“How wonderful, how glorious, and my song shall ever be. How wonderful, how glorious, is my Savior’s love for me.” That just about sums up our feelings around the Chapel. We are filled with wonder at the things that have been done to make the Chapel look and function better. We are filled with the glory at the blessing of the Lord who has sent special people by to help us. We still have some final things to do, but we are praising the Lord for His great love in helping us.

We hosted a leadership banquet for the 19 churches we are associated with. There were well over 100 hungry people that showed up and with a group of hard workers, we fed fried fish and all the trimmings. We had people like David and Kelly, Mark and Lisa, James, Jesse and Angie, Susie, Kim, Michelle, Kenneth, Angie Z., Darin, and all the rest (I know I have omitted some names – sorry), but the place looked beautiful, the food was excellent, and the service was superb. It was a lot of hard work, but it was worth it and we will look forward to hosting again.

We were blessed to host a group from New Braunfels in our retreat center, a pastor and wife from Fort Worth, a Chi Alpha group from Sam Houston State University, and a larger group from Fort Worth. It is always nice to see how relaxed these people leave after having been here for a few days. God has truly blessed us with this Retreat Center. Please help us pray that it continues to meet the needs of people from everywhere.

Our men went on a Dove Hunt at the Farm and truly enjoyed the time with our group and the other men’s groups from the area. We fed breakfast to 19 hunters and the ammo sales people were grateful, but lest you feel badly for the dove, the population did not suffer a great loss!

Our Friday Night Youth (FNY) under the direction of Nathan and Darin is seeing the kids enjoy great times of fellowship, food, and friendships. I see the amount of food they buy each week for the kids and I know they are well nourished. We invite all our area youth to come and enjoy these FNY events. As the weather changes, so will the activities, and one could expect to see a fire pit lit for the kids’ enjoyment. Each Friday evening from 7-10 pm, the youth will meet here, except for the first Friday of each month.

Our Spanish Services are in high gear under the direction of Pastor Jesse Alderete and his bride, Angie. Each Tuesday at 7:00 pm they gather for a time of teaching or a time of inspiration from a full service. Everyone who speaks Spanish is welcomed to attend and will find a warm welcome.

Books have been ordered for our annual semester of Fisherman’s Bible Institute (FBI). Soon these students will be meeting at the Parsonage each Tuesday evening from 7-9 pm to study together and enjoy a time of fellowship. All who wish to attend FBI should contact Pastor Joane, who has served as our instructor since we began. Students can get a general knowledge of the entire Bible by taking three semesters of study. One can start any time and will finish on schedule. Please call Pastor Joane at 361/648-4622 for further information.

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose goal is to strengthen people in their spiritual race toward Heaven. We offer many opportunities for people to find help from our Bible Classes that meet each Sunday at 10:00 am. Our Service schedule includes a Morning Service each Sunday at 11:00 am and an evening service at 6:00 p.m. At 5:00 pm each Sunday, we gather for corporate prayer under the direction of Pastor Joane. Tuesdays we celebrate with our Spanish congregation and with Fisherman’s Bible Institute and Wednesdays we offer a midweek refresher. Friday Nights are reserved for our Youth.

One will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel and all are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

Early Voting at Calhoun County Courthouse
211 S. Ann St., Port Lavaca
October 19-30: 8 am – 5 pm
Extended hours for Oct. 20 & 22: 7 am – 7 pm

Proposition 1: “…increasing the amount of the residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school purposes from $15,000 to $25,000, providing for a reduction of the limitation of the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for those purposes or the homestead of an elderly or disabled person to reflect the increased exemption amount, authorizing the legislature to prohibit a political subdivision that has adopted an optional residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation from reducing the amount of or repealing the exemption and prohibiting the enactment of a law that imposes a transfer tax on a transaction that conveys fee simple title to real property.”

Proposition 2: “…authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran who died before the law authorizing a residence homestead exemption for such a veteran took effect.”

Proposition 3: “…repealing the requirement that state officers elected by voters statewide reside in the state capital.”

Proposition 4: “…authorizing the legislature to permit professional sports team charitable foundations to conduct charitable raffles.”

Proposition 5: “…to authorize counties with a population of 7,500 or less to perform private road construction and maintenance.”

Proposition 6: “…recognizing the right of the people to hunt fish, and harvest wildlife subject to laws that promote wildlife conservation.”

Proposition 7: “…dedicating certain sales and use tax revenue and motor vehicle sales, use, and rental tax revenue to the state highway fund to provide funding for nontolled roads and the reduction of certain transportation-related debt.”

City of Port Lavaca Special Election:
Proposition: “To uphold an ordinance that prohibits smoking in all public buildings.”

Oct. 16-17 Rummage Sale 8:00-4:00 St. Patrick Church, 311 W.Cleveland, Seadrift

Oct. 23 & 24 CHS Class of 1965 Reunion, VFW, Port Lavaca; (361) 649-6525

Sat., Oct. 24 Benefit Chili/Gumbo Cook-Off, Hooper’s Bar & Grille 361-983-4249

Sun., Oct. 25 Fall Fund Raiser Dinner starts 11:00 am St. Patrick Church, 311 W. Cleveland, Seadrift

Sat., Oct. 31 Seadrift Costume Contest/Parade 5:00 pm Sign up at FN Bank, Parade to City Hall

Sun., Nov. 1 Daylight Saving Time Ends Set your clocks back one hour.

