Beach Treasures. Island In The Son United Methodist Church. Captain Eddie. Page 1. May 2012

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1 Island In The Son United Methodist Church Beach Treasures May 2012 Page 1 Captain Eddie Paul Harvey told this in 1977 as part of his The Rest of the Story radio program. It is gratitude that prompted an old man to visit an old broken pier on the eastern seacoast of Florida. Every Friday night, until his death in 1973, he would return, walking slowly and slightly stooped with a large bucket of shrimp. The sea gulls would flock to this old man, and he would feed them from his bucket. Diane Gierhan Sarah & Lisa Langford, Kay Plut Many years before, in October 1942, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker was on a mission in a B-17 to deliver an important message to General Douglas MacArthur in New Guinea. But there was an unexpected detour which would hurl Captain Eddie into the most harrowing adventure of his life. Somewhere over the South Pacific the Flying Fortress became lost beyond the reach of radio. Fuel ran dangerously low, so the men ditched their plane in the ocean. For nearly a month Captain Eddie and his companions would fight the water, and the weather, and the scorching sun. They spent many sleepless nights recoiling as giant sharks rammed their rafts. The largest raft was nine by five. The biggest shark ten feet long. But of all their enemies at sea, one proved most formidable: starvation. Eight days out, their rations were long gone or destroyed by the salt water. It would take a miracle to sustain them. And a miracle occurred. In Captain Eddie s own words, Cherry, (that was the B-17 pilot, Captain William Cherry) read the service that afternoon, and we finished with a prayer for deliverance and a hymn of praise. There was some talk, but it tapered off in the oppressive heat. With my hat pulled down over my eyes to keep out some of the glare, I dozed off. Something landed on my head. - continued on page 2 - John Burnette & Steve Black Sharon Ustianowski Stan Gierhan John & Pam Burnette Steve & Missy Trubatisky Thanks again to all the volunteers who helped with this event, especially Kay Plut who serves as our Adopt-A-Highway coordinator. Thanks also to Betty Workman for providing these pictures!

2 Page 2 - Ken s Sonbeams continued from page 1 - I knew that it was a sea gull. I don t know how I knew, I just knew. Everyone else knew too. No one said a word, but peering out from under my hat brim without moving my head, I could see the expression on their faces. They were staring at that gull. The gull meant food if I could catch it. And the rest, as they say, is history. Captain Eddie caught the gull. Its flesh was eaten. Its intestines were used for bait to catch fish. The survivors were sustained and their hopes renewed because a lone sea gull, uncharacteristically hundreds of miles from land, offered itself as a sacrifice. You know that Captain Eddie made it. And now you also know that he never forgot. Because every Friday evening, about sunset on a lonely stretch along the eastern Florida seacoast you could see an old man walking white-haired, bushy eye-browed, slightly bent. His bucket filled with shrimp was to feed the gulls to remember that one which, on a day long past, gave itself without a struggle like manna in the wilderness. Keep the Son in your eyes, Ken LEADERSHIP TEAM MEETING TUESDAY ~ MAY 8, :00 PM Please send a representative of your team or area if you are unable to attend. United Methodist Women Next Meeting: 11 AM ~ Wednesday, May 9, 2012 Annual Spring Luncheon Please note TIME CHANGE! United Methodist Women will meet at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, May 9 for the last meeting before summer, the annual spring luncheon. Members are asked to bring a salad, main dish or dessert, and, if they like, their own table service. All women of the church are invited to attend. This is Secret Sister disclosure day. For our thank offering all are asked to bring a dime for each can of food found in her pantry. Methodist Men s Fellowship Breakfast SATURDAY, MAY 19 8:00 AM at Island in the Son UMC! Steve Black will give the devotional. RSVP to Ed Puzig at what you would like to bring for the breakfast. We can pray that the talented Dueling Guitars from Flour Bluff will entertain us again - be prepared to sing if they show up! Pictured at right are some of the members of the Experiencing God Bible study that began on January 8 and continued through Palm Sunday. (Not pictured: John and Shirley Forrester, Bruce and Nancy Benson, and Nancy Appel.) Pictured above, back row (left to right): Stan Gierhan, Rev. Ken Houston, Donna Satterwhite, John Burnette, Pam Burnette, Lynn Houston; front row (left to right): Aurora Thorsen, Diane Gierhan, Judy Murray, Kay Plut, Betty Workman, Ed Puzig, Carol Eckles.

