Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

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 day to thank and honor those who have served in the Armed Forces, and let us be glad that there are men and women willing to set aside the relative ease and comfort of life for a life of service to the nation, even if only for a short time. On this Veteran’s Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada, we urge you to remember all who stepped up to the call to serve, in whatever capacity, something larger than themselves.

While today is about military veterans, let’s not lose sight of the fact that each one of us has been called to serve; it’s a central tenet of our Christian faith. That service takes an infinite number of forms, whether as leaders in a congregation, participants in benevolent work, volunteers in community projects, or as generous contributors to worthy institutions. The list goes on and on, and as we read in Joshua 24:15, we must “Choose this day whom you will serve.” Today is the day to choose service to others, or service to self; service to a great cause, or service to personal goals of wealth, or fame, or power. Today is the day to choose to serve God, and God alone, and to trust and know that if this is your choice, that everything else in your life will drop into its perfect place at its perfect time. Choose to serve God, and prepare to be richly blessed. Choose to serve God, and prepare to know peace and joy. And know this as well; if you stumble after choosing service to God, he will pick you up, dust you off, and send you on your way with renewed energy and zeal.

Blessings, Karen and Greg

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

Choose this day whom you will serve. Joshua 24:15

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice that the elections are over, and let us be glad for (at least) a few days of peace and quiet before we’re inundated with “news” about the next election in 2028. And let us also rejoice and be glad that we’re still not having to deal with snow and ice!

On this, the morning after, many people are joyful, many people are sad and angry, and some people are terrified about what might be coming just over the horizon. We remain a divided country in political terms, roughly 50/50, and so it isn’t unreasonable to expect changes in which political party holds the reins of power from time-to-time. The challenge for people of faith is to accept that sometimes our preferred outcomes don’t happen, and to recognize that those with whom we disagree about politics are not enemies to be crushed in the next election cycle or vanquished foes to lord our victories over in the current one. The pendulum of politics swings wide, and it is a guarantee that it will swing in our favor sometimes, and in opposition to our preferences at others. To quote an authoritative source, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). That’s right, folks; regardless of our political leanings, regardless of which teams we root for, or what brand of vehicles we like; in the church we are all the same. We are all beloved children of God, and sisters and brothers in Christ. We are all called to the same work of kingdom-building; we are all called to employ our diverse gifts and talents to be of service to those in need. There is far too much animosity in the world, far too much rancor, and far too little tolerance and grace; the election is over. Life goes on. The sun came up this morning on the victors and the vanquished alike; for we are all one in Christ Jesus.

Blessings, Karen and Greg

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

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus Galatians 3:28

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice in blue skies and moderate temperatures, and let us be glad for more days to finish the work of transitioning between seasons without battling cold and snow! There’s always so much to do when one season ends and another begins, but there can be great joy in our work as we remember the fun of the season just past, and anticipate the joys of the season to come!

We wish you all a safe and fun-filled Halloween on Saturday if you participate in the festivities that have become so commonplace in recent years. And we hope that you enjoy any candy left over from trick-or-treaters that come to your door!

On a far more serious note, there is an election less than a week away; one week from today, some of us will be elated by the results, some of us will be devastated. Dire predictions of national disaster will be blasting at us from all corners of the media, regardless of which political party enjoys the most electoral success. As citizens of a free nation, one in which the government is designed to be a servant of the people, not the other way around; we have a solemn obligation to go to the polls and cast our ballots for the candidates and initiatives that best reflect our hopes and dreams for the future (or at least for the next two years). Each of us has a slightly different set of hopes and dreams, but just because we may disagree, we will remain fellow citizens of this country. There is no place for hatred or harsh words directed at the ‘other side, and there is certainly no place for violence if we’re unhappy with the way things turn out. The Apostle Paul writes in his Letter to the Romans that we are to obey the civil magistrates and laws, unless they are in opposition to the moral laws of God; let us all keep this sound advice in mind in the post-election period. Those with whom you disagree needn’t be enemies, they remain children of God; just like you are.

Blessings, Karen and Greg

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

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast… it is not self‑seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs 1 Corinthians 13:4–5

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

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 glorious colors of the season, and let us be glad for at least a couple of more weeks to enjoy them! The strong winds of recent days have certainly helped strip some leaves from the trees, but there are still plenty of beautiful colors to marvel at as the autumn season moves along. Grab a light jacket or a sweater, and get out and enjoy!!f

As we write this message, pop-up ads are showing up on the computer urging us to jump on special gift offerings for Christmas so we don’t miss out on the latest must-have items. Let’s set aside the fact that it isn’t yet Halloween, and that there is plenty of time to deal with Christmas preparations (which shouldn’t be focused solely on finding the “perfect gift”), and be reminded that all things happen in God’s perfect time – not on the timeline of profit and loss statements of retailers. Consider the words of Ecclesiastes 3:1: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. This is a time of transition between seasons, not a time for jumping several weeks ahead. This is a time to savor the here-and-now, not a time to fret about what might be over the horizon. This is a time to celebrate the day we have been blessed with, not a time to be fearful of tomorrow. We have been blessed with a great day; live it out fully and deal with tomorrow, tomorrow.

