Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, November 1, 2023


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 month dawning, and let us be glad that this new month is full of possibilities and celebrations!  Today, November 1st, we honor all those who have gone on before us as we observe All Saints’ Day.  Daylight savings time comes to an end on November 5th, so remember to “fall back” on Saturday night and re-set your clocks so you’re on time for worship on Sunday morning (well rested from an extra hour’s sleep!).  On November 11th, we honor those who have served in the Armed Forces, and thank them for their service.  And of course, on November 23rd, we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day!  That’s a lot to pack into one month, eh?

But today, our focus is on All Saints; today, we remember.  Today, we pause from our activities and turn our thoughts to loved ones who have entered the Church Triumphant.  Today, we again mourn their physical absence from our daily routines.  And yet, today we celebrate their memories; today we honor them for the roles they played in our lives, the lessons they taught, the examples they set, the love they shared.  Today we smile, as we remember.  Today we laugh, as we remember.  Today we shake our heads with rueful grins, as we remember some of the things they did that embarrassed us.  Today, most of all, we are joyful that they are at home in the paradise that is Heaven, surrounded by love and joy and peace, in the presence of the Most High.  As the great old hymn of the church goes; “For all the Saints, who from their labors rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.  Alleluia, Alleluia!”  Thanks be to God for all those who helped make us who we are, today.

God bless you!
Karen and Greg

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

For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;

He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. Psalm 149:4

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 18, 2023


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 let us be glad for the ongoing display of the Almighty’s handiwork in the bright colors of fall!  To be sure, it’s “sweater weather” more often than not, as we progress further into the autumn season, but that just adds an element of coziness to our days.  Let’s savor these days in the beauty of Up North!

Our brothers and sisters in the Middle East and Ukraine know little of coziness right now, as their days are filled with the sights and sounds of war all around them, sights and sounds unbidden but unavoidable, as they are caught up in centuries old conflicts that defy solutions.  Our first and best response is to pray fervently that God will bring peace; our second response should be to find ways to support relief efforts through legitimate agencies and organizations.  Our third response should be to reflect on our own propensity to demonize those whom we consider “other” or “enemy,” and try to understand why we hold some of those with whom we disagree in low regard.  To be sure, there are myriad reasons to be wary of some people, based on their rhetoric and actions, but we must be careful not to paint with too broad a brush when it comes to nationalities and races.  We must remember that all people are God’s children, and that while some have chosen to forget that fact, we cannot; our Christian beliefs and values have little room for dismissing others.  We are called to be peacemakers.  We are called to love.  While this may seem simplistic, even naïve, in the face of the horrors that cross our TV screens every day, it is the reality of following Christ Jesus.

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

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

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Romans 12:18

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 11, 2023


Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice for the glories of autumn Up North, and let us be glad that we need only step out of our homes to enjoy them!  No need for long drives from Downstate, no need for booking hotel rooms; just open the door, and there before us are the colors and the sights and the rich aromas of fall.  We are indeed blessed to call this place “home.”

Sadly, in other parts of the world, autumn brings no such joy; war continues in Ukraine, and as we all know, war has broken out in the Middle East between Israel and those who would see her destroyed.  Here in the safe and friendly confines of Northern Michigan, we cannot fathom the horrors faced by our brothers and sisters on the other side of the world; our values don’t allow for us to even comprehend the atrocities that are being reported in the aftermath of Hamas’ incursions into Israel, nor the fear resulting from Israel’s military response.  Many of us are at a loss as to what we should do; conflicting reports in the news media leave us questioning whose fault all of this is, which side we should back in these wars.  We will leave that to the politicians and pundits; our support should go to the innocents.  Our prayers, our gifts to relief agencies, our advocacy belongs only to the men and women and children who are caught up in these wars.  They have not chosen to live in war zones; they have done nothing to deserve the death and destruction that surrounds them.  And so we stand with the children of God in the war-torn places of the world.  We turn to Almighty God in prayer, that he might take them in his strong arms and protect them, and that he might swiftly bring peace and justice to the whole world.  That is the most powerful thing we can do; pray.

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

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

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.  Colossians 3:15

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 4, 2023


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 brief return to summertime, as the thermometer is expect to touch the mid-70’s today, and let us be glad for the promised rain in the coming days that will intensify the beautiful fall colors that are coming into full expression.  And let us further rejoice and be glad that no one is calling for snow any time soon…

