Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, July 19, 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 pleasant day (if a bit overcast), and let us be glad that the forecast is calling for rain over the next couple of days, and then bright and sunny for the weekend!  Imagine how our lawns and gardens will be refreshed by the rain, and imagine how lovely it will be to enjoy a magnificent Up North weekend!

While we’re on the topic of imagining, has it occurred to you that we don’t exercise our imaginations as much as we once did?  That we tend to relegate imagination to the realm of youth?  Why is that?  It’s not as if God, who blessed us with the gift of imagination, put an age limit on dreams; the prophet Joel tells us that on the Day of the Lord “your old men will dream dreams,” and we think it’s only reasonable to include women amongst those who will dream dreams.  Our imaginations don’t wear out as we grow older, but we’ve been conditioned to think that it’s “childish” to imagine how we’d like things to be, and so we don’t dream and wonder and envision a better world; and so nothing changes, and we resign ourselves to “that’s just the way it is.”  But it doesn’t have to be this way!  Our imaginations are a powerful engine for change, if we’ll unleash them to address the cares and concerns we encounter.  Just as Jesus calls us to approach our faith as little children, maybe if we approach our worries with the imagination of a child, we’ll be shown solutions that will amaze us.  Those solutions might not fit with conventional wisdom, but if we remember that our imaginations are fueled by the wisdom of the Almighty, then we can resolve the most vexing problems imaginable.  What would it hurt to dream, what harm would come from being just a little unconventional?  Imagine the possibilities!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

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

Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, July 12, 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 ongoing joys of summer Up North, and let us be glad that we have several more months of it available for us to enjoy!  It’s amazing to think (or to be reminded) that we are blessed to live where lots of people come for vacation, so let’s try to carve some “vacation” time out of every week for ourselves; and we don’t have to drive anywhere!

And as we go about delighting in where we live, let us also delight in the friends with whom we share it.  Friends are a very special gift from God, and yet it has been reported that in the United States 12% of us say they have no friends at all, and nearly half of us have only one or two close friends.  To be fair, there are lots of definitions for “friend” out there, ranging from casual acquaintances to lifelong, deep relationships, but the sad fact is that lots of us are going through life in virtual isolation. And that’s tragic, because we are not designed to “go it alone” in this life.  It’s been said that a friend is someone who knows everything about you, and likes you anyway; which sounds an awful lot like Jesus Christ, doesn’t it?  Jesus puts a great deal of emphasis on the friendship he has with his disciples, and one of the best-loved hymns in the Christian world is “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”  If you find yourself amongst those who have few, if any, friends, we invite you to consider that you have one very good friend in the person of Jesus; and that you have the opportunity to have many, many friends if you’ll look around the sanctuary on Sunday morning.  There we all share a common friend, who can facilitate our relationships with each other, if we’re willing to take the chance.

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

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

Two are better than one, because they have
a good return for their labor: Ecclesiastes 4:9

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, July 5, 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 beautiful summer day, and let us be glad for the promised rain later today (and tomorrow as well) that will keep our gardens lush and our lawns green.  Once again, we are reminded of God’s perfectly-timed, perfectly-portioned provision of what is most needed, and we are thankful!

Speaking of what is needed, freedom is front of mind this morning.  Yesterday, July 4th, was a day of celebration for the freedoms we enjoy in the United States; our neighbors in Canada celebrated their country’s rich heritage of freedom and independence on July 1st.  We hope you enjoyed a joyous day with family and friends; good food and fellowship; and we hope that you found a few moments to think about what it means to live in a free country. We are free to worship as we please, free to gather with whom we choose, and free to express our thoughts without fear of government retribution.  Yes, we know that there have been some attempts to restrict the free expression of some ideas lately, but the fact remains that we in North American are among the freest people on Earth.  And the fact remains that the freedoms we are blessed with find their origin in Almighty God; chief among these blessings being the freedom from sin that came to us through the person of Jesus Christ who went to the cross to pay the price of our sins for all time.  It’s a pretty safe bet that all who are reading this note know this already, but it’s also a pretty safe bet that we don’t spend enough time reflecting on this truth — freedom from sin frees us to live fully.  All of the blessings of liberty that we enjoy are worthless if we are burdened by sin and remorse, so let us give thanks to God for the gift of his Son and all the blessings that flow from it!

With our love in Christ,

Karen and Greg

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

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, June 28, 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 much-needed rain that fell earlier this week, and let us be glad for rejuvenated lawns and gardens without having to run a sprinkler!  Not running a sprinkler might put a crimp in your early summer fun (who doesn’t enjoy running through a sprinkler?), but rain doesn’t cost anything!

