“No one can ever be ready for Christmas until they go to Thanksgiving!” Thanksgiving is more than an eating and football holiday. It takes a proper mindset and attitude. Only “thinking people” can be “thankful people!” Remembering and taking note of the blessings we enjoy will cause us to become thankful. We are running at such fast paces in these holiday times that most will never slow down enough to think about the great things that have come our way. We will scurry from event to event and go through the motions of “holiday joy” without experiencing the inner peace and blessing that is possible. Please, take time to think – maybe even – take time to write a list of grateful times and places before we fill our plates with Thanksgiving Dinner.

IMPORTANT NOTICE – On Sunday, November 24, the Chapel will gather for a Taco Fellowship Meal at 5:00 p.m. At 6:00 p.m., we will be having a special Dedication Service with special guest, the Reverend Doctor Susan Nordin from the great C.T. Church in Houston. When that service is concluded, we will gather around the Cross for a formal Dedication. I will be sharing the story of how the Cross has come to be, beginning ten (10) years ago. We will be honoring special people who have made the project complete. The Cross is a labor of obedience and God has blessed. Now, it stands as a beacon for both land lovers and sea goers.

The food for the Thanksgiving Food Baskets has been ordered and we are preparing to bless a number of families in our community. The Ladies Service Club has provided us with additional funds as a result of the big Rummage Sale that they sponsored last month. At their meetings, they also bring in items for our Pantry, which is also a great blessing. Our local school is collecting cans for distribution. The 4-H club is bringing in cans. People in the community are coming by and leaving sacks of food for us to pass along!  Thank you for your confidence in us and allowing us to help people who are having an especially difficult time at this Holiday Season.  We will be distributing the Thanksgiving Baskets on Tuesday, November 19, before noon. Dick’s Food Store in Seadrift is helping us greatly with the items we will be including in the boxes.

On November 17, we as a community will gather at the Catholic Church at 6:00 p.m., for a great Community Thanksgiving Service. Our own Pastor Joane will be bringing the Thanksgiving Message. The Catholic Congregation will be providing a time for fellowship following the service. We will be bringing special offerings for the expenses of the Thanksgiving and Christmas Food Baskets. We have a number of needy families who are greatly blessed through our efforts – so lets do our best, remembering that food prices have kept going up!
The Christmas Food Basket list will be starting soon after we pass the Thanksgiving boxes out. The Sign-up Deadline is Sunday, December 1. We will be distributing these boxes on December 17, before noon. With the school’s closure for Christmas Holidays, we will be including additional “Kid Friendly” foods in those boxes. Please, if you know those who are in need of food, please have them contact us as soon as possible. REMEMBER, we strive to serve NEED and never GREED!

We continue hosting Retreats at the Chapel. Our next one is scheduled for November 21 thru 23. It is the “Hungry Man” Retreat. Men will be coming here from around Texas and additionally from other states. It will be a spiritual renewal event and is organized by our own Ted Tedford. We are asking the Lord to bring special blessings to these men who come to Hunger after Righteousness!

On Wednesday, November 20, we will be hosting a special Thanksgiving Meal at 7:00 p.m., with a devotional to follow.

On Wednesday, November 27, we will gather for a time of Thanksgiving Praises, which will be shortened to allow those who are cooking Thanksgiving Dinner a little extra time.

Our November calendar is full, but we are grateful for God’s blessings! The Chapel is an interdenominational congregation who  teaches the authority of the Bible and the blessings that follow those who allow the Scriptures to guide their daily lives. We gather each Sunday at 10:00 a.m. for Bible Class; 11:00 a.m. for Morning Service; and 6:00 p.m. for Evening Service. We meet each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. for a time of fellowship followed by a time in Scripture. One will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel, and all are urged to, “Come, Grow With Us!”

“Beacon of Light…Anchor of the Community”
Library News:
POC Library Hours: Phone Number: 361-983-4365
Sunday – Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Friday: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
*Note special closures and holidays: November 27th at 1:00 p.m. -December 3rd

Winter often brings a sense of closure, prompting many of us to slow down, rejuvenate, and express our gratitude through gifts and recognition. If you share this sentiment and wish to acknowledge the efforts of our dedicated library team, please stop by to thank them for their steadfast commitment to public service. Whether they’re offering reference assistance, recommending books, maintaining collections, or collaborating with other county departments, their dedication and passion for supporting our community are truly commendable.

