Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 26 2:00 pm
First Baptist Church
Port O’Connor

Seven of our people attended this year’s Spring Retreat at Camp Zephyr last week. What a fantastic four days everyone had! The preaching – Rev. Jimmy Talley, brother-in-law of our Pastor, preached the “Ole Time Gospel” sermons, the “shoutin’” kind. The theme of all his sermons was “Don’t Quit”. Bro. Donnie Martin sang the beautiful song “We Are Standing On Holy Ground”, which brought everyone to their feet. Shirley Martin played beautiful music on the piano. All of the Gospel music was outstanding under the direction of Marcos and Sue Gohlke. Bro. George Yarbrough presented several interesting devotions and he held your attention.

The Bible Study was ‘out of this world” as Dr. Jimmy Arnold taught the life of “Samuel, Servant of God”. You could read the Book of Samuel several times, but never get the understanding that Bro. Arnold gave! Everyone enjoyed the food and the fellowship. All of us declared, “This was the best Camp ever!”
The Children’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 26. Children and parents will gather in Fellowship Hall at 2:00 p.m. and then the children will be separated by age to go to their special egg hunting areas. After the Big Hunt, there will be refreshments and awards. Candice Stryker is in charge of the Easter Egg Hunt.

On Sunday morning, March 20, the Church will observe the “Lord’s Supper” in the 11:00 a.m. service. Everyone is invited to attend. That evening we will have our quarterly “Birthday Bash”. We will celebrate with those who have birthdays in January, February and March. During the Bash, everyone will enjoy finger foods and desserts. Everyone is invited to come to Fellowship Hall at 6:00 p.m. March 20.

The “Singing Men of South Texas” will be singing at Alamo Heights Baptist Church in Port Lavaca at 7:00 p.m. April 21. You don’t want to miss this beautiful music!

And don’t forget Sunday, March 27, 7:00 a.m., our yearly community Sunrise Service on King Fisher Beach! Bring a folding chair or ride down on your golf cart. (There will be some chairs set up, but maybe not enough for the crowd.) This is always a memorable event as we celebrate our Risen Savior at sunrise. Get an early start celebrating a joyous Easter!

See you in church Sunday!

Some of the children at the recent Kids Retreat hosted by Fisherman’s Chapel. – Photo by Hannah Casey

What a great year we have already experienced. We recently hosted a Kid’s Retreat with over 50 kids and 50 plus workers coming here to experience the touch of the Lord in their lives. We witnessed at least seven children asking Jesus into their hearts. It was great! There is no way to mention all the many people who gave so much of their time, talent, and treasure to see these kids have an experience that they will never forget!

In our Spanish Services on Tuesday evenings, at 6:00 p.m.,. we recently witnessed an adult asking Jesus into their life. This is what the Chapel is all about – helping people find Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord. To this end, we do everything!

We continue seeing great things being planned for the Lord. Men from Port O’Connor are welcoming other men to come for a time of fishing and breakfast. The breakfast will take place at the Chapel on March 19 at 9:00 a.m. All area men are welcomed to attend. On Palm Sunday, March 20, we will celebrate Communion in the morning service and will host a “movie night” at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is welcomed at all our activities. Those who come to movie night will be greeted with a bag of popcorn and a bottle of water. We will be showing “War Room.” It will be a great family time, so bring all the family and enjoy this special movie experience.

Easter Sunday, March 27, will begin with our annual Community Sunrise Service. It will begin at 7:00 a.m. and will feature music of the First Baptist Choir and I will be bringing the message. Of course, we will have some of Cathy’s famous cinnamon rolls with hot coffee. It will be a great time, so bring your favorite chair, maybe a warm blanket, and enjoy this special service.

Following the Sunrise Service, the Chapel will host our special Bible Study at 10:00 a.m., and a warm Morning Service at 11:00 a.m. The evening service will being at 5:00 p.m. with Corporate Prayer and the service at 6:00 p.m. It will be a great day of celebrating the resurrection of our Lord.
At the end of the month, we will be hosting a men’s group from Mauriceville, Texas for a retreat. Pastor Chad will be coming again with his men to have a few days of refreshing and hopefully catching.

Our local men are planning an outing at the farm on April 29 and 30. This is open to all men and their sons and will be a great time just to get away, relax, shoot some shotguns, and eat some delicious “chuck wagon style” meals.