One of our favorite words is “free,” in part because Dr. Greg is pretty tight with a dollar, but mostly because the things in life that are really important don’t require a credit card or a fistful of cash.  The air we breathe is free, the love we share with one another is free, and most important of all, the love of God is free.  None of us need write a check or break into our kid’s piggy banks to be blessed by God’s love. He loves us because he made us in his image, even if sometimes we make a mess of things by forgetting that little fact.  Nothing we say or do will take God’s love from us, but we can certainly grieve God by the things we say and do; and if we grieve the Almighty, no amount of money or toil will make things better.  Only a heartfelt “I’m sorry” and a pledge to do better can do that.  But God will not have stopped loving us; to do so would be against his nature and against his promises found throughout Scripture.  So enjoy the free gift of God’s love, and know that it will never, ever be withdrawn.  There’s great comfort in that, and great power, too.

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

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

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Psalms 36:7

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, June 21, 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 first day of summer, and let us be glad for beautiful weather beckoning us into God’s awesome Creation to enjoy his handiwork! Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens,” and summertime is the season for enjoying sunshine and lakes and bicycle rides and ice cream cones, so let’s take full advantage of this wonderful season!

Summertime is also a time for rest and rejuvenation, a time for reading a good book or two, and a time to reconnect with those special ones in our lives. May we gently suggest that one of the good books to read this summer is the Good Book, the Bible? Scripture is a rich source of guidance, inspiration, joy, and comfort, making the Bible an excellent addition to your summer reading list. To be honest, there are some books in the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) that can be something of a challenge, but they’re worth the effort because we can gain a greater understanding of our ancestors in the faith by making the effort to read them. So why not make a commitment to read at least a couple of chapters of Scripture every day, before you pick up the newest novel or magazine from the stack next to your favorite chair? If your reading leaves you with questions, stop in and have a chat with your pastors, or give us a call; we’d love to talk with you and exchange ideas! Revel in this season of sunshine and warmth, and remember that 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

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens Ecclesiastes 3:1

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, June 14, 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 life-giving rain that fell earlier in the week, and let us be glad that our lawns and gardens have been refreshed.  Let us also rejoice and be glad that the weather pattern that brought rain to our region looks to be heading east to our friends in Canada to bring some much-needed relief to them as they continue to struggle with wildfires.  At the perfect time, God provided what we needed.  Unbelievable, isn’t it?

                Not really.  Wondrous and miraculous, perhaps, but certainly not unbelievable; God always provides what we need, when we need it.  There’s nothing unbelievable about God doing what God has done since the beginning of time.  Think about it for a minute; look back over the times in your life when you didn’t know what to do or where to turn for answers to vexing problems or where to find resources to respond to an urgent need.  And then when you turned to God in prayer seeking his help, what you truly needed made itself available to you.  Your pastors have experienced this so many times in our lives that we’ve lost count; we didn’t always get what we wished for, but we were blessed with exactly what was needed to meet the challenge before us.  The sad thing is that when we’re caught up in the moment, worried and frightened to the point of desperation, we don’t always remember that the Source of all that we need is right in front of us – we need only ask for his help.  As many times as a solution has been presented to us; often one that we could not have conceived, it is still easy to fall into fear; and we are ashamed of ourselves.  We’re confident that many of you have had similar experiences, both in terms of having solutions to your concerns show up at the perfect time, and in terms of being fearful.  Maybe that’s OK, because we are merely human, yet at the same time it’s very much not OK because we know that God wants only good for us. We know that he will never abandon us if we seek him.  Our tendency is to think we have to face hard times on our own, but the truth is that we never have to face anything alone; God is with us through thick and thin, loving us and guiding us and protecting us from evil – and sometimes from ourselves.  Just remember, God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!

With our 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

Wednesday, June 7, 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 sunshine (albeit obscured a bit by smoke from the Canadian wildfires), and let us be glad that we are promised some much-needed rain early next week.  While it feels a bit cool as we write this note, rest assured that this is pretty much normal for this time of the year – and that we’ll look back with rueful smiles when the temperatures soar in August!

