Pastor’s Message

March 11, 2026 ~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice in having reached the mid-point of the holy season of Lent, and let us be glad for more time to get ourselves ready for what is to come during Holy Week and Easter! Like most of you, we’re iced in today. Let us hold those traveling and those working to get the roads open (and stay open!) following the freezing rain that hit our area overnight in our prayers for safety. And let us be grateful for people who are willing to brave the elements to help us be safe. It may be obvious on a day like this, but if you don’t have an urgent reason to be out-and-about, stay home and enjoy a mug of hot cocoa!

Maybe today is a good day to ponder the state of the world, and to ponder what our individual and collective role(s) might be to make things better. Our prayers for peace around the world are essential, of course, as are our prayers for those involved in active combat on all sides of the various conflicts. But our prayers for those impacted by war, natural disaster, and local strife are equally important. Our prayers for the people of Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Christians in Africa, and other places around the world matter a great deal, as do our prayers for the safety and security of cities and towns around the world who live under threat of terrorist attack. Most of you are probably aware of the attempted bombings in New York City earlier this week, carried out by self-radicalized adherents to ISIS; those misguided persons are deserving of our prayers, as are the law enforcement professionals who responded to the threats. Beyond our earnest prayers, the people living in Southwest Michigan and Indiana need our donations of money and household goods, so that they can get back up on their feet and begin the arduous process of rebuilding their lives. If it seems like the needs are almost overwhelming, it’s because they are; but almost overwhelming is a long way away from absolutely overwhelming. When we turn to God for strength and guidance, “almost” becomes “not at all,” for all things are possible with God. Peace is possible with God, relief is possible with God, love for all is possible with God. As we journey ever closer to Easter, we must never forget that God’s got this, no matter what “this” is. Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to pray without ceasing, listen intently for the voice of God telling us what to do, and keep our eyes open for opportunities to act. All in the name of Jesus Christ, who is with us always.

Blessings, Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell: (734) 502-5969 revgregrc@yahoo.com / revgreggl@yahoo.com revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com ________________________________________________________________________________

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

Pastor’s Message

March 4, 2026 ~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 3, 2026

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice in a touch of warmth and bright sunshine, and let us be glad for at least a little bit of ice melting away from our driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots! Winter still has a way to go, as all veterans of Up North seasons know, but isn’t it nice to have a “sneak peek” of what’s to come?

We’re now two weeks into the holy season of Lent, and to be honest, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of “holy” happening in the world. The United States and Israel have taken strong military action against Iran, Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, the government of Cuba is teetering on the brink of total collapse, and well-organized and funded protests continue in many cities around the United States. Add to that the drama of primary elections, allegations of massive fraud in some states, and the usual “if it bleeds, it leads” pattern of news reporting, and we could not be blamed for asking “where is God” in all of this. To which we steadfastly declare “God is everywhere.” God is present in the Middle East, Ukraine, and in cities across the country. God is present in Cuba and Venezuela, in Africa, in Presque Isle County, and in each of our hearts and homes. The problem is that while God is present, ready, and willing to make all things right, we aren’t consistent in seeking his help. When the world is burning, our focus is often on ourselves and our immediate concerns; God cares about these things, too, but God wants to know that our concerns extend beyond our personal needs. God wants to hear our prayers for others, whether they are in war zones or in a homeless shelter. As we continue our Lenten journeys, let us be expansive in our prayers for peace, joy, hope, and love so that they encompass all of Creation; whether we like all of Creation or not.

Blessings, Karen and Greg

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people 1 Timothy 2:1

Pastor’s Message

February 25, 2026 ~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice in a break from the snowfall, and let us be glad for the (slightly) warmer temperatures that are forecast for the next couple of days, so that we can clean things up a bit! And let us be truly thankful for all those who worked so hard to keep us moving safely. The road crews for the cities and counties deserve our thanks and praise for all their hard work, as do the men and women with snowplows and snowblowers who helped so many of us out over the past several days!

We are now fully into the season of Lent, and so we’re going to ask; how are you doing with the early days of reflection and preparation? What steps have you taken to sharpen your focus on the Divine? If you’re still sorting things out, that’s perfectly fine – it can take a bit of time to put a plan into place. But please do consider putting a plan into place for these forty days that we have been blessed with. Lent is a rare opportunity to think deeply and to pray earnestly about the way we’re approaching our faith, and to seek guidance for ways to make changes so that you can draw closer to God and walk more consistently with Jesus Christ. We don’t often get such a precious gift, and it would be a shame to waste it. If you’re well into your Lenten practice(s), that’s great! We wish you all success! If you’re still planning, we wish you all success! Blessings in this holy season of Lent; may these days bring great joy, great learning, and great growth in your faith!

