Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 8, 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 a glorious Up North day, and let us be glad for the gentle “tap on the shoulder” that the frost warning has given us – cooler days are coming our way! Time to check the furnace filters, and to protect the delicate plants in our gardens. There’s something delightful about the early days of autumn, so let’s all make an effort to get out and enjoy apple cider and donuts (Knaebe’s is a great choice), and maybe spend some time exploring God’s good Creation!

It’s almost impossible to turn on the news on TV or radio, open a newspaper, or turn on a computer without getting blasted with negative news; regardless of your preferred source for information, it’s undeniable that bad things are going on all around the world. It can be soul-crushing at times, and the hyperbolic tone of reporting these days doesn’t make it easy to garner basic facts. True enough, this isn’t anything really new, but it sometimes seems as if the intensity has been dialed up to new levels. Yet, in spite of the tone (“spin,” if you prefer), there are some good things happening; the Middle East seems to be inching ever-closer to peace and the release of Israeli hostages. European nations appear to be unifying against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Breakthroughs in medical science are reported almost weekly, promising new treatments and cures for diseases. There are things to celebrate! And so we encourage you to seek out the good news, the happy stories of families being reunited with loved ones (both human and furry), the glad tales of communities coming together to address local challenges. Trust us, you’ll feel better about the world. And remember to give thanks to the Almighty, who is truly in charge of all things, and who wants only good for each and every one of us! 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

“Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.” – Psalm 136:26

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 1, 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 a new month, and let us be glad for a fresh start on our “to do” lists! We’re at the beginning of the fourth quarter of the year, and as every football fan knows, the fourth quarter is often filled with excitement and drama. We’re all for excitement, not so much for drama. The fourth quarter will bring big changes in the weather, the clothes we wear, and the busyness of life. We can’t fight the changes, so we’d best be about the business of embracing them!

One of the things the beginning of a month gifts us with is an opportunity to review and re-prioritize our “to do” lists. Rev. Karen talked about “to do” lists this past Sunday, but those lists are such a big part of many of our lives that it seems worthwhile to spend a little more time thinking about them. On many of our “to do” lists in early autumn is getting our yards and gardens ready for colder weather; also on those lists is preparing our toys for their winter rest, and our equipment for winter use. Some of us have planning getaways on our list, others have getting ready to move to winter lodgings in the sunny south on their lists. We hope and pray that all of us have spending quality time with God, and walking every day with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, on our “to do” lists; nothing is more rewarding or more joyful than allowing ourselves to be wrapped in the loving arms of the Almighty, surrendering our wills to his, and delighting in the right and perfect outcomes that inevitably flow from “letting go and letting God.” So, if you haven’t already done so, we gently suggest that put “spend time with God” at the top of your “to do” lists.

On an entirely personal note, 26 years ago today, at 6:00 pm in a classroom at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, Rev. Karen and Dr. Greg met for the very first time.

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 seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, September 24, 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 new season, and let us be glad for what has been a gentle transition from summer to fall (so far…).  As hard as it might be to believe, we’re about to enter the fourth quarter of the Year of Our Lord 2025; how we spend our time will change based on the weather, but there are plenty of fun and exciting things to do around here!  There’s no need to hunker down until next spring!

Speaking of fun and exciting things to do, we had a very successful Adopt-A-Highway event yesterday, with participants from both churches gathering eleven bags of trash along US-23.  This joint effort has been going on for nearly a decade now, and it’s good to contribute to the stewardship of our little piece of Creation.  Thanks to all who came out to help!

We’ve touched on this subject in the past, but it’s important enough to repeat; times of transition are good times for reflection, and good times to look forward.  As one season flows into another, we invite you to find a quiet place to sit and think about what happened (or didn’t happen) over the summer months; no question that it wasn’t a typical Up North summer in terms of the weather, but there were certainly wonderful things to remember.  And some hard things, too.  But through it all, God was with us, smiling when we smiled, crying when we cried, and holding us up when we were too weak to go on.  It’s good to remember that God never changes, even as the seasons do; and God never changes, even as we do.  That consistency, stability if you prefer, brings us great comfort and peace.  Thanks be to God for being The Almighty!