3 Insert A Join us in the Beach Cleanup Program WHY: We are called to be good stewards of God s creation. WHAT: An Island in the Son UMC-sponsored, on-going beach and dune cleanup program. WHERE: The beach at Padre Balli Park, Access Road 4 to Access Road 6. HOW: On an on-going basis as we walk the beach - no set schedules, but maybe 1 or 2 large-scale pickups per year. BENEFITS: Individuals get the opportunity to exercise, socialize, and pray for others; IITS becomes known in the community in a positive service light. COST: No monetary cost to the church - trash bags will be provided by the Park Service. NEEDS: Beach cleanup volunteers, speakers for the program, and encouraging supporters! Sign up at the Opportunities Table! Contact Diane Gierhan for more information. ISLAND IN THE SON AT THE MOVIES! 3rd Friday of the month: May 18 Show time: 7:15 PM AT THE CHURCH NOW SHOWING: The secrets of jonathan sperry This is an inspiring film for viewers of all ages. Best buddies Dustin, Albert, and Mark are twelve year old boys looking forward to a summer of fun in When Dustin mows the lawn of seventy-five year old Jonathan Sperry, a man he has seen at church, a unique friendship develops. What happens the rest of this summer is something Dustin and his friends will never forget! We provide popcorn & soda - BYOC (bring your own candy). Sponsored by the Education Team Karl Harvey, Chair MAY Happy Birthday! to: 4... David Frank 5... Lloyd Korhonen 6... Estella Curtis Steve Trubatisky Bonnie Cox Patty Baker Lowell Thomas Dottie Brumit Tommy Cargile Eva Marie Settle Kay Schroeder Betty Thomas Sandy Harvey Gerry Cargile JoAnn Sanderson Happy Anniversary! to: George & Pam Schaffer Don t see your special day mentioned here? It just means we don t have it on record. Please let us know the date so we can update our database. LUNCH BUNCH will gather on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, May 8, at 1 PM at Island Italian Restaurant (15370 Park Road 22). We hope to see YOU there! Sign-up at the Opportunities table. Make a Date with the Dinner Bunch! The DINNER BUNCH will have their monthly get-together on the 4th Tuesday of the month, May 22, 6:30 PM, at Scuttlebutt s Bar & Grill (14254 SPID, Ste 311, in the Loma Alta Plaza across from Island Baptist Church.) All are invited to this time of food and fellowship! A sign-up sheet will be available mid-month on the Opportunities table.

4 Insert B Children s Sunday School Class - 9 AM 1st - 5th grade Island in the Son UMC Team meeting dates and times are based on information available at printing time. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Beachcombers 1 Prayer 2 Timons 3 4 Timons 5 Funeral service at IITS, 1 PM 6 9 AM Small Groups Kairos #33 for Christ Youth (Grade 6-12) Sunday School Class 9 AM TRUSTEES 6 PM 7 8 Prayer Lunch Bunch 1 PM (Island Italian) LEADERSHIP 6 PM AP/Payroll Cks 9 UMW 11 AM Spring Luncheon Timons SPRC 6 PM Al-Anon 7 PM 10 PIBA Monthly Luncheon Kairos #33 - McConnell Unit 11 Timons AM Small Groups Prayer 16 Timons AP/Payroll Cks Timons MOVIE IITS Showtime at 7:15 PM Methodist 19 8:00 AM 20 9 AM Small Groups & covered dish lunch Prayer Dinner Bunch 6:30 PM (Scuttlebutt s - on the Island in the Loma Alta plaza) 23 Timons Timons AM Small Groups 28 Church Office Closed 29 Prayer 30 Timons AP/Payroll Cks 31 Congratulations all Grads! THURSDAYS, 7-8:00 PM Facilitated by Cynthia Riewe The first names listed are greeters and the second names are clean up. You may trade with other greeters, or if you need a substitute or have questions, please contact Marge Foster at May 6: Karen Poynter & Joyce Tagliaferro Jean & Sara Schey May 13: Pam Burnette & Donna Satterwhite Bruce & Nancy Benson May 20: Mike & Patty Baker Cheri Tomscha & Marlys Gonzalez May 27: Steve Black & Theresa Sharpe Brent Curtis & Estella Curtis

5 Page 3 Join us at Island in the Son for an EMMAUS SUNDAY GATHERING 10:00 AM ~ May 20, 2012 followed by a covered dish lunch Celebrating the Walk to Emmaus, Journey to Damascus & Chrysalis Communities IITS Health Watch Our health report for FOR MARCH 2012 Prayers: We celebrated many answered prayers and joys in worship including safe travels, new great-grandchildren, birthdays, improving and return to health, weddings/ newlyweds, needs met by the grace of God, future grandchildren, visits from family and friends, Texas Independence Day, and healthy newborn babies. Presence: March average attendance: Worship 147 Sunday School 25 Gifts: February YTD Received $ 22,480 $ 60,860 Expenses $ 17,605 $ 49,803 Net income $ 4,875 $ 11,057 Building Loan Payment (YTD): $ 5,565 Loan Principal Balance: $139,240 Total donations designated for building loan payoff (YTD): $ 16,421 % Apportionments paid (YTD): 5% % Apportionments on hold (YTD): 24% Service: Lunch service to Timon s ministries; highway trash cleanup; congregational care. We received the following note in the mail. Our thanks as well go to the thoughtful person who left the prayer bear for her. Patty Baker and Nina Young delivered over 25 tied fleece blankets to nursing home residents on April 18th. The blankets were made by members of the IITS United Methodist Women, with several sponsored by IITS members. Dear friends, On the one-month anniversary of my beloved husband s death I came home from working at the Helping Hands Food Pantry to find a Prayer Bear at my front door. What a moment of joy it brought me! I have no idea who left it. They have my heartfelt thanks for the lift it gave my spirits. Perhaps you know who left it and can give them my thanks. Gratefully, Jo Lang (wife of Edward)

6 Island in the Son United Methodist Church Highway 361 Corpus Christi, Texas (361) Website... Office Hours.. Monday-Thursday, 9 AM 2 PM Ministers... All Members of the Congregation Pastor... Rev. Ken Houston Bookkeeper... Annette Chapman Administrative Assistant.. Connie Harris Maintenance... George Costanzo SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE Celebration Worship Service at 10 AM Sunday School/Small Groups at 9 AM The Beach Treasures monthly newsletter is ED to the majority of our recipients. To be added to the list or to get a mailed copy, please call the church office. Thank you for helping us save resources and the environment. Page 4 May 6... The Illuminated Scripture... 1 John 4:7-21 May The Coaching Voice... John 15: May Emmaus Sunday & Covered Dish Lunch May Highly Charged... John 15:26 The mission of Island in the Son UMC is to be a place where all can come to meet, know, and serve Jesus Christ.