Tues., Nov. 3 Election Day

Tues., Nov. 3 Seadrift City Council 7:00 pm Seadrift City Hall

Thurs., Nov. 5 Port O’Connor Service Club 10:00 am Port O’Connor Community Center

Mon., Nov. 9 Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce 6:30 pm Port O’Connor Community Center

Wed., Nov. 11 Veterans Day

Sat., Nov. 7 Benefit for Eufaula Hester starts 11:00 am former Boiling Pot Restaurant, Seadrift

Sun., Nov. 22 Community Thanksgiving Service 6:00 pm Fisherman’s Chapel, Port O’Connor

St. Patrick Church in Seadrift, TX will be holding its Annual Fall Fundraiser starting Friday, October 16th thru Saturday, October 17th from 8am – 4pm with a Rummage Sale in the new hall. The following weekend on Sunday, October 25th @ 11am we will be serving Carne Guisada, Rice, Pinto Beans & Tortillas for $8 a plate. Also for sale will be raffle tickets with lots of nice prizes, bake sale, eggrolls & rice.

I know the calendar says it is still October, but once I feel “fall” in the air, I’m thinking Thanksgiving! It is not ‘TOTALLY’ about the turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pies, but it is also about family, friends, and attitudes. Are our marriages and families the best they can be, producing joy and security? Are our children growing in healthy ways in every part of their being – body, soul, and spirit? Are our relationships with others productive and fruitful for the community? Are our dispositions mostly joyful and mainly happy? These things should be capturing our thoughts as we move from October to Thanksgiving.

To get to Thanksgiving, we must travel the road of responsibility. “Take care of business” should be more than just a saying – it must be a road well traveled. I know many people who put off dealing with issues because they are hoping they will go away on their own. I am not one who likes conflict – nor change, but there are times when we are allowing things to get out of hand because we are not handling them. I recently heard that the only people who like change are the babies with wet diapers. Then someone told me that some babies do not like being laid on their backs for the process. Maybe no one likes change!

But, when we are doing the same things and getting the same results when we want or need something else, change must happen. I believe that loving God and loving people will lead us to the changes that are necessary for our lives to move responsibly forward.

To get to Thanksgiving, we must quit the pity party. At our home, Thanksgiving was always a festive time. Family and friends would come from far and near to sit together especially to taste Mom’s pumpkin pie. I remember one of my uncles coming by and asking for a small slice of the hot pumpkin pie that had just come out of Mom’s oven. Mom cut Uncle Arnold a small slice and he set it aside and got the rest of the pie and ate it all, then asked for his slice! It was that good!

During those festive times, if one’s baby wanted to cry about something, their mom would take them outside until they regained their laugh. Now, I do not believe that we must be laughing all the time, but I do believe that I have much more to laugh about than to cry over! If one is having problems finding “smiling material,” then start a “Blessed Book,” which would contain our notes on the many blessings that we are receiving continually.

To get to Thanksgiving, we must find our places. At home, Dad always sat at the head of the table, facing the door. I heard that the door was to be faced so he could announce who was coming in – maybe that is the correct reason! Mom and us kids never had a designated place of our own because guests always had a place at our table. It was a treat when we got to eat in the living room off our knees, because this only happened when the table was full. When I got older and taller, I enjoyed standing at the kitchen counter helping Mom serve. I do not think I have outgrown that station, nor delight.

I have met people who act as if they believed they were put on this earth to be takers. I know those who will stand in lines to get something free or undeserved. I believe we are teaching a whole generation to learn how to work the system instead of teaching them to work. I understand the present political attitude in America that seems to be saying, “throw all those bums out!” What are they doing to make life what it was for our parents? But, these vote getters will continue winning elections as long as we are willing to sell our votes.

To get to Thanksgiving, we must learn to “let it go”. Our three year old granddaughter Ava does not know the whole song, but she can truly sing, “let it go, let it go…” Why are we holding on to past hurts? Why are we not forgiving as we hope to be forgiven? I believe in asking God to help me have lapses in memory, so I do not even remember sad events and nastinesses. I have things that I have put in my past in order to see more clearly the future. Make a new decision to enjoy the life God has presented you with and see the difference it will make.

To get to Thanksgiving, we must pursue our goals. Recently, I was counseling a perspective groom and asked about his goals. He told me he wanted to be a mechanic and work on cars. I asked him what he was doing presently – “driving for Pizza Hut.” Now there is nothing wrong with a Pizza Hut job, but the only car that one will ever be privileged to work on is his own! With a little encouragement, he went to work the next day at a car dealership and I believe shortly they will be sending him to school. Most of us must stop doing what we are doing to ever reach forward toward our goals. Make that choice and run toward your goal.

To get to Thanksgiving, we must “get rolling”! We are talking about only a few weeks and Thanksgiving Day will be here. When we truly want change, we must move forward from where we are presently sitting. When we know we need to stand up and be responsible, or to quit our pity parties, or find our rightful place, or “let it go”, or pursue our goals, we must start today! Enough time and energy has been wasted doing otherwise, so let us determine that we are moving in different directions today! We are changing choices and courses today! We might not be able to buy the turkey just yet, but we can begin gathering the yams and pumpkins!