“Halloween Queen”
Shay Winkler

As many of you who know, Halloween has always been an exciting time in Port O’connor. Children and parents alike pull out all the stops striving for the scariest, albeit most enjoyable, experience possible, almost as if a part of a spooky showdown.

This year’s Trunk or Treat proved to be no different. Much like the Halloween carnival of years past, a costume contest was available. While there were no game booths, there was no shortage of candy or fun.
Amidst all of the scary costumes and smiling faces, a great sense of community could be felt. With everything always changing, it was a great feeling watching my son, as well as all the rest of the attendees, get to experience the same fun and excitement that I remember from growing up and celebrating Halloween in POC.

A great thanks to any and everyone who contributed to the event. It not only provided a fun, safe environment for our children, it let those not celebrating the occasion a respite from repeated knocks or doorbell chimes.
For those who missed it, be sure to turn out next year. You’ll be in for a treat. -Caleb Esnault

In Seadrift there were multiple activities for the young as well as the young-at-heart!

Kicking off the weekend was the Luna Family Circus from Conroe, Texas. They pitched their tent next to the Seadrift Depot. The owner, Jose Luna, had this to say about his circus: “We love to go to small town communities to provide live, fun entertainment for the whole family.”

At the Seadrift Civic Center the Seadrift PTO (Parent Teachers Organization) hosted a “Haunted House” for the older children and an activity table for the “small fry.”

Not far from downtown Seadrift “Castaway Youth Charities” had the “Pumpkin Patch” the weekend before and the “Spook House” on Fall Festival Weekend. Both activities boasted fun for everyone with inflatables, food, a pumpkin contest, hayride, and costume characters.

St. Patrick Catholic Church held their Fall Festival complete with turkey dinners, rice and eggrolls, a raffle, silent auction, bake sale, country store, and face painting.

The Seadrift Chamber of Commerce held their costume parade and “Trunk or Treat” at Seadrift’s bay front. Many cars were lined up to share goodies from their trunks. Many local churches participated as well. Costume judging was held at the Seadrift Pavilion.

Ace and Brooklyn Vasquez were first place winners in the Seadrift Costume Contest.

St. Patrick Church Pastoral Council members Charlene Terrell, Vice President and Sandy Reese, President at Saint Patrick Church Fall Festival.

Pumpkin Patch Crew: L to R: Kyle See, Josh Ureste, Chris Kelly, Zachary Henson

Seadrift PTO President & Treasurer Precious Allred & Ashley Hall

Project Christmas Child Shoe Boxes are all filled and delivered for this year! Last Sunday during the morning service, over 200 boxes were prayed over and blessed. Last year FBC was excited to be able to send 172 boxes. This year we were able to send even more. A big “Thank You” to everyone who donated items and money or spent time filling all those boxes. Many children will be receiving these gifts during the holidays and more importantly will be learning about Jesus.

Team Kids is taking a two week break and will resume on December 1 at 5:30. Each week children from preschool through fifth grade gather for a meal, fun and games, and, most importantly, Bible study. On Wednesday, December 15, they will be celebrating the holidays with a Christmas party. All children in this age group are welcome. Please call the church at 983-2727 for more details.

The annual bus trip to Cuero to see the light display is scheduled for December 2. If you are interested in going, call the church to make a reservation. The trip will include stopping for a meal in Victoria.

Lastly, on December 19, at 6:00, FBC will be holding our Christmas White Elephant party. Bring a covered dish, a gift to exchange, and yourself and spend a fun evening eating and visiting. Baptists are experts in these two activities!

FBC is waiting to welcome you anytime to any service, event or Bible study. Call for more information. 361-983-2727.

Sharing Fellowship and Food
Rick and Judy Patek and Jim and Diane Cooley choose from among the delicious array of refreshments provided by the ladies of St. Joseph Church at the annual Port O’Connor Community Thanksgiving Service, held Sunday, November 14.

I get excited about Thanksgiving! I always enjoy the Thanksgiving turkey, the dressing, and the pie, but now, more than ever I am looking forward to the praise that will prepare me to celebrate Christ’s Birth properly! I have said for years that one can never be ready for Christmas until they have been through Thanksgiving!

By the time you are reading this, our Community Thanksgiving Service at St. Joseph’s has past and we have distributed Thanksgiving Food Baskets. People have been blessed with their needs being abundantly met thanks to the generous fellowship of friends! We are more than just people who live in the same geographical area; we are friends! Thanks for making our task such a pleasure by giving to meet the needs financially! We will be doing something similar for Christmas, so any help will always be appreciated!

Fisherman’s Chapel is having our Family Thanksgiving Pot Luck on Sunday, November 21 at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come and bring a dish you will share. It will be a great celebration of God’s blessings and an evening of great praise! I am personally planning to bring a large pan of my “chicken dressing”. So, get your favorite dish ready and come join in the festivities!

On a separate note, we are putting together a data base of people who are committed to pray for our community daily for the months of November, December, and January. We sincerely believe that we can change the atmosphere with our praying and have joined with others to pray. We do not know where this venture will lead us, but we are asking everyone who believes in the power of prayer to join us! Those who are willing should contact Pastor Joane (361-648-4622) to be placed on the data sheet and will be encouraged to pray.

Christmas is coming soon. To prepare, we are asking all needy families to please contact Pastor Erny (361-218-6693) to get placed on the Christmas Basket List by December 5. There is a lot of work involved with this task, so we are asking for your cooperation. The Baskets will be distributed on Tuesday, December 14.

On Wednesday, December 15, the Chapel will celebrate Chrsitmas with a bon fire for hot dogs and other treats. It will start at 7:00 p.m. and everyone is welcome.

Our annual Christmas Party will be held on Sunday, December 19, beginning at 6:00 p.m. We will be having “our method” of gift exchange, so all are encouraged to bring a wrapped “white elephant.This is about enjoying each other’s company, so if you don’t want to laugh, please stay home!

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation and offers a warm welcome for all. Our service schedule includes Sunday Bible Study at 10:00; Morning Service at 11:00; and Evening Service at 6:00 p.m. Each Wednesday, we gather at 7:00 p.m. for a Midweek time together. Everyone is welcome and all are urged to, “Come, grow with us”!