AA meets each Saturday night at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Port O’Connor.
Seadrift Chamber of Commerce meets the third Thursday of each month, 6:00 p.m. at First National Bank meeting room, Seadrift
Commissioner’s Court meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at 10 a.m., 1st Floor of the Court House, Port Lavaca.
Crossroads Astronomy Club meets at 7:00 p.m., third Mondays, at U of H, Victoria, Room 223 info: wes81461@yahoo.com 935-2016
Calhoun County Quilt Guild meets the first Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at the Fairgrounds Exhibit Building.
Calhoun County Democratic Club meets the last Thursday of the month
CASA (Christians Against Substance Abuse) meets each Thursday from 7-8 p.m. Call 361-652-7451 for meeting place.
First Baptist Youth Group (Port O’Connor) meets every Wednesday night from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Grades 6th – 12th; Team Kids Grades 1-5
Port O’Connor Cemetery Association meets 3rd Thursday of each month at POC Community Center
POC Lions Club meets at First National Bank, Port O’Connor
Ladies Bible & Book Study is held every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Port O’Connor
VFW Post 4403 meets first Tuesday of each month. 552-3886
Open Mon-Friday; Closed Weekends R. Guitierrez 210-872-1198

July 19-24 Lone Star Shoot Out www.thelonestarshootout.com

Thurs., July 21 What Bugs You? mini-lecture 1:00-2:00 pm Extension office 186 CR 101, Port Lavaca

Sat., July 23 Seadrift Family Fun Day 10:00-3:00 Seadrift Civic Center

Sun., July 31 5th Sunday Fellowship & Singing 6:00 pm First Baptist Fellowship Hall, Seadrift

Tues., Aug. 2 Seadrift City Council 7:00 pm Seadrift City Hall

Tues., Aug. 2 Bunco 7:00 pm Port O’Connor Community Center

Aug. 5 & 6 Readin’, Ritin’ & Reelin’ Tournament 361-649-7707 Port O’Connor Community Center

Mon., Aug. 8 Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce 6:30 pn Port O’Connor Community Center

Fri., Aug. 12 Beginner Paddle & Lesson 9:00 am 713-829-2852

Sat., Aug. 13 Speedy Stop Kids Fishing Tournament www.speedystop.com

Sun., Aug. 14 Paddle Powderhorn Ranch Shoreline 8:00-3:00 713-829-2852

Thurs., Aug. 25 Cruise Ship Industry Hearing 10:00 am Corpus Christi (361) 695-2048

We had a great Father’s Day celebration at the Church and a wonderful Fourth of July weekend! For Independence Day celebrations, we had a group from Weslaco who also ministered in both services on July 3. Pastor Mario Perez and his wife Ruth did a masterful job of leading us in praise in the morning service before Pastor Mario preached. In the evening service, we just sang praises to the Lord under their direction. It was refreshing!

Pastor Joane has announced that she will begin teaching, “I Am N – Voice of the Martyrs” for the next several Tuesdays. The books are available by calling Pastor Joane at 361/648-4622. The classes will be held in the parsonage at 7:00 p.m. It will be a very informative series about the persecution around the world that is coming through ISIS. Everyone is welcomed.

We are gearing up for the fishing tournaments that begin right away. In prepartion, we have constructed a cover over our “pit” and should have the cover for the freezer completed before POCO. We are excited to be a part of Poco Bueno, the Lone Star Shoot-Out, and the Shark-Tooth because they provide for us an opportunity to feed many needy families. Last year, we estimated that we passed out about 12,000 meal portions from the fish we cleaned. It is because we have a host of people who come and help us clean all the fish, and others who help us distribute it to the families that are ministered unto by it. Thanks is such a small way of expression for our heart-filled gratitude for your assistance.

The Retreat Center is very busy this time of year. We have two more groups coming this month and several groups coming in August and September. It is such a joy to see people come needing a respite and leaving so renewed that they are anxious to return to Port O’Connor as soon as possible. We have had to turn away some groups who could not find an opening and we are always sad to say, “We have no room in the inn!” But, we are grateful for the many who get to come and enjoy a few days of R&R.

Captain Robert is here teaching the Sea Academy class this week. He is filling his classes to the max because, as announced, there will only be three more classes after this one. The scheduled dates of the other classes are November 11-18, 2016; February 24 thru March 3, 2017; and the last class is scheduled for May 19-26, 2017. Those desiring to become “boat captains” should call the Sea Academy at 361/758-6184 or Captain Robert at 361/816-3010. Please do not try to wait until the last day, for, as I said, the classes are filling up quickly!

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose goal is to simply assist all in making Heaven our home! We offer many opportunities to gather together for inspiration and instruction. Each Sunday, we begin with Bible Study for all ages at 10:00 a.m. and our Morning Service begins at 11:00 a.m. Each Sunday evening, we enjoy time together at 6:00 p.m. Pastor Jesse Alderete leads a Spanish Service each Tuesday beginning at 6:00 p.m., and for the summer, Pastor Joane will be teaching “I Am N” at 7:00 p.m. on the first floor of the parsonage. We enjoy a Midweek Service together on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. From time to time, we add additional activities to our schedule for special emphasis or for target groups. One will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel, and all are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

This summer has really been hot in both temperature and exciting functions. The Vacation Bible School at the Church was successfully completed on June 9. This years “Submerged” led by Candice Stryker, was outstanding and the average attendance was 63. Thanks to all the teachers, helpers, workers and Van Drivers for their professional help! The boys and girls had a contest by donating their change each morning for Missions and the total collected was $576.20! This money was sent to South Texas Children’s Home.

