New Year, Same You?

I know you have heard it. We all have. It’s a New Year, time for a New You. But wait just a minute! Some of us are pretty happy with the old us. We have worked hard to make peace with past struggles, put out our fire breathing dragons, find balance and harmony in a world that is often out of balance.

No, we certainly aren’t perfect or even finished, but we have worked on ourselves. We did not reach the ‘older’ years or even adulthood without finding time, internal strength and personal honesty and integrity to build some contentment, ease, pleasure, satisfaction and yes even fulfillment in our lives, our relationships and even in our faults and struggles.

Life is so about the journey and not the destination. So, all New Years, with their do over’s, resolutions and fresh starts are a gift for certain. They are like a fresh new page waiting for you to write your story. But don’t kid yourself. Some chapters of that story are already written. Knowing yourself, your faults, your strengths and many weaknesses and still finding that happy spot within yourself where it is well and you are too is also a gift.

Maturity brings some acceptance, a sense of self, and a balance of criticism and tolerance of imperfections in ourselves and our others whom we love. And I don’t know about you, but I do not want to have a new me. It took me a long time to accept the old me, to learn how to manage my blemishes and blunders, to find a grudging appreciation with a touch of awe and wonder at just how fearfully and wonderfully and even durably I am made. I am forgiven and have forgiven myself for a multitude of shortcomings, sins and failures, I have survived a surplus of losses, ends and closures, and have triumphed through tragedy and even calamity.

I have memories and blessed forgetfulness of events and happenings both real and perceived and time has softened the edges and blurred the lines of some of the tougher ones. I have scars and marks of crashes and climbs and each one represents either a proud accomplishment or an earned recovery. I have good friends and guardian angels who have added to who I am and gained from our shared journey. So, the old me, while just a sinner forgiven, is pretty great. I think I will keep her one more year at least. I hope to add to her in some new and positive ways, take away some of the fluff and stuff that adds nothing positive to her. And I intend to be grateful and delightedly aware of not only how far I have come but excitedly expectant of just how far I still have to go.
Happy New Year Old Girl!

Some people are ready to put all the Christmas decorations away until next December, but I love Christmas so much that I could celebrate all year long! What a grand celebration of Jesus’ Birthday that we had here at the Chapel. The weather was not good, but the carolers were many and the families we sang to were blessed. We had a great time of fellowship with our new “fire pit” and the hot chocolate. It was an evening to remember! Then we followed it with our annual All-Church Christmas Party. Some of the “white elephant gifts were truly for the record books! Just ask someone who was there and you will discover that we know how to celebrate Jesus’ Birthday!

We appreciate all the cards and gifts that we received, not only from the members of the Chapel, but from several in this community. Now that we have given almost 20 years to this community (it will be on February 8), we know we have become “one of the locals”! It is an honor to have been here for you and we pledge to continue to serve Port O’Connor to the best of our ability until Jesus comes.

We celebrated Pastor Joane’s birthday with cake and ice cream recently. She is surely getting better each year and we love and appreciate her greatly. She not only ministers here, but recently she was at Bloomington ministering to ladies and will be in Houston soon ministering to ministers. Thank you for loving her!

Already this year we have enjoyed the ministry of Hermano Jesse Alderete and Rev. Everett Ruddick. On Wednesday evening, January 21, we will host missionary couple Paul and Joycelyn Gracza. This will only be for one evening and everyone is welcomed to hear this veteran missionary team.

On Saturday, January 17, we will host a memorial service for our dear friend, Jack Webb. We will gather at the Chapel at 2:00 p.m. and there will be a meal to follow. All of Jack and Carolyn’s friends are welcomed.

Friday Night Youth is back in full swing, but due to a special service in El Campo, there will be no FNY on January 23. BUT, be here on January 30, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. for a great time of fun, food and fellowship with the other youth from this community. We sincerely appreciate the work of Julian and Alissa together with Zach and others who are committed to the youth of POC.

Fisherman’s Bible Institute is meeting again after a brief pause for the holidays. Pastor Joane has been teaching James and Hebrews recently and will continue each Tuesday evening from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to the parsonage for this great time of “Investigating God’s Word” at FBI!