THANK YOU to Our November Donors

• A huge thank you to Cathy’s Restaurant and Cathy Holder Osborn for their generous donation of FOUR gift certificates to their delicious restaurant.
• Loteria hosted by Mary Ann and Margaret Claiborne, Sylvia Ragusin and Rebecca Allen.
• Thank you to Mary Jo Walker and Beacon 44 Seafood Market for their generous donation of another gift certificate to their delicious market!
• Cindy Hanson for her dedication to the flower beds at the Port O’Connor Library Branch. Her hard work has beautifully transformed the front of the library, making it a warm and inviting space for all.
• A huge thank you to Linda Orrick for making and donating this beautiful quilt to the Port O’Connor Library! It will be hanging in the Multipurpose Room for all to enjoy!

Wednesdays:
• 8:00-9:00 AM – Coffee & Conversation
• 9:30–10:30 AM – Bingo – The fun follows the 8 AM coffee event every Wednesday! Many thanks to our generous sponsors.
• Note: LOTERIA (Mexican Bingo) to follow bingo.
• 1:00-3:30 PM – Mah Jongg
Thursdays: 1:00-3:30 PM – Bridge

Friends of the POC Library: Friends of the Library play a crucial role in enhancing the impact of libraries in several ways. They are important because they expand a library’s ability to serve its community by providing additional resources and support. Friends groups contribute through financial donations, volunteering, and organizing programs, which help libraries enhance their services and reach.

Giving Tuesday on December 3rd offers a perfect opportunity to support the many impactful organizations in Port O’Connor. It’s a day dedicated to generosity and community spirit, where even the smallest donation or act of kindness can contribute to a greater collective impact. Supporting causes strengthens our local community, builds connections, and spreads compassion—together, we can make a real difference!

• You may make your tax deductible contribution to the friends of the Port O’Connor library at www.friendsofportoconnorlibrary.org or by mailing to PO Box 497, Port O’Connor TX 77982.

Super Saturday Children’s Program
Please note that the 2024-2025 Children’s Program Dates fall on the second Saturday of each month. Mark your calendars for fun at the library! Hopefully, we will see you at the Christmas Party on December 14th.
November’s Children Program was an outdoor event held at the Port O’Connor Community Center Pavilion. Folks had an opportunity to have a positive interaction with police, fire, EMS, and dispatch when so many times, their first interaction is for something stressful. Participants were able to visit a variety of tables, preview the emergency vehicles and receive some surprises. A short presentation about the 9-1-1 communication process and what happens during an emergency was held. The public was invited to ask questions with a First Responders Panel.

The event was dedicated to honoring our local heroes, allowing children to meet first responders from various organizations, including the Department of Public Safety, POC Volunteer Fire Department, US Coast Guard, Port Lavaca Police Department, Calhoun County Dispatch, CCISD Police Chief, Calhoun County EMS, Wildlife Fisheries, Game Wardens, and many more. Our community appreciates you and is so thankful for the time spent with the community.

The Friends also thank our local Speedy Stop for donating hot dogs, buns, chips, drinks and condiments. This event was a wonderful opportunity for the community to connect with those who serve and protect us!

Adult Programs:
A Night of Poetry was a truly special gathering! The combination of Johnny Cash’s Ragged Old Flag and an original poem celebrating the community created a warm and memorable atmosphere. What a lovely way for everyone to come together and share their voices!

Submitted by Darla Miles
Friends of the Port O’ Connor Library, Publicity Committee/Historian
www.friendsofportoconnorlibrary.org
Facebook Page: Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, Inc.

The food for the Thanksgiving Food Baskets has been ordered and we are preparing to bless a number of families in our community. The Ladies Service Club has provided us with additional funds as a result of the big Rummage Sale that they sponsored last month. At their meetings, they also bring in items for our Pantry, which is also a great blessing. Our local school is collecting cans for distribution. The 4-H club is bringing in cans. People in the community are coming by and leaving sacks of food for us to pass along! Thank you for your confidence in us and allowing us to help people who are having an especially difficult time at this Holiday Season. We will be distributing the Thanksgiving Baskets on Tuesday, November 19, before noon. Dick’s Food Store in Seadrift is helping us greatly with the items we will be including in the boxes.

