Port O’ Connor’s “Hooked On Books” Book Club held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 11^th, and exceeded all expectations. February hostesses were Amber Gustainis, Beth Smith, Terry Twomey, and Kim Ballard who outdid themselves in every way. The monthly meeting was as rich as the detailed imagery of the novel.

In keeping with the book club’s practice, the ladies followed the meet and greet with sharing the scrumptious spread of appetizers, desserts, and beverages. Cheerful visiting and munching was held before we delved into the novel. The fifteen participants were served chicken salad, regular salad,  and cucumber sandwiches while laughing and enjoying each other’s company.  The meal was finished off with apple pie! After the feast, guests engaged in book club business and deconstructed the novel.

Many agreed that Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer is a beautifully written novel that intertwines the lives of three central characters, each of their stories deeply connected to nature, weaving multiple themes between human life and the wilderness. The author also weaves a deep appreciation for the region’s flora and fauna into the narrative, making the mountains feel like a character in their own right. Kingsolver masterfully explores how humans interact with and depend on their environment, while also diving into the complexities of relationships, traditions, and personal transformations.  Many found Kingsolver’s ability to blend environmental consciousness with human drama very thought-provoking.

All in attendance agreed that it was an engaging and fun-filled afternoon. They thanked their wonderful hostesses for the ingenuity, expert planning, and hard work put into making it all happen. It was definitely an afternoon to remember!

Hooked on Books Club’s next meeting will be on March 11^th and our book is Remarkably Bright Things by Sherry Van Pelt.  If you are interested in joining “Hooked On Books,” please email your contact information to alanehaardt@yahoo.com.  All are welcome!

Since our Christmas celebrations, we have been extremely busy enjoying the Lord’s blessings! We celebrated our Wedding Anniversary and Pastor Joane’s Birthday with a special fellowship time. Pastor Joane had to spend a few days in the hospital getting her medications straightened out, and she is doing well now! We have had a number of guests come and each have brought different blessing with them.

And, then February came!  Our Wednesday evening services have each been super special. Kyle made Chicken ‘N’ Dumplings on the first Wednesday.  We followed with a Super Bowl Party, and he fixed Chicken Nuggets. The next Wednesday we hosted a Valentine’s Banquet and enjoyed Lasagna with the salad and garlic bread. It seems to me that every time we gather it is for a fellowship meal! I guess there is more than one way to “grow a church!” I can not post the menu for the next services, so we will simply say, “Come, taste and see!”

We had a milestone pass and have not scheduled a special day to celebrate our 30 years in Port O’Connor! We came from Houston at the invitation of 6 people to help them start a new church. We have previously been involved in planting a church in Missouri, and I was not ready to commit to such a huge undertaking. But, God has blessed. Before the end of the first year, we had purchased our property and began to transform it from the Intercostal Lumber Company into Fisherman’s Chapel. It seems to us that we have been in a building program continually. We started with the Youth Room, which also houses two restrooms. Then we understood the importance of a workshop, so we put that together. Then there was the need of a parsonage and God was there sending people to help us accomplish that task. We had a large building which most people encouraged us to demolish, but we felt the Lord directing us to construct a Retreat Center. Later, we got a call asking us if we would secure the JEMM Center for additional retreat accommodations. During all this time, we were trying to be obedient and put up a Cross as a welcoming place for those in our community and for those travelers who might come.

Nothing has been accomplished without the help of people who love the Lord and want to see great things done for the Kingdom of our Lord! Many of those people have already gone to Heaven and secured their rewards, but some are continuing to sustain us and see God’s work advanced! God brought us not only workers but true friends to walk along side us and help with the vision!

Port O’Connor has changed! Alvin’s was our only mall! There were a lot of “fishing camps,” but there were not many people who lived here. But, this community opened its arms wide and welcomed a “new comer” with open arms. You have allowed us to be a part of you and we appreciate it very much! We have married many of your children and buried many of your family members and friends. Pastor Joane’s parents and a brother are buried in our local cemetery!

Several years ago, because of some medical issues, we realized changes in leadership had to take place. You asked Pastor Joane to take the lead pastor task, and she accepted that challenge, and you have welcomed her – thank you! Change is a normal and natural process. From the cradle to past the grave, change happens, and we either embrace it or we die trying!

We do not know what another 30 years will look like, but we believe Port O’Connor will grow into a truly Christ Centered Community and people will be blessed with more opportunities to enjoy this beautiful place God has blessed us with. Greater days are ahead of us and may we do our part to make good things happen!