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 Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, September 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 another beautiful day in
our Up North paradise and let us be glad that we have five days of summer left to enjoy! Of course, just
because the equinox is coming up on Monday, that doesn’t mean that it will immediately get cold and blustery
(at least we hope not). Autumn is such a beautiful time of the year, as the colors begin to change; we urge you
to make plans to enjoy the unfolding splendor!
A great way to get out and enjoy the unfolding splendor is to join us for the last Adopt-A-Highway cleanup
event of 2025 on Tuesday, September 23rd (rain date Thursday, September 25th); we’ll meet at the
intersection of US-23 and County Road 638 to clean a two-mile stretch of US-23, making it ready for fall and
winter. Many hands make for light work, so please join us if you can!
As the fall colors emerge, we are reminded of God’s flawless artistic sense, as the reds and oranges and
yellows of the deciduous trees contrast with the greens of the conifers. Isn’t it amazing to look out our windows
and see the magnificence? No AI-generated landscapes can compare to the handiwork of our God, no
photographs or paintings can fully capture the beauty all around us; it is left for us, as children of the Most High
God, to offer our reverent thanks and to express our awe at what we have been blessed with. And it also our
calling to be good stewards of Creation, so that others may enjoy what we have been blessed with for
generations to come. So please walk lightly on the Earth, leaving nothing spoiled, but collecting rich
memories.
Blessings,
Karen and Greg
Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell: (734) 502-5969
revgregrc@yahoo.com / revgreggl@yahoo.com
revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as
faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
Joys and Concern

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, August 27, 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 another day in Northern Michigan’s beauty, and let us be glad for the upcoming Labor Day holiday which gives us a long weekend to enjoy this place we call home!  While there’s an undeniable “crispness” in the air the last few days, it’s still summertime. So while some of our dear congregants will have to start thinking about closing up their seasonal homes after the holiday weekend, let’s not jump the gun and miss out on several more weeks of Up North fun!

As August inevitably rolls into September, and a change in seasons is on the horizon, we have an opportunity to reflect on the summer that was (and is!) and to look forward to the autumn that is to come.  Seasonal transitions can also be life transitions, and so as we look ahead to jeans and light jackets replacing shorts and T-shirts, let’s also look ahead to focusing on making sure that our relationship with the Triune God is in good shape.  Let’s make sure that we remember to “put first things first” as the seasons change; the first thing being our faith and trust in Almighty God.  And let’s remember to savor each and every day that we’re given, because each and every day is a gift from our God, who loves us without reservation.  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

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given onto you. Matthew 6:33

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, August 6, 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 weather forecast that hints at the dissipation of the haze in our skies, and let us be glad that air quality will improve, making breathing much easier for those with respiratory conditions.  Our prayers go out to our neighbors in Canada who are dealing with multiple wildfires, and especially to those brave men and women from around the world fighting the fires.  Let us hope and pray that the fires will soon be contained, and that measures will be taken to prevent wildfires in the future.

As many of you know, Dr. Greg recently celebrated a birthday (thanks for all the cards and well-wishes!), which has got us thinking about milestones in life.  Our church families have known the sting of death too many times this year, one of the most profound milestones we’ll ever know; and yet in our pain, there is an opportunity to reflect on our lives and then, to look ahead.  Whether the milestone we’re facing is the death of a loved one, a birthday, or an anniversary, please consider taking some time to take stock, to think about where you are and where you hope to be, and to talk with God about anything and everything that comes to mind.  Of course, we should always avail ourselves of God’s wisdom and guidance, but it seems to us that milestones are a particularly good time to reach out to the Almighty.  And remember, 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

Rejoicing in the Lord encourages us to find joy in our milestones.
It is a powerful reminder to celebrate every success,
recognizing God’s hand in our achievements. 1 Chronicles 16:34