We will be taking a special offering at the Community Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 17 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Please give as generously as you can to help stock these baskets. And, we hope to see you there!
POC Benovelence Fund

If you would like to be part of making a child’s Christmas morning filled with smiles, call or come by POC Hardware and Supply and Adopt An Angel. We will be happy to do the shopping, boxing and wrapping for you if you do not want to do it (or we can box and wrap if you wish to shop), This year, due to the increase in the cost of…well, everything, we are asking that you spend or donate at least $125.00.

Toy are provided by the Freeport to Port O’Connor Toy run. Please, please, please spend your money on clothes, ect. thta are detailed in the letter with your Angel’s information.

Together we can help bring the magic of Christmas to not only these children, but to their families as well.
For more information, contact Judith Bowman at POC Hardware, Monday through Saturday anytime from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Phone number: 361-983-2708
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To Put a Child on the List:

With the Holidays right around the corner, it is once again time for the Adopt An Angel program to kick off. If you would like to put your child on the list, applications will be available for pick up starting November 1st at POC Hardware & Supply. If you have any questions, give Judith a call at 361-983-2708
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The DEADLINE to put a child on the list is Dec. 7th by 5:00 p.m. No Exceptions. It takes many people to make the program a success, so earlier is better. Please DO NOT wait until the last minute.

For a child to be on the list:

• Must be between the age of 0-5th grade.

• Must live in, or attend school in Port O’Connor.

Children can only be put on the list by a parent or guardian. Please DO NOT put relative’s children or grandchildren on the list unless they LIVE with you and meet the other requirements.

Strict confidentiality is maintained and even the kind souls who Adopt these Angels DO NOT know the child’s identity,

ELF Contact: Judith Bowman at POC Hardware & Supply
361-982-2708, Monday throuh Saturday, 8:00 a.m -5:00 p.m.

I love the season of Thanks and Giving—don’t you? Growing up on the Canadian border with New York State, the changing of the seasons always thrilled my soul. Each season gave way to the next in such beautiful ways. I’d love to tell you about it. One thing about those four seasons—they built anticipation and excitement into the daily lives of kids like me.

The slow dance of the trees as they traded their green apparel for the brilliance of red, yellow, orange, and purple signaled the coming winter. As the leaves left the security of their branches and slowly fell, the ground became a beautiful, soft carpet of colors. The aroma of those leaves in the fall filled the air with one of God’s most beautiful perfumes. All of these led up to my favorite time of the year.

Looking back, I love the season because of the warmth and comfort of home. Thanksgiving was a day filled with the aroma of roasted turkey, the sounds of laughter, and the joyous reunion of family and friends. I never felt more secure as a child than I did when I was with my family. I miss those days. My mom left this world in my 37th year of life and took with her some of the joy that filled those days. I will ever be grateful for her life.

As we gather around the table this holiday, let’s take a moment to reflect on the deeper meaning of Thanksgiving through a Christian lens. At its core, Thanksgiving is about gratitude. It’s a time to pause and count our blessings, recognizing the hand of God in every aspect of our lives. As we admire the golden turkey and the array of side dishes, let’s remember Psalm 107:1: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” His provision is abundant, and His grace is unending.

As for me:
• I am so grateful for the welcome I have found in this town.
• I’m grateful for my church family at FBCPOC
• I am grateful for the men and women of the POCVFD.
• I am grateful for the smiling faces of the children and their teachers at POC Elementary School.
• I am grateful for the chance to serve the community in whatever way I can.

One of the most beautiful aspects of Thanksgiving is the opportunity to break bread together. In the same way, Jesus shared meals with His disciples, teaching and loving them through simple acts of fellowship. As we gather with our loved ones, we emulate this practice, nurturing not just our bodies but our spirits. So, pass the mashed potatoes and share a story or two about how God has moved in your life this year.

As we come to this season, be sure to give thanks to Him from whom you have life. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)

Have a blessed and joyful Thanksgiving! We’ll talk again soon.

Brother Rich