The Church was packed on June 9 with children, parents, and grandparents for Graduation. The teachers, Megan Sandy, April Price, Kim Sonnier, Diane Cooley and Paula McCauley, presented certificates to each of the children. The children sang their VBS songs for their parents and everyone enjoyed the refreshments.

The children’s “Pre-Teen Camp” at Palacios Baptist Encampment had eight departing June 13. They reported having an outstanding time and four of the Children accepted Jesus as their Savior!

The Youth loaded up the van on Monday, July 4, for their trip to Camp Zephyr, on the banks of Lake Corpus Christi. Twelve of our youth and Bro. Raymond Grant and Candice Stryker left the Church about 11 am, July 4. I know because I was mowing the Church lawn at the time.

The Church is presently preparing member and friends information for a new Photo Directory for Members and Friends of the Church. Photos will be taken in late August. One Directory and one 8 by 10 Family Photo will be given to each Family at no cost. Individual photos will be available to purchase.

Our Church suffered a huge loss on June 2,2016, when our loved one Tommy Smith went to Heaven. Our prayers are with his wife Brenda and the entire Smith family. Tommy was one of my best friends and fishing partner and a huge asset to the Church. Tommy will be sorely missed and I am having a hard time handling the loss.

The Church received notice of another loss this past week. Hilda Covarrubias, 57, passed away on Monday, June 27 at her home in Roland, OK. Services were held at our Church on Tuesday, July 5, followed by burial in POC Cemetery. Hilda is survived by son Joseph, sisters Irene Sorrow, Sherry Covarrubias, Ludine, Claudine and brothers Rudy, Adolfo and Alfred.

The Church has been working on the three lots behind the church by clearing the weeds and small trees and vines. The property was purchased recently and should be a perfect place for “Outdoor Activity”

See You in Church Sunday.

Most of you will remember a TV program called, “Hee Haw.” The show had a country flavor, along with corny jokes and anecdotes. Personally, I loved the pitiful song sung about the hardships of life. It started with the words, “Gloom, despair, and agony on me.” A line or two later, the singers moaned, “If I had no bad luck I’d have no luck at all. Gloom, despair, and agony on me.”

All of us are prone to have a bad day once in a while. Some of these bad days are undeniably worse than others. Maybe you’ve had some horrendous days yourself lately. Allow me to say (tongue-in-cheek), “Don’t despair. It can always be worse.” The comical story below is an example of what I’m talking about.

Response to An Insurance Company:

I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In block #3 of the accident form, I put “trying to do the job alone” as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully, and I trust that the following details will be sufficient.

I am a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the accident I was working alone on the roof of a new six-story building. When I completed my work, I found that I had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley, which fortunately was attached to the side of the building at the 6th floor.

Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out, and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of brick. You will note in block #11 of the accident report that I weigh 135 pounds. But to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind, and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured skull, and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were 2 knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of mind, and was able to hold tightly to the rope, in spite of my pain.

At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground, and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel then weighed approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block #11. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles, and the lacerations of my legs, and lower body area. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks, and fortunately only three vertebrae were cracked.

I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks, in pain…unable to stand…and watching the empty barrel six stories above me…I again lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope. The empty barrel weighed more than the rope, so it came back down on me, and broke both my legs.

I hope I have furnished the information you have required.

   
     Taken from http://sermonillustrations.com/a-z/a/accident/htm.

July 16: Brenda Gonzales; Melvin Bueckman; Nathan Bacek

July 17: Debbie Michalek: Duane Melson; Ray Gonzales Jr.

July 18: Nicki Ritch; Ray Gonzales Sr.

July 19: Bao T. Tran; Roxanne Ochoa; Rose Smith; Annabelle Thurman

July 20: Jacob Lucey

July 21: Cavu Magnum; Nicole Reed; Janie Goldman; Chuck Ramirez

July 22: Patrick Overton; Jayson Amason

July 23: L’Roy Bell, Jr.

July 24: Jose Chavez; John Spears; Lyla Kallas

July 25: Lucas Taylor; Chase Amason; Chelsea Whitehead; Linda Marie Carrera; Pastor Carrera

July 26: Eloisa Newsome; Monica Torres; Manuel P. Sandoval

July 27: Andrew Ureste; Katie Redding; Pam Weathersby; Rachel Watts

July 28: Phillip Lewis; Glynis Spencer; Rudy Covarrubias

July 29: Johnny Rhyne; Joel Kelly; Michelle Ureste

July 31: Angelica Villarreal; Donna Maxwell Ovens

August 1: Lisa McLean; Iris Garcia; Parker Luna

August 2: Adolfo Covarrubias Jr.; Elliott Bakey

August 3: Cherice Apostalo

August 4: Michael Anthony Luna

August 5: Scott Gayle; Ronnie Carriles, Bob Sparks

August 6: Collin Haynes; Jamie Harper

August 7: James Lively; Samuel Uresti; Andriana Carriles; Kamryn R. Chandler

August 8: Andy Vuichard ; Bianca Locke

August 9: Barbara Crouch

August 10: Robert Lopez; Nick Cockrell; Kiara Akoon; Lauren Weatherly; Charlotte Romine; Brandon Sparks

August 12: James Overton; Sophie Perry; Martin Martinez; Mario Rodriguez

August 13: Marty Lewis; Chaz O’Shields; Autumn Smith

August 14: Sharon Preslar

August 15: Johnathan Pitonyak; Audie Vasquez

August 16: Sue Kubecka

August 17: Duke Spahn

August 18: Mikaela Overton

August 19: Amie Reed; Robbie Hawes