Blessings, Karen and Greg

Because we are united with Christ, we can come near to God. We are not afraid to do that. We can be sure that God will accept us, because we trust in Christ. Ephesians 3:12

Pastor’s Message

February 18, 2026 ~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

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 season of the church year and let us be glad for the opportunities it will present us with! In spite of the severe weather conditions in Northern Michigan, which have sadly forced us to cancel today’s Ash Wednesday services out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of those who would have to travel, the fact of the matter is that today marks the beginning of the Lenten season; a profoundly important time in the lives of believers. As we ready ourselves for this time of reflection and preparation, let us hold in our prayers all those who are working hard to clear away the snow and ice from our roadways, and also let us hold in our prayers the first responders who will brave the harshest elements to serve those in need; they are the true heroes amongst us.

We would like to offer our sincere thanks to you, our beloved congregations, for making it possible for us to have checked off a “bucket list” trip, and we thank you for your prayers for our safety as we traveled. As great as it is to explore new places, it is even better to be back home with those whom we love.

Today is a special day in the life of the church; Ash Wednesday (even though we can’t worship together) starts the holy season of Lent. We are asked to look inward today, to examine our hearts and souls to identify those things about ourselves that aren’t always pleasing to God, and that aren’t always pleasing to us. Ash Wednesday invites us to confess our weaknesses, and to ask for forgiveness and guidance in the days that follow, so that we can be better vessels of the Holy Spirit. We seek to be prepared to serve in whatever capacity Almighty God call us to. We bear the mark of ashes today as an outward symbol of inward struggle; struggle against complacency, against the idolatry of our age, against taking the easy way through life instead of the right way – which is at times challenging, but which is always rewarding. We bear the mark of ashes as a reminder that “from dust you came, and to dust you shall return,” and we bear the mark of ashes as a sign that the only Son of God went to the cross for our sake; which reminds us that we are of enormous value, because we are loved by the Most High God. We bear the mark of ashes today as a sign of penitence, but also as a sign of hope that we can rise from the ashes of sin and shortcomings to stand side-by-side as brothers and sisters in service of Christ and to change the world for the better. Let the holy season of Lent change you this year, starting with the mark of ashes and going on to the mark of glory that is ours to claim on Easter Sunday.

Blessings, Karen and Greg

You are dust, and to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:19

Pastor’s Message

January 21, 2026 ~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

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 calmness of the days of the season after the Epiphany, and let us be glad for the season of Lent that is drawing ever-closer! Sooner than we think, we’ll be gathering to worship on Ash Wednesday to begin the 40-day (Sundays are not included in Lenten observations) period of preparation. In the meantime, we a few more weeks to enjoy a less-structured faith walk!

With the bitter cold temperatures we’re experiencing in Presque Isle County, turmoil around the world and here in our country, and dreams of warm and sunny climes for some of us, it’s probably a good thing to have several days to take stock of where things stand in our lives. Certainly, we’re all praying for peace everywhere, certainly we’re all praying for good health, certainly we’re all praying for the hope, peace, joy, and love that was so prominent during Advent and Christmas to transform our world; but are we praying for God’s guidance, both for ourselves and for others? Let’s be honest, shall we? Without God’s guidance, it’s highly unlikely that the messes we human beings have created are going to be cleaned up; this is not a political statement, it’s merely an observation. Maybe, just maybe, if we all stop shouting at each other, if we all stop blaming the “other guys” and turned to the Triune God for guidance, we might start having conversations instead of arguments. And from those conversations will come creative solutions, and from those creative solutions will come the peace and prosperity that we seek. It’s worth a try, isn’t it?

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell: (734) 502-5969
revgregrc@yahoo.com / revgreggl@yahoo.com
revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14

Pastor’s Message

January 19, 2026 ~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

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 warmth of our homes, and let us be glad for the hard-working crews that clear our roads so we can get around in safety! As we write today’s message, it’s a balmy 15 degrees, with a -9-wind chill, and we’re under a Winter Weather Advisory; our heartfelt recommendation is to snuggle in and stay put! If you do have to go out, please, PLEASE be careful!

If you choose to take our advice to snuggle in for the day, let us further recommend a nice mug of hot cocoa, a cozy blanket, and a good book to read; and the Good Book, as in the Holy Bible, is a great choice! We’re not suggesting that you try to read all 66 books of the Bible in one sitting, or even one entire book (unless it’s one of the shorter ones), but if it’s been a while since you dedicated some time to reading scripture, now is a great time to start! It doesn’t matter in the least which book you choose, just grab your Bible and see where you’re led! As we read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Not that any of you are in need of rebuking or correcting, but all of us can benefit from all the teaching and training we can get! So, take advantage of a “stay-in” kind of day, and see what the Bible has to share with you!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell: (734) 502-5969
revgregrc@yahoo.com / revgreggl@yahoo.com
revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

Pastor’s Message

January 7, 2026 ~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Blessings,

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice in the New Year, and let us be glad for the delights that await us in 2026! We’ve entered into a new, and short, season of the church year, with our observance of the Epiphany of the Lord yesterday (Tuesday). By tradition, the Magi arrived at Bethlehem to pay homage to the Christ Child, and to be the first Gentile witnesses to the arrival of the Messiah. There’s quite a lot of debate about just when they arrived from the East, but that debate doesn’t change the significance of their role in the evolution of our faith tradition.