If you have not noticed, we have added a special time of “corporate prayer” to our list of services at the Chapel. We gather at 10:00 a.m. for Bible Study; 11:00 a.m. for our Morning Service, and 6:00 p.m. for the Evening Service – but at 5:00 p.m., we gather for corporate prayer each Sunday. Everyone is invited to all these activities. Additionally, we meet on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. for our Midweek Service.

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose goal is to see Jesus exalted in our community. We have opportunities for spiritual growth for those of all ages. You will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel and are urged to, “Come, grow with us”!

The main subject around the Church is this year’s Annual Sweetheart Banquet. This is the twentieth anniversary of this important event in the life of the Church and Port O’Connor. The first Sweetheart Banquet was held in 1995 in the Church Fellowship Hall and our Pastor was Bro. J.V. Helms and we had a very small crowd of 45 people. The Banquet quickly grew in popularity until the Fellowship Hall reached its maximum of 100 for the seated dinner.

For the past 15 years the Annual “SWEETHEART BANQUET” has been a “sell-out” at 200 attendees, which is the maximum for the Community Center.

The various Committees have been busy purchasing decorations, food, and the necessary items for this years BIG EVENT, which will be held in the Community Center on Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available now for $8.00 each.

Our Pastor’s wife, Shirley Martin, has been in the hospital in Victoria for the past ten days with an operation on her digestive tract. Shirley is recovering fine and should be released from Citizen’s Hospital in Victoria any day. The Church has had Shirley Martin in our daily prayers.

This past Sunday the Church was treated with an outstanding sermon by our member, Bro. Herb Reeves, who preached on “Make A Life Plan”. The Choir, led by Bro. Raymond Grant sang a special “Sound The Battle Cry” before the morning message.

Bro. Raymond Grant gave the Children’s Sermon, which was received well by both the Children and Adults.

The Church this year was beautifully decorated for the Christmas Season, both inside and outside. Thanks to Grady Jean Clark and her helpers for the decorations.

See You In Church Sunday.

Kenneth Lee Albrecht, 64, passed away Sunday, Dec. 28, 2104, at his home in Port O’Connor. He was born Nov. 17, 1950 in Gonzales to Welton Albrecht and Sydonia Albrecht. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his son, Christopher Lee Albrecht and wife, Anna Haga Albrecht, of Rockport; four grandchildren, Devin, Caleb, Harley and Ashton Albrecht; siblings, Dale Albrecht (Margie) and Linda Gossett (Rusty) and nephew, Michael Gossett.

Graveside service will be at noon, Saturday, January 24, at Green Lawn Cemetery. A potluck dinner will follow at the VFW Hall.

Joseph Francis Loep, Sr., age 75, passed away December 24, 2014, at his home in Seadrift, Texas, following a long illness. Joe, known as “Spook” to his family and many of his friends, was born October 31, 1939, to Madeline Minnie Ball Loep and James Johnson Loep. Joe was a builder by trade and a woodworker by passion. He also loved the outdoors.

He is survived by his wife Helon Watson Loep; his son Joe Loep, Jr. and daughter-in-law Susan Loep; his daughter Shannon Loep Juarez, and son-in-law Marco Juarez; his grandchildren Courtney Loep, Colby Loep, Trey Loep, Marco Juarez, Jr., and Ella Juarez. Joe and Helon were married August 8, 1964 and celebrated their 50th anniversary this year.

Joe will remain fondly in the memory of all who knew and loved him – and especially by those closest to him: his brother Kenneth Loep, sister-in-law Iris Loep, niece Tracy Loep Kam and her children Stephen Sgarbi and Sarah Sgarbi; his brother-in-law Charles Watson, sister-in-law Rose Watson, nephews Donald Watson and wife Sherry, their children Daniel, Toutan, and Shelby, Barry Watson and wife Rebecca, their children Peter and Parker, several Ball family cousins, and really special friends.

As Joe has requested, a small family service was held at Fairland Cemetery, Marble Falls, Texas.