Fisherman’s Bible Institute (FBI) will begin its new semester very soon. The workbooks have been ordered and the weekly classes will convene shortly. Classes will meet each Tuesday evening from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. at the parsonage, located next to the Chapel. The Reverend Joane McDonough will be the instructor, and having taught these classes for a number of years, she will delight, inform, and inspire the students toward excellence in learning the pathways of the Lord through the study of the Bible. Those who have not yet signed up for these classes should contact Joane (983-4240 or 983-2619) as soon as possible and she will make it possible for you to start with the rest of the class.

The Sea Academy will begin a new training class for those wanting to become “boat captains” or “fishing/hunting guides” on September 30. All who are interested must contact the Instructor, Captain Robert, as soon as possible to be a part of this class. Captain Robert can be reached directly by calling 361/816-3010 or you can reach the Sea Academy at 361/758-6184. These classes have been offered since 2000 and many “captains/guides” have been successfully trained in this Coast Guard Approved class.

Friday Night Youth (FYI) continues each Friday evening from 7:00 until 10:00 p.m. It is a time for the kids of our community to come to a “fun, safe place” for an evening to unwind from the week’s work at school. There are board and computer games, always food, and time to just “hang” with other kids. We appreciate Annette Green who is heading up FNY and all the other workers that sacrifice part of their week-ends to provide this service to our community. Most of the area kids will remember that we do give our workers a break on the first Friday of each month. Come and bring a friend to FNY! (Parents are always welcome!)

We were honored and blessed by the ministry of our nephew, David Stewart, who came to the Chapel with his family this past Sunday. David has earned his MBA and loves to talk about the Lord. He spoke on how the brain works and how sin destroys it. It was very informative as well as inspirational. We will be looking forward to David, Amber, and their two girls’ soon return to the Chapel.

This past Saturday, Joane was the featured speaker at a “Ladies Meeting” at 6-Mile Assembly. The theme of the day was “friends” and her message was on “The Good Samaritan”. While Joane was doing this, I was teaching at the Accelerated Ministers Training in Corpus. I had presented this class to other students in Houston the previous Saturday. Joane is not back to 100% since her surgery, but is still keeping me running to keep up with her! We both appreciate the opportunity to serve.

We will be hosting the Reverend Jeanine Sullins on Sunday, October 16. Reverend Sullins will be teaching in the Bible Study hour (10:00-11:00 a.m.) concerning her mission called, “Home of Hope”. This is a center dedicated to helping rescue ladies, mostly young girls, who have been freed from the “sex slave” business in the Houston area. Most people are not aware that Houston is second to none in America for the number of women who are housed there for immoral purposes. Your heart will be stirred as you hear how the Lord has directed Reverend Sullins to reach out and help free these women from this slavery. Plan now to attend. Reverend Sullins will minister in both the morning (11 a.m.) and evening (6 p.m.) services, as well as the Bible Study time. The evening service will also be an “All Church Fellowship” event – so make plans and you will be blessed!

It’s not too early to be thinking and planning for the Annual Thanksgiving Service. This year, we will be attending services at the Catholic Church on Sunday, November 20, at 6:00 p.m. Put it on your “To Do List” now or you might miss it!

Fisherman’s Chapel continues to be committed to providing this community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have many ways of fulfilling our mission, but we are always glad to add others to our gatherings. We are an interdenominational congregation, which simply means, “all those who love Jesus are welcome!” You will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel. “Come, grow with us!”

Dearest Ones,

We just want to express our appreciation. And to tell you how much we enjoyed & appreciated all the cards, visits, offers to assist, phone calls, emails & all the good food we received during our time of not being able to get around.

We are so proud and thankful to live in a town like POC. To belong to a church like the First Baptist where there are concerned, helpful, loving and praying people. Not just for the now, but for all the years we have lived in POC.

Thank you again for all your prayers, love & concerns.

Love to ALL,

Howard, Evelyn Lewis & Judy

Hey, you guys and gals!

Wake Up! Cooler weather is right around the corner. Our next Centennial Meeting will be October 11th; City Hall; Seadrift at 7:00 o’clock.
Your help is needed. See you there! Come on out of your hibernation and join us.

Dorothy Geraldine Wilson

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On Sunday, September 4, 2011, the Reverend Phil Woods left for his Bastrop pastorate as usual. He spent time in prayer and study before the activities of the day began. During service, a message was sent to him that told him his home and one of his vehicles had been destroyed by fire. I have gotten the report that at least ten families in that congregation were also burned out as a result of the fires that consumed 1,600 homes. It truly must have been God’s judgement!

But those people had been bad before the fire started! In the months before this fire, record-breaking meteorological conditions conducive to combustion were happening in the Bastrop area. During this year, that area endured its most severe single-year drought since the 1950’s, receiving the lowest single-year rainfall since 1985, and experiencing the hottest June-August period of any area at any point in time on record – exceeding that of even the Dust Bowl days of the 1930’s!

