’s Service Club, and many individuals, we raised the almost $6,000.00 to purchase the food. Youth groups and Scout Troops worked at collecting food for the effort. There was well over “100-man-hours” that helped make distribution possible.

The deadline to sign up for the Thanksgiving food baskets is Sunday, November 5. The boxes will be filled on Monday, November 13, and distribution will be on November 14 of this year. I have always felt that our best efforts miss some of the most needy in our community. If you know of a needy family, please call Pastor Joane (361-648-4622) or Pastor Erny (361-218-6693) and we will attempt to help everyone who needs a basket. There is a special POC Benevolence Fund account at our local Port O’Connor Bank.

Remember, our goal is not to feed the greedy, but the needy! We do our best to allow those who are assisted to retain their dignity by not sharing the identities of the recipients. This stance has kept us from receiving from great food sources. We could find food cheaper, but we believe that the recording of indigent families is not what we understand the Bible to say, “Freely receive; freely give!”.

We are often asked when talking about the Holiday Food Baskets about our local Pantry, which is housed at the Chapel. They only thing that mixes in these two systems is that if there is an abundance of food in our Pantry, we add it to the purchased food items for the Christmas Baskets. We assist at least three families each week with food from the Pantry, but we do not take it from monies raised for the Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets. These food items come from our community’s churches and others bring food to the Chapel for distribution.

Thank you, community, for allowing us to be your “hands and feet” in providing food for the needy, which is our Christian duty!

Tickets are now on sale for the Endless Highway Concert & Dinner scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 4 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Harry Hafernick Recreation Center in Edna. The event is hosted by In Abundance Events of Edna.

The Endless Highway Concert & Dinner is a unique event that combines live music with a meal catered by Mike Pozzi Catering. Guests will enjoy an evening of uplifting tunes featuring southern gospel and bluegrass music from Endless Highway.

Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online at inabundanceevents.simpletix.com or by calling 361-308-0684.
Endless Highway is comprised of Jason and Vanessa Griggs and their two children, Jay and Allison. The group has had numerous singles on the Top 40 Gospel Music Charts and is currently opening for Mark Lowry’s solo tour dates. Endless Highway is regularly featured on the National Quartet Convention Main Stage, The Ark Encounter, and other national concert promotions. “The Endless Highway Concert & Dinner is a perfect event for couples, families, and groups of friends,” said Jasmine Callis, event organizer. “It is a great way to enjoy a night of live gospel music, delicious food, and good company.”

The Harry Hafernick Recreation Center is located in Brackenridge Park at 891 Brackenridge Parkway in Edna.

All are invited to a free “Come Grow With Us” seminar hosted by the Jackson County Master Gardeners Association. On Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., Debbie McLennan and Greg Sheguit, both Master Gardeners, will present “Fruit and Citrus Trees to Grow in Our Area” in the auditorium of the Jackson County Services Building, 411 N. Wells, Edna, TX. Topics to be covered include identifying the fruit you want to grow, selecting the best varieties for our area, and choosing soil types, fertilizers and watering strategies that maximize success. McLennan and Sheguit were born into Texas farming families and are lifelong gardeners. McLennan grows an orchard that includes pears, peaches, plums, figs and blueberries. Sheguit, who specializes in citrus, works for the LNRA and in the past studied and improved wildlife habitat for Texas Parks & Wildlife. For questions call the county extension office 361-782-3312.

If you live or visit anywhere along the coastline, you’ve likely seen headlines warning of increased cases of Texas beachgoers encountering vibrio this summer. This bacteria is known as Vibrio vulnificus and it exists naturally in marine and estuarine environments throughout the world, including the warm coastal waters of Texas and some inland brackish lakes of the United States. Several Vibrio species are known to cause vibriosis infection in humans and all can be found in higher concentrations in the warmer months of the year. Vibrio can cause an infection of the skin when an open wound is exposed to warm seawater. It can also cause gastrointestinal illness in people who eat raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters. People with underlying conditions, especially liver disease, diabetes or other immune-suppressing conditions may be at increased risk of infection and about 80 percent of infections occur in the summer months.

There are many tips for reducing your risk of vibriosis. If you have a recent wound (including fresh tattoos and piercings), stay out of brackish or saltwater, or cover your wound with a waterproof bandage if you think it may come in contact with such water, shellfish or raw seafood juices. If you suffer a cut while swimming in natural bodies of water, immediately leave the water and thoroughly clean the wound. Do not return until the wound heals. If you are in a group more at risk for vibriosis, be sure to wear clothes or shoes that can protect you from cuts and scrapes when in salt or brackish water, and always wear protective gloves when handling raw seafood.

If you develop signs of a skin infection such as a rash or swelling or any gastrointestinal symptoms after eating raw or undercooked seafood, seek immediate medical attention and let your medical provider know that you have come into contact with salty or brackish water, or recently ingested raw seafood. Although early symptoms of vibriosis can be treated with oral medication, more severe cases may require hospitalization, IV antibiotics, and if wounds are present, surgical evaluations.

Overall, while vibriosis is a very serious condition, experts say that coastal citizens shouldn’t be scared, but remain aware of the risks involved. Staying in the know about vibrio can furtherensure an enjoyable and safe beach visit this year!