Blessings, Karen and Greg

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

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

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 bright, sunny morning Up North, and let us be glad for the opportunity to maybe get a little of our seasonal outdoor work taken care of without being bundled up in heavy jackets, and without getting drenched by rain! Or, maybe rejoice and be glad in a quiet walk!

One of the daily devotions your pastors shared this morning was titled “divine order.” This isn’t the first time this particular subject has come up, and it’s one that we have always found to be a helpful reminder; while we may have carefully thought-out, detailed plans for our day, sometimes things happen that throws our plans into disarray. When this happens, and it’s inevitable that sometimes it will, we have a choice — stick to our schedules and plans, and drive ourselves (and maybe those around us) nuts trying to “stay the course,” or accept that God might have other plans for us. And his plans are always better than ours. A traffic delay might protect us from an accident up ahead. An unexpected visitor or phone call might allow us to be of great help to someone in need. A power outage might bless us with a needed respite from a pressure-packed day. A ray of sunshine breaking through dark clouds might remind us that the storms of life are but a temporary concern. We love our schedules and our plans, and we are often upset when they’re disrupted; but consider that perhaps God is behind the disruption, and seek the wisdom and goodness to be found. Blessings, Karen and Greg

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

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

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 new season, and let us be glad for all the things that make fall a wonderful time of the year! Yes, it’s true; at 8:05 pm last night in the Eastern Time Zone, the autumnal equinox occurred, officially ending summer and beginning fall. This season of year brings crisp air, beautiful colors, cozy sweaters, and a bountiful harvest of good things to eat (and yes, donuts and cider count as good things to eat)! But let’s not write off the joys of outdoor recreation just yet; there are still plenty of great boating and camping days, still time for bicycle rides and sitting at a beach!

As we make the shift from summer fun to autumn delights, let’s remember the source of all good things and be thankful; let’s embrace the newness of the season, while remembering the joys of the season just past. There’s no call for lament, only a call to live fully in whatever season of the year, and whatever season of life, we find ourselves in. Sometimes we have to deal with challenges and inconveniences, but we know that with the help of family and friends, and the loving presence of the Divine, we’ll get through it and arrive at God’s right and perfect place in God’s right and perfect time; the trick is to not give up, to keep running the race, and to always trust that we are being upheld and guided by Almighty God, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit in every tough time and in every joyous time of our lives. God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good!! Blessings, Karen and Greg

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

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20

Reaching out from Grand Lake Chapel

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 glorious, sunny day, and let us be glad for another week of summer! There’s no denying that this has been a rather “odd” summer in many ways, but it’s still hard to beat the season Up North. As we prepare for the inevitable transition to cooler weather, we invite you to join us in the Adopt-A-Highway road cleanup on Tuesday, September 22nd (rain date Thursday, September 24th) to collect trash and other debris from our assigned section of US-23. As always, we’ll meet at the gravel parking lot at the intersection of US-23 and County Road 638. Many hands make for light work, so we hope to see as many of you as possible on Tuesday morning!

Our responsibilities as stewards of God’s creation extend far beyond cleaning up a section of highway; we are called to take good care of the beaches and woods that surround us, to be prudent in our use of fertilizers and other lawn and garden chemicals, and to be careful not to disturb the wildlife with whom we share the Earth. A common sign at trailheads and near campgrounds reads “leave only footprints, take only memories,” which is actually pretty good advice for daily living as well. God has blessed us with tremendous beauty to observe, and amazing things to experience in the great outdoors; let us enjoy his gifts to the fullest, all the while being gentle with Creation.

Blessings, Karen and Greg

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

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.” – Job 12:7-8

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

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 loving support all of you have offered Rev. Karen as she recovers from her shoulder surgery, let us rejoice in the prayers and words of encouragement, and let us be glad for the kindness shared with Dr. Greg in his role as caregiver. We can’t thank you enough for all you’re doing to help us through this time of healing!

And let us rejoice in another summer’s day Up North! OK, it’s a bit overcast and rainy (and we certainly need the rain!), but where else would you rather be? Let us also be glad that summer has another three weeks (give or take) to go! God’s marvelous Creation remains open for business, the business of relaxation, exploration, and fun fellowship. With what’s going on in your pastor’s house-hold right now, we have a heightened sense of appreciation for the children of God who populate our region; good people in the medical profession, emergency responders, marina dockhands, and of course you, our beloved parishioners. It’s humbling to be the ones in need, instead of the ones fulfilling our calling to be of service; and that’s a good thing. It’s easy and joyful to help others in times of challenge, but not so much being on the other end of the equation. There’s a powerful lesson in all of this, not only for your pastors, but for all people; we need one another, in good times and in bad. Our standing ready to help in whatever way possible is the very essence of what it means to live a Godly, Christ-centered life. Setting aside our own needs for a time, and coming to the aid of another, is a part of our collective calling, and all of you have fulfilled that call. Thank you, and may God bless each of you.

With our love, Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell: (734) 502-5969 revgregrc@yahoo.com / revgreggl@yahoo.com revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com ________________________________________________________________________________________ My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12