Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice that our celebration of the birth of our Savior is only three days away, and let us be glad that we have three days available to deal with the inevitable last-minute details of our preparations!  It’s remarkable to us how quickly Christmas has come upon us, especially when we remember how it seemed to take forever to arrive when we were children.  And yet we have the same sense of joyful anticipation and delight at what is about to come into our lives, and we’re not talkin’ about piles of presents under the tree and over-stuffed stockings hung on the mantle.

We’re talking about the birth of the Son of God, and all the incredible blessings that will flow from his arrival.  We’re talking about the promise of new life, a new relationship with God, the forgiveness of our sins, and the promise of eternal life in Heaven when our earthly days come to an end.  And yes, we’re talking about beautiful sanctuaries, and glorious music, and the priceless gift of fellowship.  Let us never forget that love comes down at Christmas, and that the love of God made manifest in a little baby is ours to share with all whom we meet.  As we meet this holiday season, we urge you to be cautious, as the pandemic has chosen to hang around for another year; at our worship gatherings on Christmas Eve, we ask that you be respectful of fellow worshippers and maintain a polite distance, and to sing your favorite hymns and carols at a somewhat lower volume.  Please consider wearing a face covering if you’re able to do so as you enter and exit the sanctuary.  In spite of the issues plaguing our nation and our world, we still say Merry Christmas to all!!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, December 15, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in being only 10 days away from celebrating the birth of our Lord, and let us be glad that we have 10 days left to get everything ready!  As seems to be the case every year, no matter how well we plan and how hard we try, we’re never as ready as we’d like to be; there’s always one more gift to find, more wrapping to be done, and one or two decorations that haven’t been put in place.  On top of that, there are cookies to bake and meals to plan!  And yet Christmas Day will arrive on December 25th, whether we’re ready or not, so all we can do is all we can do, and trust that it will be enough.  Whatever doesn’t get done wasn’t that important anyway! What is important is readying ourselves for meeting our Savior, both at the manger and upon his return.

We cannot overlook the tragedy that befell our neighbors to the south, as devastating tornadoes ripped through parts of Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee, Kentucky was particularly hard-hit.  There are several opportunities to lend financial support, and all of us can offer the most powerful tool of them all – our prayers.  We know that these are busy days, and we also understand that the holidays can stretch our finances to the limit, and so we humbly ask that you make time to pray for those impacted by the storms, and make a financial gift to help ease the suffering if at all possible.  Thank you.

And let us remember that no matter what befalls us, or those around us; we are loved by Almighty God, who wants only good things for us and is present for us in every event in our lives – the good and the bad and the ugly.

Blessings,
Karen and Greg

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, December 5, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in the fresh blanket of snow covering the ground, and let us be glad that the county and city crews have done a fine job of keeping most of the roads clear!  This morning dawned clear and cold, with the sun reflecting off the new-fallen snow, brightening the early morning and inviting us to enjoy this day that God has given us to continue our Advent preparations.

How are your preparations coming along?  Are at least some of the treasured decorations in place, and has a bit of the holiday shopping been taken care of?  Is the Christmas breakfast menu settled?  Have you reflected on what this season, and the season to follow, really means?  Yep, there we go again, being all “churchy” in the run-up to Christmas!  While it is most certainly a cliché of the first order, the reason for the season we’re in is being fully ready for the birth of our Lord and Savior, and the reason for the season that is to follow is the very same; Jesus.  Almost everyone delights in the sights, sounds, and smells of the holidays, but as Christians, we should all delight in the upcoming celebration of the birth of Christ far more than we delight in the cookies and tinsel and gifts.  That’s not to say that we shouldn’t revel in the more secular trappings of the holidays; it’s just that our primary focus should be on a newborn babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  Our joy is made complete in knowing that our Savior is born in Bethlehem, not in the latest cool gadget in our stocking hung on the mantle.  Let us rejoice at his birth, and be glad that we are free to celebrate with our loved ones!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 

    

     From the Desk of

TOBY THE CHURCH DOG
      December 2021

Hello dear friends!

I love this season of the year; don’t you?!!  I love playing in the snow near Mary, Jesus, and Joseph.  I love those ornaments on the trees that shake and shimmy alluringly, but that I am NOT supposed to touch. I love the baked goods being prepared in my kitchen that sometimes fall to the floor. (Or get very close to the edge of the counter!) And, as always, I love being with my people.   

During Advent, we prepare for Christmas and to receive Christ into our lives, and we are mindful of how richly we have been blessed by God.  A great joy in my life comes in understanding that I can give to others from those very blessings I have received.  What joy I find in giving!  How close to God I feel when I am sharing love!

As you know, I treasure my time with my toy and best friend, Bob. We have such fun together; but I’ve learned that it is even more meaningful when I offer my beloved friend to others so they can enjoy him too.  I know you understand the depth of the sacrifice I am making with this gift, but in sharing I also share my love.   Like all things done with God, this gift of mine often becomes transformed into something greater in the process.  When I place my Bob at the feet of another, nine times out of ten that person will throw Bob for me to fetch.  Pretty soon, that person is not just enjoying Bob’s company, but mine too!  And, this togetherness blesses me as well!