Yesterday, June 6, marked the 79th anniversary of the Normandy landings in 1944, which led to the end of World War II in Europe some 11 months later; it’s hard to imagine the fears those young men must have faced as their landing crafts approached the coastline.  And yet they did their job, at a horrible cost in lives lost, so that the evils of Nazism and Fascism would soon be defeated.  Today, in 2023, the world is facing multiple threats to which good men and women are standing by to respond; some of these threats are from nations that dream of dominating on the world stage, some are from petty dictators who are seeking validation, and some are from natural disasters.  In an era when religious affiliation seems to be waning, when institutions of all kinds are no longer trusted, when false prophets appear on a seemingly daily basis, what are we to do?  In a word, trust; trust in Almighty God to answer the prayers of those who believe in him, trust that God will not allow the world to be destroyed – as he promised Noah following the great flood, and trust that we will be given the strength to do whatever is asked of us to be of service to those in need.  The promises of God are trustworthy; it falls to us to shut out the naysayers, to shout them down if necessary, so that all people will know that God’s got this, and all will be well.

With our 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 the Lord is good; His loving kindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, May 31, 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 glorious late spring day, replete with sunshine and moderate temperatures, and let us be glad that this is only the beginning!!  While we don’t want to be overly excited about the arrival of summer-like weather, we think it’s probably safe to move the snow shovel to the back of the garage (finally)!!

This time of year is magical in Northeast Michigan, as flowers come into full bloom, lawn furniture replaces snow piles, and free-flowing water replaces ice floes on lakes large and small.  This season of renewal and growth can be magical in our faith journeys, as well; as we are able to be out-and-about in the beauty of God’s Creation, without heavy coats and mittens, we can smell the fragrances of flowers, watch the activities of birds and bees as they go about building their nests and pollinating flowers.  We can touch the blades of grass and the unfurling leaves as we venture forth, and we can connect more intimately with the presence of the Triune God as spring eases into summer.  With the observance of Trinity Sunday and the celebration of Holy Communion on June 4th, we will enter into a quieter time on the church calendar, even as life in general enters into a (possibly) louder and more active time.  We look forward to sharing worship with each of you during the lazy, hazy days of summer that are now upon us.  We pray that this season brings you ever closer to the Almighty, always remembering that God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good!

With our blessings,

Karen and Greg

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

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

He is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in clear skies (even if it is a bit chilly), and the ongoing greening of the Earth as spring continues to change the landscape around us.  It’s remarkable to see how quickly things change this time of year; every day another flower opens to the sun, more trees display their leaves, and the woodland creatures delight us with their antics.  Spring is a truly wonderful time of the year!

As is the Season of Easter, which is nearing its end.  Tomorrow is the Day of Ascension, when our Lord was taken up to Heaven outside of Bethany; while this event marks the unofficial end of the Season of Easter, there is still one more Sunday on which we will shout “He is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!”  But we earnestly hope that just because the calendar tells us that the season has come to an end, we don’t end our celebration of what Easter has done for us; that would be a tragedy, because Easter changed everything for the better.  We should never lose sight of that irrefutable truth, even as we celebrate Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the crowds in Jerusalem and filled the believers with its holy presence.  Easter is the defining event in Christianity, and we should strive to honor it all year ’round.

Blessings!

Karen and Greg

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

Jesus says, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

He is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!

                This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in a spectacularly beautiful spring day, and let us be glad that there are more days like this to come!  Maybe, hopefully, possibly we’ve finally turned the corner to springtime in Presque Isle County, and we can be about the business of getting our gardens and yards in shape for warm weather and time in the great outdoors – without the need for overcoats and boots…

                Glorious days like today fill us with hope for tomorrow and joy for today; days like this makes us feel better about life, even if we’re going through a bumpy patch.  At the same time, some of us might feel like we don’t deserve to feel good on a marvelous day, that somehow we haven’t earned the privilege of contentment (let alone happiness).  Let us be perfectly clear; you deserve beautiful, sun-filled days!  You deserve joy, happiness, and feelings of contentment because you are God’s beloved child!  Your worthiness for good feelings is not determined by how much money you have, how many achievements are on your resume, how many accolades have come your way throughout your lifetime.  You are worthy of all good things because you breathe.  No matter how thorny the path, God wants only good things for you, and you are absolutely worthy of all the good God wishes for you!

                We can’t let this week go by without making note of Mother’s Day this coming Sunday.  Established in 1914 in the United States by President Woodrow Wilson as a national observance of the critical role played in our lives by mothers, our understanding of the day has expanded to include all women who play a role in nurturing us through our lives.  Please join us in honoring mothers (and those who fill that role), both those living and those who have entered the Church Triumphant, with a phone call, card, or prayer.

Blessings!

Karen and Greg

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

Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. Eph. 4:1