People in Bastrop were expecting help from Tropical Storm Lee, but it only produced strong winds over the Labor Day weekend, creating ideal conditions for wildfires to spread. On September 6, the Texas Forest Service released a statement, describing the fire’s behavior as “unprecedented” and stating that “no one on the face of this Earth has ever fought fires in these extreme conditions.”

This fire destroyed more homes (1,600) than any other single fire in Texas history. By comparison, the second-most destructive fire on record, in April, 2011, destroyed 168 homes, while the third, in December, 2005, destroyed 116. Insured losses caused by the Bastrop fire were estimated at $150 million.

Remember, these people must be worse than the people who were killed on 9/11. There were only 2,976 Americans murdered that day. On December 7, 1941, only 2,403 Americans were killed by the Japanese “wild eagles”. I believe these people must be worse than those in New Orleans who were affected by Katrina!

Truly, bad people reap bad things!

Or do they?

Aren’t you glad that you are smarter than people who believe that only bad people get bad things! God’s Word reports that good and bad things happen both to good and bad people! None of us are in any position to think that we escaped the flames, or Katrina, or the Japanese bombs, or the Twin Towers massacre because of “our goodness”! God has been so merciful to us – in spite of the fact that our area, too, is extremely dry and we have been under a “burn ban” most of the summer.

The encouraging truth is that, apart from God’s mercy, all of us are miserably short of being the person we know we should be. No – we are not murderers or hijackers, but our words, attitudes, and priorities have often been a long way from being another page out of the New Testament!

The wonderful part is that God knows the very rawest part of us and remains relentless in His love for us! He hears us when we murmur to Him, “I am really sorry.” Now, after the thousands of “I’m sorry’s,” we still have His undivided love, attention and commitment of love!

I would never be considered for the “saint of the year” award, but I have a Savior who loves me and always reaches out to me in love when I chose the wrong pathways. Having spent time pastoring in the same church in Bastrop that Pastor Woods serves, I know that there are a lot of God-honoring people in that community! I know that this is not a good thing that has happened, but I am convinced that good will come from it! God has not promised us “a rose garden”, but He has promised that when bad things happen, He walks with us through them. When the doctor says there is no hope, we have hope in God! When our loved ones turn away from us, we have a God who moves closer! When fires come to destroy, I truly believe we have a Savior who will help us rebuild back better!

“Bad people who live in Bastrop,” we want you to know that we stand with you in prayer that the God of Heaven will come along side and help us in this day of trouble – just as He has promised!

Seadrift Fishermen Celebration
October 15, 7 p.m. – Midnight

The Pavilion on San Antonio Bay, Seadrift, Texas

Mission: To honor the commercial fishermen of Seadrift, Texas with a fundraiser that will help sponsor The Seadrift Legacy Project, an educational video oral history and outreach project of David Weisman (of Texas Legacy Project), with the assistance of Seadrift shrimper Diane Wilson.
This Legacy Project will accompany the centennial celebration of the town of Seadrift in 2012.

Shrimp Boil

Bubba’s style, libations, music, dancing, silent auction, art, books

Ponty Bone and the Squeezetones with the best Cajun/Zydeco music in Texas

Country Western Music by Jeremy Cady and Friends

Pirate Emcee Captain John Lee

Artists

Reji Thomas, Dave Eckman, Aubrey Parker, Rebecca Bretz

Books

by Dobie Fellows, Diane Wilson, Lowell Mick White and more

Diane Wilson will be at the Celebration, signing her latest Chelsea Green publication, Diary of an Eco-Outlaw!

Tickets: $30 in advance, $35 at the event

Enjoy music, dancing, shrimp-boil, and drinks. Tickets include dinner and a couple of drinks.

Seadrift Contact: Janie Waghorne 361-649-6612

Austin Contact: Pamela Booton 512-468-7597

www.seadriftfishermencelebration.org/

Barney R. Estes, 78, of Port O’Connor passed away Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. He was born Jan. 1, 1933 in Dallas County to the late Raymond and Lowie Combs Estes. He was a retired Gulf Shrimper and served in the U.S. Navy.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Estes of Port O’Connor; daughter, Shirley Cosden of AL; sisters, Elizabeth “Bubba” Pennington of OR and Renee Matejek of Olivia; grandchildren, Misty Rose Tanner of Aransas Pass, Suzann Freck of AL and Paul Freck Estes of AL; 7 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Jody Blevins.

A time of visitation began at 2:00 p.m. on Mon., Sept. 12 at Port O’Connor Cemetery with Graveside services held at 2:30, Rev. Bill Reeves officiating.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com.