Dieter Erhard, Joerg Volleth (Mayor), Joachim Herrmann (Bavarian Secretary of State)
inaugurating the “World Insect Hotel”

Dieter Erhardt, owner of Seadrift’s Art Boat, with the backing of Erlangen, Germany’s Rotary Club, began the “Insect Hotel” project. These wooden structures were built by handicrafters in the Barmherzige Brueder disabled facility in Gremsdorf. Beginning last year, the goal was to produce and distribute 100 hotels. The number has now reached 280 hotels placed around the city, and in schools.

Through the members of the Erlangen Rotarians district 1880, this idea of helping the insects, will now be spread amongst their District and furthermore to possibly all Rotarians in Germany.

This project not only helps to create a better understanding, of how attention is needed to our insect world, especially bees, and how important insects are to our environment.

As the Mayor of Erlangen was presented a certificate, and the Secretary of State stood in front of the extra large (9 ft. by 9 ft.) Insect Hotel, Erlangen was pronounced “Capitol of the Insect Hotels”.

The Ladies of the Port O’ Connor Community Service Club are busy preparing for our Annual “Senior Citizens Christmas Luncheon”, which will be held on Friday, December 4, 2020, and we are hoping that all POC Senior Citizens will be able to participate. Due to continued Covid19 concerns and precautions, we have to change this year’s format from our usual “Sit down Luncheon” inside the Community Center, to a “Drive Through/Pick Up To Go Plates” outside the Community Center.

Beginning at 11:00 a.m., participants will enter the first Community Center driveway; pull underneath the awning by the Community Center’s Front Door; pick up the number of “To Go” Plates needed; and then exit through the opposite Driveway. If you have medical issues that prevent you from picking up your To Go Plates, you can call Diane Cooley (903-467-6335) by no later than Thursday, December 3, 2020, to request that your meal be delivered by the Service Club. We will need your name, address, phone number, and number of “To Go Plates” needed so that we can complete your order.

POC Community Service Club’s
Christmas Luncheon
Thursday, December 3
Beginning 11:00 a.m.
POC Community Center
Drive Thru
Menu:
Chicken and Dressing
Green Beans
Corn Casserole
Fruit Salad
Gravy
Cranberry Sauce
Rolls
Cookies for Dessert

The Service Club’s only meeting in December will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 10:00 at the Community Center. All members are encouraged to attend.

The Club wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy, Safe, and Healthy New Year 2021!! May God Bless!!

Pneumonia has kept Pastor Erny home bound for the last several weeks, but the Chapel Family has rallied around its Pastors. Pastor Erny’s “to do” list has kept me busy – there by; I can honestly say, NO GRASS IS GROWING UNDER PASTOR JOANE’S FEET!

At our Retreat Center, we have hosted several groups from all over Texas and even from Northwestern Arkansas. The Chi-Alpha group from Huntsville has provided much needed help. Hebrews tells us not to “neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” These men certain are angels! They came twice to minister the Word while I got my bearings with Pastor Erny being in the hospital and then sacrificially came back to help with Warrior’s Weekend.

When we were asked to provide 300 breakfast tacos for soldiers, all of whom had received purple hearts, our crew was ready. Pastor Erny sure missed not being in that work crew. We had so much help that we accomplished the task with excellence. The 50 dozen eggs were donated and the other supplies were purchased and workers showed-up. I felt blessed as a Pastor! John’s expertise of cleaning and organizing got us started. Maria and Susie cooked the sausage. Susie and John made the coffee. Jackie and Cindy are expert tortilla warmers and runners ready to do what was needed. Johnny and Brenda cracked eggs and stacked eggs (in the tortilla-lol). Jeff and Tina and Garrett did some pretty fine work at stacking those eggs and sausage in that tortilla as well. Kim was a huge help at the dock and part of the clean up crew. Tom, Garrett and the Chi-Alpha group are “wok” kings in my book. Of course, we are grateful for those who showed up at the egg cracking party and those in the community that readily worked at distributing the tacos at Froggy’s to make this event successful. I know it was Pastor Erny’s prayers that made everything go so smoothly! Great efforts equal great rewards!

In October, Chi-Alpha and Chapel crew once again joined forces to host a special service and a fellowship dinner for about 80 people. The congregation set the room in banquet style. Tom and Jackie made runs to collect the potato salads, coleslaw, and all the trimmings. We had a generous fisherman provide the fish and Cathy’s cooked the fish, which brought rave reviews!

Now, even though we greatly miss Pastor Erny and his gregarious laugh, I am grateful to the Chapel Family that has helped us not to miss a beat. We continue to see the Kingdom of our Lord grow! We encourage you to come and be a part of all that is happening.

Coming up is our special Thanksgiving Service at 7 PM Wed, November 25th. Singer, songwriter, and friend Ric Gorden will be with us on Sunday AM on December 6th. Christmas baskets will be distributed on December 15th. Our Chapel Christmas party is planned on December 20th. Hayride and caroling will be on Wednesday, December 23. Naturally, we will celebrate our Lord’s birthday all month long.

The Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose goal is to help everyone make heaven their eternal home. We meet on Sundays at 10 AM at Bible Study, 11 AM for Morning Service, and 6 PM for the Evening Service. All will find a warm welcome and are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

As many of you already know, the Community Thanksgiving Celebration for 2020 was canceled due to the COVID virus. It’s always a great time of coming together and celebrating God’s blessings with people from all around our community. First Baptist Church will be distributing a free Thanksgiving drive by meal on Wednesday, November 18, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to come by for chicken and dressing casserole, potatoes and gravy, green beans, fruit salad and a cookie. As a special gift, Dorothy Ruehmann has donated several copies of her CD of gospel music to be included with each meal. Come by, celebrate early with us and take home a free meal. We’ll be waiting for you.

It’s time for the Samaritan’s Purse Shoe Boxes to be shipped off! The church was challenged early in the year to double our offering from last year and fill 100 boxes. Not only did we meet that challenge, but we surpassed it. This Sunday, November 15, we will be blessing over 170 boxes in our sanctuary before we deliver them to Victoria on Monday!!! What an awesome community Port O’Connor is and how giving. So many children who don’t know Christ will be receiving these boxes and Bibles in their native language in the coming weeks. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who donated money for shipping and articles to fill the boxes.

Last month was pastor appreciation month and First Baptist Church certainly appreciates our two pastors, Brother Phillip Miller and his wife, Katrina and Brother Raymond Grant and his wife, Rhonda. On Sunday, November 1, we held an ice cream and cake reception to honor them and let them know how much we appreciate all they do for us and our town. If you missed the celebration, you can drop them a note at the church to brighten their day.

There is always an ongoing need for donations to the Community Food Pantry. At this time of year, food baskets are assembled for distribution to needy families in the community. FBC youth have been collecting nonperishable food items at Speedy Stop for the Food Pantry. The next collection date will be Wednesday, December 9, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Make plans to shop for some items to donate. Thanks.

We are always ready to welcome you to any of our services or you can watch online on Facebook. Is modern technology a blessing or a curse? It’s a blessing in these trying times, because we can attend church in our own homes. Imagine that! But, if you want to get out and attend in person, we have a place for you. Sunday School for children and adults is at 9:45 a.m. and Church services are at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Youth activities are Sunday and Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. Bible study is on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. for the ladies and 7:00 p.m. for the men. Prayer meetings are on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.