With happy memories of summer still front of mind for many of us, and eager anticipation of crisp autumn days and snuggling in next to the fireplace or patio fire pit occupying some of our thoughts, this is a good time to give our heartfelt thanks to our loving God, who blesses us with varying seasons to enjoy.  Summertime can’t be beat for fun and relaxation, but it’s hard to argue with the sights, sounds, and smells of autumn; winter brings cold temperatures and the serene beauty of the snow-covered ground, and spring gives us the thrill of new life emerging from the cold.  But today, we give thanks for autumn, for cider mills and apple farms, for cozy sweaters and just a hint of coolness in the air; today, we give thanks for family and good friends, for fellow travelers in The Way, and for fond memories of those who have gone on before us into the Church Triumphant.  Today, we celebrate the countless gifts and blessings that are ours to enjoy, as summer fades into fall.  We know that for many of you, each day is cause for celebration; we celebrate with you!  But we also know that for some, each day brings pain, either physical or spiritual; and we pray for relief for you.  In these days of seasonal transition, we invite you to remember that God loves you and wants only good things for you, including freedom from any hurts you may feel; turn to the Almighty when the day seems hard, and you will find refreshment.  Turn to the Almighty when the day seems great, and you will find further delight.  Turn to the Almighty always and forever, and you will find love.

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

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

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, September 27, 2023 Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice in cool evenings that are so nice for sleeping, and let us be glad in early autumn days that allow us to enjoy the great outdoors in comfort. Now, if we could get just a little rain to freshen things up a bit! The colors of fall are beginning to dominate the landscape, and the apple orchards and cider mills are beckoning us to come sample their offerings (we’re particularly fond of Knaebe’s), so we invite you to get out and enjoy the blessings of the season!

Earlier this week, a dozen of our congregants from both Westminster Presbyterian and Grand Lake Community Chapel came together for the final “Adopt-A-Highway” road cleanup of the season along US23; a total of 19 bags of trash were collected, and more importantly good fellowship was shared by all. This joint effort got us to thinking about the power of community, about how much can be accomplished when good women and men join forces to tackle a project; which in turn got us to thinking about how we express our faith in the world. There’s a tendency to think that our public witness has to be big and splashy to grab the attention of the world, but walking along US23 on the stretch of highway assigned to our churches, and proudly proclaimed on signs posted at both end of the stretch, with passers-by waving and honking horns in support of our work, was a witness to our Christian way of life. Volunteers giving freely of their time to make the world a cleaner place, clearly connected to our churches, sent an unmistakable message about who we are and what we value. When we hold a door open for another person, when we share a friendly greeting with a stranger, when we slow down enough to let another vehicle ease onto the freeway, and then wave a “hello” to the other driver, we’re demonstrating what it is to live out our faith. Certainly, helping out at a food pantry distribution or lending a hand in response to a natural disaster are great things; but it’s so often the little things that carry the work of Christ out into the world we share with billions of others. A community of faith can do amazing things, one small gesture at a time. As we read in Psalm 133: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

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

For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:9

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, September 20, 2023


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 beautiful late-summer day that is ours to enjoy, and let us be glad that truly cold temperatures are still a few weeks away (we hope…).  Yes, many of our furnaces were running early this morning, but the day in Presque Isle County promises to warm up a bit, and the next few days are expected to be very nice; so let’s all try to get out and revel in the blessings of nature that surround us!

As nice as the next few days are predicted to be, the fact is that summer officially comes to an end this coming Saturday.  Endings are very often difficult for us to deal with, be it the ending of a season, the ending of a relationship, or the ending of a well-lived life; many of us mourn the endings that present themselves to us, and rightfully so.  We’ll miss the warmth of summer days, and that makes us melancholy.  We’ll miss the familiarity of a relationship with another person or group.  We’ll most certainly miss the presence of a loved one who has gone on before us into the Church Triumphant.  But we must remember that each ending brings with it a new beginning; a new season to enjoy, new friends to know better, and the peace and comfort that comes from the sure and certain promise of the Resurrection of our Lord that we will be reunited with our loved ones in due time.  It’s OK to be sad when endings intrude on our happiness, but it’s not OK to stay sad when beginnings present themselves.  It’s OK to remember what had been before the ending, either fondly or ruefully; it’s not OK to be paralyzed by the past and stop living the today that has been gifted to us – or the tomorrow that awaits.  Remembering that God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good can help us keep ourselves in a place of balance and joy.

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

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

And he is before all things,
and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, September 13, 2023


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 day that has dawned Up North, and let us be glad for the promise of several more days like this one to get out and enjoy!  It may be a bit on the cool side for some, but a light jacket or sweater addresses that, so try to get outdoors if at all able and soak in the grandeur!