 

Many people think that a doggie like me doesn’t have much to offer.  My answer to them is that I may not have many things to give, but I always can give of myself.  Don’t underestimate how much comfort and joy can be created when one offers just his presence.  When I see someone in need, I will quietly slide in next to that person; just offering the presence of my body leaning into theirs. Often, an arm will reach out to hold me, or to stroke my fur.  And, my world improves with this ministry of presence too!  

Christmas is about God’s love being showered upon us in the form of that baby in a manger, Jesus Christ.  During advent, we prepare to meet Jesus when he comes again, and we practice loving others as Christ taught us to love.  There is no finer a gift to share this Christmas.  If this doggie can find something meaningful to share with others, anyone can!  Happy Advent and Merry Christmas!  

With love from your Church Dog,
TOBY

Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  Luke 6:38

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from 

Grand Lake Community Chapel 

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 

Greetings in Christ! 

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice in the beginning of a new  month, and let us be glad that we are now fully into the Season of Advent! Day by day, week by week, we’re  getting closer to the joyous day of Christmas. We should rejoice that we still have time to make our spiritual  preparations, and be glad that we still have time to make our homes ready for the holidays (assuming you’re  not one of those uber-prepared folks who had everything done right after Halloween!). 

We can’t emphasize this enough; Advent is a gift. It is not something to wish away, something to rush  through, or something to ignore. Advent gives us the time and space necessary to get ourselves truly, fully  ready to celebrate the birth of Christ. Wouldn’t it be nice to arrive at Christmas morning with nothing left  undone? All the gifts wrapped and placed perfectly under a perfectly-decorated tree, special treats perfectly  arrayed on perfect holiday plates, warm beverages perfectly poured into perfect Christmas mugs, and hearts  freed from worry and dark thoughts. What a grand vision! A grand vision that will take time to realize,  especially hearts freed from worry; Advent gives us the necessary time to work at releasing our worries, to  purge negativity from our minds, and to cleanse our spirits of doubt and fear. Embrace these four weeks of  Advent; treasure this gift, and take full advantage of it, so that you will awake on Christmas morn ready to  truly celebrate the greatest gift of all – the Newborn King! 

Blessings, 

Karen and Greg 

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust.  Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.  Psalm 143:8

Wishing you joy and peace in your day! Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, November 24, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice that we will be celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow, and let us be glad for all the blessings of the day that we will be able to enjoy.  And let us also rejoice that holiday feasts are by their very definition guilt-free dining extravaganzas!!  The diet can wait until next week!

There are so many things to be thankful for, every day of our lives, but especially at this time of the year as we enter into the holiday season: gatherings with loved ones, the festive atmosphere, the afore-mentioned good food and treats, and the freedoms we enjoy in this country.  But above all else, we can be thankful for the incomparable gifts that our loving God bestows upon us.  Among these gifts are his love, his guidance, his patience, his forgiveness, and above all, his Son.  This coming Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of our four-week journey to the manger in Bethlehem.  We urge you to savor this time of joyful preparation and anticipation of the birth of our Savior; don’t allow yourselves to miss the little delights that will come your way as this season progresses – the joy of receiving a card from an old friend, a phone call from a loved one far away, and even finding the perfect gift for one dear to you.  Relish the lighting of each candle on the Advent wreath, and reflect on their meaning.  And remember, God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

O sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth. Psalm 96:1

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, November 10, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in bright sunshine and clear skies, and let us be glad that the predicted gale-force winds aren’t scheduled to arrive until the early morning hours of Thursday!  Look at it this way; if you’ve got leaves in the yard that need to be removed, wait a couple of days to see if God takes care of that for you!  That’s your pastor’s plan!!

There’s always some risk that your neighbor’s leaves will blow into your yard, and that you’ll then have to clean up somebody else’s mess.  And that applies to many other aspects of life in a community, if you think about it for a minute; one of the truly wonderful features of being a part of a larger community is that there’s a built-in support crew for whatever it is you might be facing.  During the pandemic, we’ve rallied around each other, in spite of lockdowns and social distancing requirements, and helped out with transportation, meals, deliveries of needed items, and making use of technology to reach out to others.  On a somewhat larger scale, many countries around the world shared information and the results of research into treatments and preventatives for COVID-19, quickening the development of vaccines.  Locally, police and fire departments have mutual assistance agreements to render aid when a department is overwhelmed.  And we, as members of a community of faith, help one another in times of trial, offering our prayers and our presence to those in need, in addition to other forms of support.  It’s what we’re called to as Christians, and it’s one of the true blessings of our faith.  The opportunity to be the hands and face of Christ to one in need, of being God’s voice to those in peril, is an incomparable gift to the recipients.  And to the givers.

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Fellowship,-Among-Believers

Congratulations to Barb and Skip Belz!!!
-They were married at The Chapel on Saturday, November 6^th–

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, November 3, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  OK, rejoicing and being glad might be a bit tougher today with snow on the ground and sub-freezing wind chills, but still we can rejoice in the beautiful vista of new-fallen snow on the trees, and be glad that most of us only got a light dusting of snow this morning (unlike our friends over in Gaylord, who got over a foot…)  Let’s look at it this way; the snow will be gone tomorrow, and we’ve been given a “head’s up” on what’s to come!  God is good!

