Pastor’s Message

April 1, 2026 ~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, April 1, 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 slowly warming temperatures, and let us be glad for the parking lots at our churches getting larger as the snow piles melt away! While it’s true that the weather forecast for the next couple of days is a little on the dicey side (a bit of snow and sleet is a possibility), it’s undeniable that the tide is turning towards spring-like weather. Praise God!!

Praise God indeed, for this is Wednesday of Holy Week; it is also the first day of Passover for our Jewish friends. The gospel reading for today is from the gospel according to John, and describes Jesus sharing the Passover meal with his disciples. Including Judas Iscariot, who will betray him in the Garden of Gethsemane on Holy Thursday. Whether we like it or not, betrayal is a part of our Holy Week observations, and betrayal is a key element in our journey to the cross; we can’t ignore it, we can’t wish it away. We have to confront it. The good news is that without the betrayal at the Passover, the victory of life over death on the cross could not have happened as it did, and God’s awesome power would not have been on display for all to see on Easter morning. As painful as Judas’ betrayal is for us to remember, we must accept it as part of God’s perfect plan. We know how the story unfolds, and is still unfolding, and it is indeed the greatest story ever told. We have the opportunity to actively participate in the story on Thursday, when we will gather to observe Maundy Thursday and share in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. We will continue to participate in the story during the Good Friday Vigil from noon to 3:00 pm in both of our beautiful sanctuaries, and then of course when we gather on Easter Sunday to welcome the Risen Christ!

We have made the difficult decision to move our 7:00 am Sonrise Service from the Range Light Park in Presque Isle to the sanctuary at the Grand Lake Community Chapel, as the parking lot and walkway to the pavilion at the park are still snow covered and slippery, making access dangerous. We’ll still worship, and we’ll still enjoy a potluck breakfast at 8:00 am. All are welcome!

Blessings, Karen and Greg

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

While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:47-48

Pastor’s Message

March 26, 2026 ~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 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 dry streets, driveways, and parking logs, and let us be glad that the weather forecasts aren’t calling for any significant snowfall in the near term! Maybe, 5 days into spring, we can actually begin to think about gardens and lawns! And something other than heavy coats and boots! It’s been a heck of a winter, but hopefully we’re almost ready to declare “it’s over!”

What’s not over is the holy season of Lent. We have just over a week to continue with our Lenten discipline(s), preparing the way of the Lord in our hearts and souls. A lot can happen in a week plus a couple of days, so if you’re not feeling quite ready, that’s OK! You have more than enough time to make a change or two in the way you approach your faith life, to allow the Holy Spirit to fill your soul, to allow Jesus Christ to come alongside you and walk with you. To allow God to lift you up if you’re feeling down or lost. Stay the course, if you’re feeling pretty good about where you are; make a course correction if you’re off track, or invest time in focusing your energy on the Divine presence in your life if you haven’t yet done so. It’s never too late to welcome God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit to be a part of each and every day.

Blessings,
Karen and Greg

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

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

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

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