Beacon of Light…Anchor of the Community”

Library News: The POC Library and its Librarian, Michelle Marlin, have been as busy inside, as the temperatures have been hot outside! Those who frequent the Library have enjoyed the cool A/C, free 24/7 Wi-Fi, current periodicals, bountiful books and movies, warm and welcoming atmosphere, computers, beautiful children’s corner, and the kind, attentive Librarian who keeps everything running smoothly and efficiently! The Library’s “Summer Reading Program” has been in full swing since June, and children of all ages have had immense fun with the stimulating activities, movie days, and programs!! All children in Port O’ Connor can still participate; read their books; log their hours; and enter the drawing for great prizes, which will be presented at the Awards Ceremony on July 26, 2022! Please see the schedule below. All children from newborn to age 17 are welcome!

Friends of the POC Library: The Library’s support group, the Friends of the POC Library, are in the middle of their annual Membership Drive, and encourage all to join who would like to help this hardworking group in supporting the POC Library through commitment of time, monetary donations, various committees, fundraising activities, and rich and entertaining programs. The Friends held their Annual Meeting on June 21, 2022 in the Multipurpose Room of the Library, with the election of the 2022-2023 Board of Directors. Retiring Board Members Michelle Lippold, Terri McGuire, and Mary Ann Claiborne were recognized and applauded for their hard work, tireless dedication, and countless hours of service to the Friends of the Port O’ Connor Library. Thank you, Ladies! You are appreciated, and will be sorely missed!!! The 2022-2023 Board of Directors are: Shaney Bradford; Connie Britton; Cindy Hanson; Sherri Judice; Linda Orrick; Ursula Price, President; Belinda Bush, Vice President; Pam Hill, Treasurer; and Alane Haardt, Secretary. Since its inception, the Friends of the POC Library have been committed to supporting and working cohesively with the POC Librarian and Staff, the Calhoun County Library System, and the constituents of the POC Community to make the POC Library the best that it can be. That commitment continues today, and we appreciate all who join us in this worthy endeavor!!

POC Library Hours:
Tuesday-Friday 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday and Monday.
Phone Number: 361-983-4365
Address: 506 W. Main St., POC

The POC Library hosts the following Programs and Meetings in the Library’s Multipurpose Room. All are welcome!

Wednesdays: 8:00 a.m. -9:00 a.m – “Coffee and Conversation” Come visit with your friends and neighbors over a hot cup of coffee!

Thursdays: 1:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m. -“POC BridgeClub”

Fridays: 1:00 -3:00 p.m. -“Mahjongg”

July 12, 2022 10:30 -11:30 a.m. – Summer Reading Program-
“John’s Got Magic”

July 16, 2022 10:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m. – Movie Time

July 19, 2022 10:30 -11:30 a,m. – Summer Reading Program-
“Robotics”

July 26, 2022 10:30 -11:30 a.m. – Summer Reading Program Awards Ceremony

Submitted by Alane Haardt

July truly began with a beautiful bang! Thanks to Donnie and his crew, and this community, our fireworks display was one of the best ever! I have no way of knowing how many people enjoyed it, but we have a Parsonage Porch Fellowship each year and we had between 35 and 40 people who enjoyed it from here. We had three of our four children and many of our grandchildren present, and they consumed a whole lot of food! Hot dogs with all the frills were on the menu. Sunday was a grand continuation of blessings with great services in both the morning and evening.

Monday we had several of our family members over for a huge shrimp boil, from which I am still eating! Our daughter and family left to return to Ohio, but it was good while it lasted!

A group of our men attended a Men’s Breakfast at El Campo and are looking forward to hosting the next one on August 13. All men are invited and we begin at 9:00 a.m.

On Monday, July 11 we traveled to Yorktown for a Fellowship Meeting. The Reverend R.L. Love was our guest speaker and lunch was served by Pastor Carolyn Morehead and her congregation.

The rest of this month is filled with birthdays and doctors’ appointments! Do these always go together? It seems to me that the more birthdays I experience, the more doctors’ appointments I endure!

August is shaping up to be an extremely busy month. School will start on August 10. We will be having a great Youth Rally at Port Lavaca New Beginnings Church on Saturday, August 6. Our monthly Fellowship Meeting will be on August 8 at Edna with Pastor Robert Hogan. On Thursday, August 11, our men will host a Sectional Men’s Retreat here. We are expecting about 50 men for the three day event. On Saturday, August 13, we will be gleaning fish from the Speedy Stop Tournament. And Captain Robert will be back for another great Sea Academy.

Now, just throw in a Revival in Pittsburg, Texas, for Pastor Joane and me, and a trip to Coolidge, Arizona in honor of my sister’s 50th wedding anniversary and one will quickly realize our August will be very busy!

But, we at the Chapel love activities! Our Sunday services include Bible Study at 10:00 a.m.; Morning Service at 11:00 a..; and Evening Service at 6:00 p.m. We also have a Midweek Service on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m., which begins with a light meal and fellowship. We have been accused of being a “full Gospel church”, and I believe we are indeed, with maybe an emphasis on ‘FULL’! One will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel and all are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

The Calhoun County Democrtic Club is co-hosting an environmental issues forum with Maclovio Perez Jr. on Saturday, August 20, 2022 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the VFW in Port Lavaca, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 16 Konrad Rd., Port Lavaca.

Maclovio is a retired meteorologist who is running for Congress against Michael Cloud, but the environment has always been a concern of his so he wanted to create and co-host this forum.

Summer is flying by. School starts August 10! Is it the dog days of summer yet? I know the hottest month for us is still to come. Not much rain has come our way, so we can’t complain about mosquitoes! What a blessing that is, but rain would be wonderful.

There are still a lot of activities going on at FBC. Nineteen elementary age youngsters and six adults enjoyed church camp June 10-23, at Texas Baptist Encampment in Palacios. Bible study, prayer time, kayaking, swimming, sports, good food and fellowship filled up their days and evenings. They returned to POC to a big welcome from friends and families.

Ten middle/high school students are spending July 11-15 at Camp Zephyr on Lake Corpus Christi. This is another awesome adventure for those who went. Both groups work hard all year to raise money so everyone’s able to go for free. Many generous donors contribute to the fund as well. The cost for each one attending either camp exceeds $200. God is always good and there is never a shortage of funds. No matter how many sign up to go, they are covered. It is a very important time for our youth. God worked in many hearts at both camps and several accepted Christ as their Savior. John1:12 “ But for all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God”.

On June 26, we celebrated our January – June birthdays with hamburgers and all the sides and desserts we could hold. Fun, fellowship and good times were the gifts we all shared. Don’t miss the next one on September 25, 6:00 pm.

Samaritans Purse Shoe Box ministry is in full swing now. We have started filling the boxes, but supplies are still needed. Come be part of this tremendous project. Help fill boxes, donate items or money and most of all pray that each that receives a box sees God’s blessings and goodness in the contents. Galatians 6:9 says “ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

We are waiting to welcome you. There is always room in God’s house.

Sunday School, 10:00, Church, 11:00 and 6:00; Tuesday Bible study for women, 4:00, and men, 7:00; Wednesday Prayer Service and Youth activities at 6:00. TEAM KIDS will be starting again on August 24 at 5:00. Come join us for any or all of our activities.

POC’s Book Club, “Hooked On Books”, is on Summer Break in August. Our next Book Club Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. September’s book is To “Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. If you would like to join “Hooked On Books”, please send your contact information to alanehaardt@yahoo.com. All are welcome!!