On a more serious note, Monday was All Saints’ Day, a day which the church sets aside to remember all those who have gone on before us into the Church Triumphant.  Not one among us hasn’t known the sting of loss when someone dear to us has let loose the bonds of Earth, yet All Saints’ isn’t intended to be morose; it is a day to celebrate!  Celebrate the lives of those whom we loved, and who loved us; celebrate the happy memories we associate with those whose physical presence is no longer with us; celebrate those lessons we learned from those dear to us.  All Saints’ Day is a gift, a gift of joyful remembrance as we await the day when we will be reunited with all the saints in the Kingdom of Heaven, especially those many special saints who touched our lives.  This week, take time to remember; take time to celebrate and take time to remember that we are ever surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, loving us in ways we cannot yet fully understand.  And remember, snow or not, all the time, God is good!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 27, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice that as October morphs into November, the only things falling on the ground are leaves and a bit of rain, and let us be glad that we have a little more time to get ready for the inevitable snowfalls.  And let us pray fervently that by mentioning the “s” word, we haven’t inadvertently invited an early winter storm to visit Presque Isle County!

As we prepare to greet the month of November, with its several holidays (and most likely a bit of that white stuff on the ground before the end of the month…), let us take some time to reflect on what the first ten months of 2021 has brought us, and what the remaining two months might hold; we’ve seen great progress in combating the COVID-19 virus, and while it’s still with us, the virus isn’t keeping us locked in our homes any longer.  We’ve been able to resume many of our activities, and can reasonably look forward to enjoying the upcoming holidays more-or-less as we choose.  Praise be to God!  Looking forward, we’re about to enter into a holiday-dense period, filled with gatherings and special events that will warm our hearts and fill our spirits; let’s make sure that we’re fully prepared for what is to come, as we give thanks for the blessings of life on November 25^th, and then as we usher in the Season of Advent on the 28^th.  While life may not be exactly as we would wish it to be, we all have much to be thankful for, much to look forward to, and much to sing praises to the Almighty for!

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Proverbs 22:9

You are invited to join us for this
four week Bible Study

God Does His Best Work With Empty
By Nancy Guthrie

We are meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays, November 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th in the Grand Lake Community Chapel fellowship hall. We will begin with a video presentation followed by a discussion. 

-All are Welcome

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 20, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in one more bright, sunshiny, and relatively warm mid-October day, and let us be glad that the weather forecasters have given us fair warning about the changes coming our way.  Nothing to shovel, yet; but certainly cooler and wetter days are ahead.  And that’s to be expected in autumn Up North!

While the weather is changing to what some might call more “normal” for this time of year and almost every day we learn of a new development or advancement in science and technology; it’s good to remember that some things never change, and never will.  Of course, we’re talking about the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.  In a world of continuous change (some of it good, some of it not so good), isn’t it nice to know that those things we hold most dear are unchanging and unchangeable?  Knowing that from your first cup of morning coffee to your last snack before going to bed, the Triune God is surrounding you, protecting you, and guiding you, brings such incredible joy and confidence into our lives.  This is something to be truly thankful for!

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

God Does His Best Work With Empty
By Nancy Guthrie

You are invited to join us for this
four week Bible Study

We are meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays, October 27^th and November 3^rd, 10^th, and 17^th in the Grand Lake Community Chapel fellowship hall. We will begin with a video presentation followed by a discussion.

-All are Welcome-

Wishing you joy and peace in your day! Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 13, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Let us rejoice in the ongoing moderate weather, and let us be glad for a little more time to get ourselves ready for the inevitable switch to a more normal autumn!  And let us further rejoice and be glad that tomorrow, October 14th, is National Dessert Day!  We can only imagine the scrumptious treats that will emerge from bakeries, confectioners, and home kitchens tomorrow; maybe for one day, we can set aside our dietary disciplines and indulge.  Hey, it’s only once a year, right??

One discipline we’d encourage you to not set aside is your daily conversation(s) with God; in other words, the discipline of prayer.  Prayer is an incredibly powerful thing; something that any of us who have experienced the amazing feeling of blessed assurance that washes over us after (and during) a heartfelt time of prayer cherish.  We need only think back to our prayer time during worship, when our fellow worshippers share stories of answered prayer, to be reminded that God listens, God hears, and God answers.  Sometimes God’s answer is “no,” sometimes his answer is “not now,” and sometimes his answer is “not what you want, but what I want;” and of course, sometimes his answer is “yes, absolutely!”  But regardless the answer, it is the right one, whether we like it or not; our task, as people of faith, is to accept God’s answer and trust that all will be well.  Many of us have an expectation that God will give us whatever it is we ask for, and are disappointed (if not downright angry) if we don’t get exactly what we say we want; forgetting that God is also known as “God the Father Almighty.”  Just as our earthly parents sometimes rejected our pleas, our Heavenly Father will as well; and just as was the case with our earthly parents, Father always knows best!  Because God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good!

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:8

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.