We hope that your Christmas and New Year’s celebrations were full of joy and love; it’s hard to believe that after all the build-up, preparation, and planning that the holidays have come to an end. After you’ve all taken a well-deserved nap, we invite you to join us in making a commitment to keep the hope, peace, joy, and love of the season that has just ended alive throughout the year that is to come. To borrow a line from Ebenezer Scrooge, “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” Let this be our pledge for the new year, and for every new year yet to come, that we will keep the spirit of Christmas alive; because if we do so, the light of Christ will never go out, no matter how hard some might try to put it out.

Blessings on the new year to each of you, we look forward to sharing the journey with you! Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell: (734) 502-5969 revgregrc@yahoo.com / revgreggl@yahoo.com revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

“I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20

Pastor’s Message

December 31, 2025 ~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

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 coming New Year and let us be glad for the opportunity to celebrate the year that was and the year that is to be! And for one last time (until next Advent), let us rejoice in a hearty Merry Christmas, as the Season of Christmas is with us until January 6th, the Day of Epiphany. If you haven’t started taking down your Christmas decorations, DON’T!! Enjoy them for a while longer!

The end of one year and the beginning of another is a special time, a time of reflection and a time of expectation. Each year brings with it ups and downs, but each year also brings with it beloved traditions and routines. And each year is a gift to be cherished, even amidst the inevitable downs, because each year is from God, of God, and designed by God for we, his children, to learn and grow. Lots of people make New Year’s resolutions, sometimes resulting from serious introspection, sometimes as a “throw away” line at parties; often, resolutions last a matter of days or weeks, but allow us to make a humble suggestion for the year that is to be, the Year of Our Lord 2026. Resolve to know God better in the coming year. Every day, make a point of sitting quietly in a favorite place and listening for the still, small voice of God speaking to you. Mark it on your calendar as a reminder if you must, but our experience has been that after a few days of intentional focus on this resolution, you’ll be so delighted in what you hear that you’ll no longer need reminders; you’ll jealously guard those precious moments of oneness with The Almighty. You’ll look forward to that quiet time, and treasure the peace and joy that will be yours. Merry Christmas to all, and a very Happy New Year! We look forward to sharing 2026 with you!!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell: (734) 502-5969 revgregrc@yahoo.com / revgreggl@yahoo.com revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:3

Pastor’s Message

December 29, 2025 ~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Greetings in Christ!
Merry Christmas!! This is the grand and glorious day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be
glad in it! Christ is born this day in the city of David, the light of God is amongst us to guide us in the
way we should go, and everything is different! What an incredible day this is as we welcome
Emmanuel, God with us, into the world!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a great day of joy, fellowship, peace, hope, and above all else, love.
After four weeks of preparation, planning, patience (at least for some…), the day has arrived; it’s
Christmas! We look forward to sharing this special day with as many of you as possible, at one of our
candlelight worship services (4:30 at the Grand Lake Community Chapel, 7:00 at Westminster
Presbyterian Church), or joining us on-line if you can’t make it to one of the services. One of our
favorite services of the year, the warm glow of candles and the even warmer glow of love permeate
the sanctuaries as we welcome Jesus Christ into the world. We’d like to take this opportunity to send
our warmest, most joyous greetings to each and every one of you. Of all the joys we’ve known in our
lives, nothing has been more joyful or more fulfilling than serving you as co-pastors. This is our
eleventh Christmas celebration in Presque Isle County, and every year it seems as if our love for all
of you, and this magical place we call home, grows stronger and deeper. Thank you for allowing us
to share this journey with you! With unbridled happiness, we wish you a joyous and meaningful Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Blessings,
Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell: (734) 502-5969
revgregrc@yahoo.com / revgreggl@yahoo.com
revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his
shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Pastor’s Message

December 21, 2025 ~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice in Christmas Day being only eight days away, and let us be glad for those eight days to deal with any last-minute tasks. Whether it is a gift or two we still need to get, or special treats to prepare, it’s good that we have just a few more days to take care of holiday business before the holiday actually arrives! And let us be glad for a bit of a warm-up outside, so some of the accumulated snow and ice can melt away making our travels more convenient, and most importantly, safer!

These last few days of the Advent season can easily become so packed with activities, and so filled with anxiety over what’s left to be done, that we can lose the whole season to the last-minute scrambles; and that would be a tragedy. All of our preparations, both spiritual and secular, have led us to the cusp of Christmas, with all of the hope, peace, joy, and love that the season embodies. We urge you to not lose the gifts of the season to a quest for one last gift, or one more plate of cookies. Those things that are truly important will be taken care of in due time; maybe this is a good time to remind you that Christmas isn’t a one-day event, but a twelve-day season of celebration. So, if you feel as if you’ve run out of time, you haven’t! Embrace these last days of Advent, and make the upcoming birth of Jesus the Christ be the focus of all that you do!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell: (734) 502-5969
revgregrc@yahoo.com / revgreggl@yahoo.com
revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” Psalm 34:1