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation who is doing everything we can to see God’s blessings make a path into your lives! We gather on Sundays at 10 AM for Bible Class, 11 AM for Morning Service, and 6 PM for Evening Service. We also meet on Wednesdays at 7 PM for a time of fellowship (a meal) and sharing God’s Word. One will always fine a warm welcome at the Chapel, and all are encouraged to “Come, Grow with us!”

The Quetzal bird is completed.

(original color is green with red chest)

Made of stainless steel and about 30.000 fluorescend plexiglass pieces is 9 x 18 feet.

The orphanage children helped to complete the background with 15.600 pieces.

It is so rewarding working with children and then receiving a smile or a hug is so wonderful.

The unveiling was an unforgettable event for the kids. German weisswurst and sauerkraut was served.

The artwork itself is a Rotary donation, but we ask 15.000 USD in order to help the orphanage to have some needed repair to be done.

The Quetzal shall be permanently publicly displayed.

It is Guatemalans national symbol, found on all their coins and bills.

Dieter Erhard

Some of the most colorful parts of the English language are the many beloved sayings and popular adages that have emerged over time. Many seem to be burned into my brain, and I reflexively recall that “watched pots never boil” and that “even broken clocks are right twice a day” whenever applicable. Sayings like these are often well-known and well-used throughout the language and usually have deeper meanings past their literal interpretations.

Adages come and go, but the ones that stay around usually use common imagery and relatable themes and experiences to comment on important life lessons. One notable inspiration for many enduring expressions is the natural world, particularly birds, whose traits, behaviors, and charisma have made them the subject of many age-old sayings.

“The early bird gets the worm” is one of the most famous bird-related sayings still used today! The phrase, first used in 1605, suggests that a bird that wakes up the earliest has the best chance of catching a good breakfast. Similarly, it implies that individuals who start first or earlier than others have more opportunities than those who wait.

There is truth in this saying, as birds often compete against one another for the best food, habitats, and mates. Additionally, the famous worm-loving American Robin is one of the earliest waking birds, and they wake and begin singing well before the sun rises. And sure enough, it’s the Robins who make it to the dew-covered, earthworm-packed soil first. Robins can eat 20 worms per hour and have been seen eating up to 14 feet of earthworm a day!

One less popular (although just as witty) saying is, “Opportunity is a bird that never perches.” This adage implies that opportunities in life are always in motion and won’t stop to be captured. While the avian imagery effectively conveys an important lesson, the reality is that birds eventually need to perch or stop to rest!

While warbler-weary birders may insist that the little birds never stop moving, there are no species of bird that can be in motion indefinitely… However… Some birds can fly for a very long time. One such species is the Gulf Coast’s Magnificent Frigatebird, which can stay aloft in the air for up to 2 months! With their nearly 8-foot wingspan, they can fly without expending much energy and even catch up on sleep while in the air.

If you were to see a group of art students walking down the street, one might mention that “birds of a feather flock together.” The phrase suggests that individuals with similar goals, personalities, and interests naturally stick together, much like birds of the same species form large flocks. And if you’ve ever seen a large flock of wading birds near the beach or gulls in a store parking lot, you’d know that the saying is relatively true!

Many species of birds form large flocks with other individuals of their species. Being in a flock has many advantages, such as increased protection from predators and more efficient migration. Flocking isn’t only reserved for individuals of a single species. Sometimes, mixed flocks form where individuals of many different species forage together and benefit from the safety of increased vigilance. whether it’s lessons about the benefits of waking up early, encouragement to pursue our flighty dreams, or a reminder to stick close to our flock of friends. As these age-old adages continue, they remind us of the lessons that we can learn by simply observing nature.

Photo credit: Alan Wilde

Caption: Gulls and terns, birds of a feather, often for large flocks together.

These bird-inspired sayings remind us how closely the lessons of our lives mirror the natural world around us. Birds provide familiar imagery that we can relate to and learn from, whether it’s lessons about the benefits of waking up early, encouragement to pursue our flighty dreams, or a reminder to stick close to our flock of friends. As these age-old adages continue, they remind us of the lessons that we can learn by simply observing nature.

Seadrift School celebrated its “100th Day of School” on Tuesday, January 28th. Prekindergarten and Kindergarten students dressed in celebratory attire and created posters to parade the halls. As is a Seadrift School tradition, all hands were on deck to support the youngest. Therefore, first through eighth grades lined the halls to cheer and celebrate this yearly milestone with the youngest of the young!