Maria C. Garza, age 92 of Seadrift passed away on Sunday, November 11, 2018.

Funeral Mass was at 2:00 p.m. on November 14, 2018 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Seadrift.
Burial followed at Seadrift Cemetery.

Last year, I wrote about the one ‘problem’ I have with the holidays, namely that almost immediately after giving thanks for what we are already lucky enough to have, we flock to shopping centers and push and shove and possibly injure our way through others to get the latest technical innovation or newest bauble.

This devalues the actual good aspect of this holiday, which you might as well call ‘The American Day of Personal Reflection,’ because those same technical wonders and fresh distractions keep us from focusing and thinking about ourselves and not in terms of wants or what we don’t have, but rather what we already do.

It seems simple enough but is hard to accomplish. There are the almost standard tropes of writing an article like this, lines like how you are most likely not homeless while you are reading this and have never had to skip a meal unless you were dieting (and if you are reading this while in those situations, I wish for better days ahead for you), but there are always the smaller things, the reasons to be grateful you may not even fully realize until they are not there.

In that case be glad for those past memories, for all of us in almost every situation no matter how dire, those past instances where one night seemed to last forever and a day, things and people were new and inviting, the air was stimulating and the time just tasted full of life and vigor.

Point it is that this time coming up should be one where we first focus on what we as individuals have internally that is good, looking back also on the more positive aspects of the past and then in the coming months, not just December through Christmas and New Year’s Day, push that goodwill, love, and positivity outwards into the world around us, bringing others into our spheres of light and joy and changing the Earth besides.

Today modernly there is too much ill will out there already, too many opposing forces, too many things and events that have shaken the nation for which this holiday of Thanksgiving calls its homeland. Healing those wounds begins at home and in our hearts, and the next year coming around the corner soon could be one for the ages….Happy Thanksgiving.

We are glad that October is past and November is here. We can go toward Christmas by way of Thanksgiving! Our community is coming together on many levels, for which we are thankful. Our  Community Thanksgiving Service was a great success, but we are going to need more help (money and canned food) for the Christmas Baskets, which will be distributed on December 18. There are some who believe that since Harvey has left, we are now back whole, but if one will only look around, we continued to have those who are taking every extra dollar and purchasing building materials to rebuild and remodel their hurricane damaged homes. YES, we are POC STRONG, but we still need help!

The Chapel will be having a special Thanksgiving Service on Wednesday, November 22, and all are invited to come and bring your family and give thanks. Only the truly grateful will enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas – the others will only get a few days off work or out of school! It takes a heart filled with gratitude to make these special days more than a big meal and football!

On December 2, at 10 am, we will be hosting the singing ministry of Ric Gorden. Ric has been here many times before and again will be coming to share his special songs siwh us. Last year, he wrote two songs just for us – one was about “Dealing with the Stuff” and the other is about it taking Christ to have Christmas. He will be singing these and many others, so come and bring your friends. We will have Ric for only the morning service.

Our Ladies will be joining other ladies for a Christmas Tea on December 1. It will be hosted by the ladies of Grace Community at 6-MIle. Each lady is encouraged to bring a special decorated Christmas hat for the special event. All ladies are invited to this Christmas Tea, which will begin at 10 am.

Our Men will be joining with other men for a Christmas Breakfast and Work Day at Wharton on Saturday, December 8. As we all remember, Wharton had a lot of flooding and the Wharton Church received a great amount of damage. It was just been determined that the Sunday School area can be reused, if renewed. So we are inviting all men to go with us and we will do the demolition work so a rebuilding crew can come to bring the building back to use. Every man is welcomed to come and enjoy a special day of helping others.

The Chapel’s children will present a special Christmas Program on Sunday, December 16, during the 11 am service. Hermana Angie will be leading the children as they share their talents to remind us why we celebrate Christmas. It will be a great time and all are invited to come.

Our Caroling and Hayride will be on Wednesday, December 19 at 7:00 pn. This is a fun time of loading on the trailer of hay and riding around town singing Christmas Carols. The fire pit will be going when the team returns to the Chapel and hot dogs will be roasted and hot chocolate will be served. It is an annual event, so come and enjoy!

The Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose goal at this time of year is to help everyone remember the significance of these holidays. Thanksgiving is for sharing our greatfulness to each other and the Lord, Who so blesses us in so many different ways! Christmas is about giving, as God has set the example in giving His Son, and we give to each other in practical ways to express our great love! Thanksgiving and Christmas are not for self-centered people, but those who truly understand that we are greatly indebted to many others for having such a great life! All are urged to< “Come, grow with us”!

Caitlin Carter has completed her Master of Science in Energy from Texas A & M University,  College Station. She previously completed her Bachelor of Geology with a minor in Environmental Science there. Parents, Chuck and Brenda, are pleased that Caitlin will be working, as a Geologist, in Victoria, so she won’t be far from home.