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation which endeavors to help bring us into a personal relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. One will always find a warm welcome here and everyone is urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

Calling all kids to stop by the Port O’Connor Library and check out a book or video and

GUESS HOW MANY EGGS ARE IN THE BASKET!

Prizes awarded; need not be present to win. Contest ends April 30.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Port O’Connor Library.

Have you ever encountered a crisis or an enduring challenge in life that rocked you to the foundation of your faith? In those moments of questioning, perhaps you felt like you had failed God by simply asking the questions.

You may be surprised to learn one of the greatest witnesses for Christ in the Bible had questions of his own. May his testimony be of encouragement to you.

John the Baptizer gave an unflinching call for repentance to multitudes during the months leading up to Jesus’ public ministry. John was God’s chosen servant called to prepare the people for the arrival of His Son. John’s preaching even caught the ear of Herod, the king who ruled the region under Roman authority.
In spite of Herod’s admiration, and even fear of him, John the Baptizer’s uncompromising message did not set well when the prophet denounced Herod for taking Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Herod imprisoned John. In time, John’s God-driven candor would cost him his life.

While languishing in prison, John began to struggle with doubt. Perhaps he wondered why Jesus did not use His influence and exercise some sort of effort to free him. In his pondering depression, John dispatched a couple of his followers to inquire of Jesus if He really was the One whom John had proclaimed the Messiah, or should John look for someone else?

Imagine that! The man who shouted out for all to hear, “Prepare the way for the Lord!” now struggled to believe in the Lord he had proclaimed.

Jesus has no criticism for this despondent prophet who had so dramatically introduced Him as the Promised One. Nor did He answer “yes” or “no” to whether He was, in fact, that Person. Rather, Jesus sent John’s followers back to him with a report of what they had seen in Jesus” ministry – that the blind received their sight, the lame walked, the lepers were cleansed, the deaf heard, the dead had been raised, and the Gospel was being preached to the poor – the essences, the fulfillment of Old Testament’s prophecies.

Jesus did not focus on the predicament in which John was bound, nor give a reason why He had not intervened. He simply said, “If you want to know whether I am, indeed, Who you proclaimed Me to be, let the fulfillment of prophecy serve as My identification.”

Apparently, John had asked precisely the right question, for he received the answer setting his heart at ease that Jesus truly was the Messiah, and now he would die in peace, assured in his faith in the Lamb of God “who takes away the sin of the world.” The answer John received was sufficient for him to go unflinchingly to his death. Jesus’ identity had been certified.

While all this makes for a moving and intriguing story, its relevance applies to everyone when we, too, face difficult times, feelings of desertion, being left to tolerate chronic sickness and pain, believing all the while that Jesus could take care of any or all of that – if He only would.

And when He does not?

Ah! There is the rub! It is so often at this point that we, disappointed in the failure of Jesus’ unquestioned power being released to bring healing, deliverance, or supply, give in to bitterness and anger. Finally, in pathetic sorrow, some denounce the One they once professed to love and serve…all because their earnest need in prayer was not met as they desired or believed was possible.

The problem lies with the implied question. Too often, in the middle of pain, we are tempted to define God strictly be what He will do for us. In a sense, we are asking, “Are You God because You meet my desires or needs when I call for them?”

We all will ultimately find our hearts at rest in our faith in Jesus when we simply ask, “Are You the One?” As we focus on His divine identity, instead of demanding release from the prison of illness, the hurt of relationships, the supplying of something desperately wanted, we can take hold of an eternal perspective.

The real question is, “Are You the One whom I can trust with my never-dying soul? Are You the One I can expect to be waiting for me when death overtakes me?”

The Good News is Jesus left His identity for us, just as clearly as He did for John, He is the One! Jesus’ identify is the Cross – and the empty tomb. The fact is that Jesus paid the price with undeniable love by becoming our sacrifice for sin forever. The historic fact of Jesus’ resurrection validates everything He ever said.

There is no denying how desperate we are to find relief from the problems and pain that comes our way. But until we come to the right question – is He the Son of God, the Savior of the world? – disappointment, anger, wavering faith, and doubt will forever plague human intelligence. Jesus proved His identity and fulfilled His redemptive mission on Easter morning.

As part of the human race, we are sure to face a spectrum of trials, meet many disappointments, and at times suffer momentary defeat. But our God reigns, and our faith is well placed when placed in Him! The Cross and the empty tomb forever provide Jesus Christ’s unmistakable identification! He lives today!