Graduates of Fisherman’s Chapel Bible Institute Front row (L-R): Alyssa Garcia; David Williams; Evelyn Williams; Pat Prather Back row (L-R): Julian Garcia; Instructor Joane McDonough; Darin Luna; Patricia Mayhall; Joe Wiatt

Holidays are always special for the Chapel and for us personally. This time, we were blessed to have Crystal, our oldest daughter, her husband Jake, and their four children with us for a few days. They come all they way from Pennsylvania, so they do not get to stay very long, but it is always a special treat to have them home. Crystal and the kids sang – it was great!

We had as our guest the Reverend and Mrs. Larry Lanphier here for a week-end of ministry. This was not the first time the Lanphier’s have come to POC, and their ministry was well received, as usual. We are sure the Lanphier’s will be coming again!

Pescado Grande, the benefit fishing tournament for the Harbor, took place during the holidays. I spite of the fireworks conflict, it appeared that the Harbor will be financially blessed by this event. Hope all the fishermen will plan to be a part of it next year!

The fireworks were spectacular, as usual! We surely got a lot of “bang for our bucks”! Those responsible for putting it on are commended for a job well done! Again, we hosted folks on our porch and cooked hamburgers and hot dogs for far more than showed up. It was fun. One thing that made it so special is that Papaw’s son, Danny, brought his family over from Houston to enjoy the holiday events.
Then, to complete the holiday activities, we had our annual graduation ceremony for Fisherman’s Bible Institute. It was complete with a serving table full of “fiesta foods”. I honestly felt after that meal, I would not need another one for several days, but I must admit that I have eaten again since this past Sunday’s activities.

But, there are more activities to come! Evangelist Rod Vincent will be spending time in Port O’Connor as he ministers for the Community Churches Tent Revival in Port Lavaca. The events will begin on Sunday, June 15, and continue each evening through Friday night. Everyone is invited to attend.

Poco Bueno is always a huge event for the Chapel and we are gearing up for it once again. We will be gleaning the steam tables after each evening’s meals and will be accepting the fish that will be donated to the needy agencies and families. It is always a lot of hard work, but well worth the extra effort that we put in it.

Only one week later, we will be helping with the Houston Shoot-Out Tournament. We are a part of this event in memory of Mr. Joe Bright, who sold us our property which we use for the Chapel. It is always a special time and we enjoy helping.

Does this make up a busy month of July! Well, we have to have a special event the last of the month to make it complete. We will be hosting the beloved Reverend Joe Granberry. his wife, Carolyn, and two of their grandchildren will be accompanying them for special services on July 29. The Reverend and Mrs. Granberry have retired from the office of Superintendent of the over 300 churches that make up the South Texas District. They are special friends of the Chapel and we hope you will make plans to be a part of these special events.

Yes, we are busy, but trying to accomplish things that will make a difference for the people of Port O’Connor. Yes, we get very tired, but we know that what we are doing also makes a difference for God’s Kingdom and that is our main goal! Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation who seeks to touch the life of everyone in this community in some special way. Give us a chance to be a blessing to your life! You will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel and are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

We just finished celebrating the Fourth of July. Never mind that it was on Wednesday and that many of the big boom celebrations were on Saturday the 7th. In fact that sort of thing happens about every six years. The leap year causes the day of the week to skip one or it would be every seven years.

Some of the really articulate historians might argue about the choice of the Fourth as the day to celebrate the Nations birth. Actually there were several things going on during that week. Some might even argue that at that time we were still Colonies. Continental congress had declared those Colonies independent on the 2nd of July. Besides that we weren’t the United States until the constitution was ratified on March the 4th 1789.

Point is, those details aside, no one in his right mind would argue that the 4th isn’t the correct date. Now, while I think I might be in my right mind, I also know that many other things have happened on that date.

Interestingly in 1826, 50 years later, two of the more important members of the committee that was in charge of writing the Declaration of Independence, i.e. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both died on July the 4th. They were friends who had argued about the way the country should be organized. An argument that we still debate today.

Another important event, for instance, is one many Texans know. On July 4th 1845 the Texas congress voted to let the United States join us as a nation. Or something like that.

Some years later many of the states let that old Jefferson, Adams argument come to a head and we entered into the Civil war. We are in the period of time where each year since 2011 till 2015 somewhere they are commemorating the 150th anniversary of that dispute. The argument was partially settled then. But there are still grumbles yet.

An important symbol of the United States would have to be the Statue of Liberty. That Statue has had a rocky life. It went through many disagreements. All took several years. So if statues and countries could talk amongst themselves they might have tales to tell. It was finally completed in France, where it was originally built. It was presented to the US Ambassador on July 4th, 1884.

It then had to be disassembled and sent by sea to New York where the US had built its pedestal. Over all the pedestal and statue are 455 feet tall. The system was completed in 1886 and except for war time when the torch wasn’t lit it welcomed folks here. My great Granddad came in that way. Those folks who came in from Indianola missed the statue but got the freedom plus the bonus of Calhoun county.

The years wore her down and in 1980’s she had to be rebuilt and it was quite a chore but she was reopened on July 4th, 1986. She was closed for a while after 9/11 but she is now open and still represents our Liberty.

May 2012

May 4: Seadrift Volunteer Fire Department and Port Lavaca Fire Department responded to a one-vehicle accident on Hwy 185 North of Green Lake.

May 5: Seadrift VFD and Port Lavaca FD responded to a one-vehicle accident on Hwy 35 South near the River Bottom.

May 9: Seadrift VFD responded to a trash/brush fire off of Swan Point Marina Road.

June 2012

June 13: Seadrift VFD and Port O’Connor Volunteer Fire Department  responded to a structure fire off of Gates Road, Port Lavaca FD and Magnolia Beach VFD also responded.

June 13: Seadrift VFD responded to a grass fire off of SGT Rodney Taylor Ave. in Seadrift.

June 20: Seadrift VFD and Port O’Connor VFD responded to a structure fire off of Sanders Road, Port Lavaca FD and Six Mile Community VFD also responded.

June 21: Seadrift VFD responded to a one-vehicle accident on Hwy 185 North of Seadrift

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