It’s all too easy to take what we’ve been blessed with for granted, because it’s always around us; beautiful surroundings, good people, loving families, and God’s abundance.  So easy, in fact, that we often forget to say “thank you” for all of it, every single day.  Sure, we say “thank you” when an unforeseen need is met with an unanticipated gift, or when a feared diagnosis turns out to be a relatively minor (and easily treated) ailment; but what about those days when everything just kinda’ goes along without any issues, kinda’ routine and kinda’ easy?  Why don’t we consistently say “thank you” for normal?  Normal (acknowledging that “normal” is a loaded word) is a gift from God every bit as much as a miraculous healing.  “Kinda’ easy” is every bit as much a gift from God as being guided through a challenge.  While it may be a tad trite, adopting an attitude of gratitude can fill our hearts and souls with reservoirs of spiritual energy that we can draw on when kinda’ easy gets replaced with kinda’ hard.  So try to say “thank you” for all the little things in life that we take for granted, ranging from the lights turning on when we flip the switch to the friendly wave of a neighbor as we pass by.  Trust us, your day will be brighter for it!

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

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

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, September 6, 2023


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 burst of summery weather over the holiday weekend, and let us be glad for the promise of much-needed rain over the course of the next couple of days!  As we write this message, it’s bright and sunny and very warm – something that we missed out on for much of the Memorial Day to Labor Day season, so we hope that you’re able to get out and enjoy the day!

The month of September is really all about transitions; kids go back to school, the weather begins to cool, the trees begin their annual color change (and what a beautiful thing that is!), several businesses shut down for the fall and winter months, while others open, and many of us go about the business of putting away our summer “toys” and think about prepping our winter ones.  In the church world, the quiet of summer transitions into the hustle-and-bustle of committee meetings, Sunday School, and looking forward to planning for Christmas.  Yet through all of these transitions, we are reminded of the one great constant in the lives of the faithful; the constancy of God’s presence.  It matters not if we’re sitting on a sandy beach, hiking along a forest trail, or sitting in a comfy chair watching the world outside go through its changes; God is with us, offering his guidance, strength, wisdom, and love.  It’s good to remember this, as we go from one season to the next, and it’s good to offer God our thanks for the glorious design of Creation.  Change is a good thing, even if we’re not always delighted with it, for without change there is little opportunity for growth and new experiences; and besides, if everything stayed the same, think how dull life could be!  During this time of transition, remember that God is good, all the time.  And all the time, God is good!

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

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

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”2 Corinthians 4:16

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

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 have been given the opportunity to test the furnaces in our homes before the traditional heating season begins, and let us be glad that the forecast is for a warm and sunny Labor Day holiday! Wow, was it cold this morning; not mid-January cold, but plenty cold enough for the end of August! As we write this message, it’s bright and sunny, and beginning to warm up a bit, for which we are grateful. But the early morning temperature sure got our attention!

Isn’t it interesting how things that don’t fit with our expectations can throw us for a loop? Cold temperatures in August leave us scrambling for the sweaters buried in the back of our closets, unexpected rain finds us running for shelter, and as the fall sports season unfolds, upset losses by our favorite teams can throw us into days of sadness. While these “bad” things can be upsetting, there are “good” things that don’t fit with our expectations too. A phone call or visit from a long-lost friend or family member is a delight, but makes us late for a meeting. A neighbor drops off freshly-baked bread, but we’ve just gotten home from the local bakery with a loaf of our favorite. A healthy baby is born a few weeks early, and we haven’t purchased a gift yet. It’s fairly safe to say that, good or bad, our plans will likely need some adjusting; but it’s also fairly safe to say that “such is life”. The predictability and precision that many of us crave is really quite rare, and our carefully-developed plans don’t often work out exactly as we had hoped. Even those plans that we pray over, trusting that God will bless them and bring them to fruition exactly as we wish, don’t always play out as intended. There’s an old saying that tells us if you want to make God laugh, tell him you have a plan… One of the keys to contentment is the ability to be flexible and adaptive as each day unfolds, and to trust that God has a hand in the planning. And try to laugh along with God as your plans change to meet his will.

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

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

The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, August 23, 2023


Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in another day to enjoy being in the presence of our Lord, and let us be glad for the unlimited love and grace that is ours to share!  While it may be a bit gloomy and unseasonably cool, it’s a perfect day to share a loving embrace with our sweetheart(s) on this “Hug Your Sweetheart Day” (according to 123Greetings.com)!

We may not look forward to days like this when the weather isn’t exactly calling us to come out and play, but these days can be joyful and fulfilling if we can adjust our mindset just a little bit. Even though it’s summertime, it’s hard to beat snuggling into your favorite chair with a good book or magazine, covering up with a light blanket, and stretching your intellectual muscles a bit.  Better yet, consider taking advantage of an “inside day” to read a devotion or two, or maybe a few chapters of Scripture, and then contemplate what you’ve read – and talk with God about it.  This could be a very rewarding use of time, don’t you think?  Of course, you could use the day to clean the basement or organize your sock drawer, but that doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun, as noble a task as these things might be.  Remember that God gives us exactly what we need, when we need it; even a cool and overcast summer’s day.  So embrace the gift of today, live fully in it, and give thanks to God for blessing us in limitless ways!

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

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

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.”  Psalm 143:8