The POC Community Service Club will be electing new officers in September. This would be a great time to join us as we continue to serve POC and make our home town the best home town. If you are a member and want to suggest someone for an officer, please call or email Diane Cooley, Mary Ann Claiborne or Kelly Gee. We value input from our members.

We have really had fun showing movies on the new big blow up screen. They will continue the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of July and August and we will announce new plans for when Fall movies will be showing. Big thanks to Marie and Robbie Hawes for sharing the use of their movie style popcorn maker. It has been a delicious treat. If you come to the movies, bring a chair or pillow for the floor and expect a fun time. If you check the Facebook page for the movie title and dress to the movie theme, you win a prize.

School begins soon, and our school has had some facelift work during the summer. The Service Club is working on the soccer goals that we will donate to POC Elementary. We hope they will be ready and in place before the first day. We are also planning to help with the local school supply drive. Look for the donation barrel at Speedy Stop and drop in pencils, crayons, tablets or whatever you choose. It will be a big help to those working parents who need to buy new shoes, back to school clothes and new backpacks before they ever start purchasing school supplies. PTO will use the donated supplies as needed at POC Elementary.

The next Service Club Garage Sale is set for October 7th at the Pavilion. If you have used clothes, shoes, household good or other items in good shape you would like to donate to our sale, please call Linda Orrick at 719-650-3433, Diane Cooley at 903-467-6335, Kelly Gee at 817-929-2564 or Marie Hawes at 361-920-2322. They will help you out.

We have other plans for Fall, and will be sharing details soon. So, until next time, be safe, live simply, love openly, forgive generously and remember this quote by the great theologian and physician Albert Schweitzer who said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know; the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” If you are looking for your happy and need to serve, come serve with us.

The Chapel is “neck-deep” in fish gleaning. Poco Bueno was last week and the Lone Star Shoot-out is this week, and we are appreciative of the “catchers” who share their trophies with us for needy people. It takes a lot of people to accomplish what we do with these tournaments, but we do them for one reason: the Chapel is able to do more for our missionary endeavors in these short weeks than would be possible any other way. How much would a meal of fresh fish cost? Well, multiply that times 12,000 and see how much we have been able to give away in the past because of the hard work of our many volunteers! Also, special thanks to mr. Walter Fondren (Poco Chairman) and Mr. Randy Bright (Shoot-out Chairman) for allowing us to accept the donated fish and put them to such good use!

Recently we have hosted some great Retreats. Flora’s family came over the July 4th holiday and we were so blessed by their coming. Then Kenneth’s family came immediately afterwards and truly graced us! Workers from C.T. church in Houston came to help us with Poco and stayed at the Retreat Center.

Pastor Joane is planning a Victorious Ladies Retreat on July 28 and 29 (Friday and Saturday) at the Retreat Center and every lady in our area is welcome to be a part. Please call Pastor Joane at 361/648-4622 for further information and reservation.

On August 4 and 5, we will be hosting a Youth Retreat here. Travis Glass will be directing these activities that are open to youth ages 12-20. There will be a lot of fun, food and fellowship. Please call Pastor Joane about reservations for that Retreat as well.

We have a Men’s Group from San Antonio coming in August and another group is scheduled for October. These Men’s Retreats are planned by their respective churches, but all men from our community are welcome to be a part. Please contact Pastor Erny (361/218-6693) for additional information.

On July 8, our men went to Cuero to enjoy a Men’s Breakfast and to help with a work day at the church. We joined with men from seven other churches and did a lot of tree trimming and general yard clear-up. In two to three hours, we had made the place truly look so much better that the community is still talking about it! Men, we will be going to Bloomington in September to do the same type of ministry. Everyone is welcome to be a part.

We recently hosted the Teen Challenge Band from San Antonio Rehabilitation Center and were very blessed. Pastor Jesse filled the pulpit for us when Pastor Joane and I were meeting with our Partner Churches in Nixon and Cuero. Hermano Baldo and Hermana Lulu from Roma, Texas, ministered for us and we were truly blessed. And on July 9, we were blessed to host the ministry of the Reverend Don Nordin of Houston.  What inspiring messages we have been hearing and we will continue having special ministries come to the Chapel.

Fiherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose primary mission is to help our fellow travelers successfully make their pathway to Heaven. We also do our best to assist people in their personal struggles with prayer, counsel, and even try to help meet their physical needs with items from our pantry. Everyone will find a warm welcome at the Chapel and all are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

SEADRIFT – Rev. Samuel Ross Newman 91, went to be with the Lord on Friday, July 14, 2017. He was born in Nursery, TX on March 2, 1926 to the late Clay Newman and Effie Newman. He married the love of his life Lownell Newman, who was a devoted wife. He will be missed by all who loved him.

He is survived by sons, Gerhard Newman of Seadrift, Sam Newman, Jr. (Robbie) of Bossier City, LA. Dan Newman (Mary Ann) Newman of Bossier City, LA, daughter Sandra (Charles) Gilmore of Stinnett, sister Lydia Smith of Needville, Jane Yaws of El Campo, brother Charlie Newman, grandchildren: Kori, Kimbi, Kaleb, Billy, Sam, Amber, Christopher, Hannah and a host of great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on July 17, 2017 at Grace Funeral Chapel with Pastor Derral Humble officiating. Burial with full military honors under the auspice of the Calhoun County Combined Honor Guard followed at Seadrift Cemetery.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.gracefuneralhome.net.

PORT O’CONNOR – Milton ‘Lefty’ Ward, Jr. 92 passed away on Wednesday June 21 2017. He was born in Huntington, W. VA on July 10, 1924 to Milton D. Ward and Stella Scaggs Ward.

He graduated from Marshall College and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps flying B-24’s and B-25’s.

Lefty retired as Vice President and Southwest Divisional Manager of Motion Industries. He was a former member of St. Philip Presbyterian Church in Houston.

He leaves a wife, Joanne Chapman Ward, three daughters, Clare Ward Smith and her husband George ‘Scooter’ Smith, Celeste Ward Noonan and husband Craig Noonan, and Carolyn Chapman Ward. Grandchildren, Jason Noonan, Kristan Noonan Schilling and husband Michael Schilling, Weston Edward Smith and wife Abigail Wehner Smith and Christopher Ward Smith. Great grandchildren, Austin Schilling and Ashlyn Schilling.

Memorials may be made if desired to ‘Hospice of South Texas, 605 E. Locust Avenue, Victoria, TX 77901 or CCA 6919 Port West Drive, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77024.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Grace Funeral Chapel.

SEADRIFT – Rear Admiral Richard K. Maughlin, 81, of Seadrift, passed away June 19, 2017. He was born June 1, 1936 in Alva, Oklahoma.

After a childhood in Dighton, Kansas, Rich graduated from LeTourneau University in Longview, TX and was commissioned in the US Navy in 1958. He married the former Mary Evelyn Lancaster on July 25 1959. He earned his wings of gold in 1959 and embarked on an exciting career as a Navy fighter pilot and test pilot. He enjoyed a decorated career in the Navy, Navy Reserves and DOD civil service, which included combat missions in Vietnam, Pentagon leadership posts in Operation Desert Storm and Division Head of Common Avionics Systems Division Pax River NAS. Rich retired as a Rear Admiral after 45 years of service in 2003. He enjoyed retirement with his wife, Dollie, on the ranch in Seadrift.

Rich is survived by his wife, Dollie Sanders Maughlin; his son Mike of Denver; his daughters, Melanie Maughlin of Cincinnati and Marci Allen and husband Clay of Denver; He is also survived by his grandchildren Ben and Jack Allen; Kami and Evan Previte.

He is survived by stepchildren Allen Sanders and wife Yvette in London, Kristin Arterbury and husband Andy of Waco, Robyn Amundson and husband Mark of Denver, Austin Sanders and wife Tara of Port Lavaca and grandchildren Elianna, Lauren, Leafe (Sanders); and Timothy, Daniel (Arterbury); and Hannah, Johnny, Josiah and wife Taylor, Ben (Amundson); and Kyler, Taegan, Cayson (Sanders); and Cavyn, Cadence (Mott). He was preceded by stepdaughter Dallas Sanders Mott.

He will be remembered for his big smile, adventurous spirit, love of the land, patriotism, commitment to service, and generous heart.