Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, December 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 Christmas Day being only eight days away, and let us be glad for those eight days to deal with any last-minute tasks.  Whether it is a gift or two we still need to get, or special treats to prepare, it’s good that we have just a few more days to take care of holiday business before the holiday actually arrives!  And let us be glad for a bit of a warm-up outside, so some of the accumulated snow and ice can melt away making our travels more convenient, and most importantly, safer!

These last few days of the Advent season can easily become so packed with activities, and so filled with anxiety over what’s left to be done, that we can lose the whole season to the last-minute scrambles; and that would be a tragedy.  All of our preparations, both spiritual and secular, have led us to the cusp of Christmas, with all of the hope, peace, joy, and love that the season embodies.  We urge you to not lose the gifts of the season to a quest for one last gift, or one more plate of cookies.  Those things that are truly important will be taken care of in due time; maybe this is a good time to remind you that Christmas isn’t a one-day event, but a twelve-day season of celebration. So, if you feel as if you’ve run out of time, you haven’t!  Embrace these last days of Advent, and make the upcoming birth of Jesus the Christ be the focus of all that you do!


Blessings,


Karen and Greg

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



“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”  Psalm 34:1

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, December 3, 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 beauty of newly-fallen snow, and let us be glad for those good folks who clear the newly-fallen snow off of the roads!  And let us also be glad for the good folks who clear our driveways and parking lots, especially if those good folks are our loved ones!  True, we got quite the dumping after Thanksgiving, and true, our lives were disrupted a bit, but here we are, safe and warm and ready for the next go-round of winter weather!

Most importantly, we are fully into the blessed Season of Advent!  The first candle on the Advent wreath, the candle of Hope, has been lighted, shining its warm glow into our sanctuaries, homes, and hearts.  The first step in our preparations for remembering of the birth of the Christ Child has been taken; we’re looking forward with absolute confidence and trust to our celebration of this world-changing event.  The challenge for us, in these trying and frightening times, is to truly embrace the hope that the candle represents; the news of the day is so often bereft of hope, yet we are called to live into hope for a joyous tomorrow, because such joy is promised to us by God Almighty.  As we walk the path towards Christmas Day, let us remember the candle of Hope; let it illuminate your way forward, let it fill you with determination to resist the voices that would turn you from light into darkness, by succumbing to fear.  Rejoice and be glad for the holy Season of Advent that beckons us to celebrate this time of preparation!

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 there is surely a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18:

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, November 26, 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 opportunity to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, and let us be glad for all that we are thankful for! We probably should be glad that the predicted severe weather has not reached us yet, but since we know that it’s all but inevitable and will get here in due time, we urge all to make necessary preparations. In whatever weather arrives though, let’s not lose the joy of the holiday in the process!!

Thanksgiving Day kicks off the holiday season, with parades and football games and delicious food and gatherings of family and friends; it’s a very special day, loaded with cherished traditions. We wish each and every person reading this message the most joyous day possible! But we also wish each and every person reading this message the spiritual space needed to reflect on all the reasons we all have to be thankful. Even if life isn’t perfect, even if there have been bumps on the road of life in the past year, there are reasons to be thankful. We’ve been conditioned by the secular world to be disappointed unless we’re fabulously wealthy, or if we don’t have a gleaming white smile, or if our skin and hair aren’t flawless. We all know, or should know, that such things cannot define our joy or happiness. The “nice to haves” are exactly that, nice to have; the essentials of life, those things that we can be truly thankful for, are hope, faith, family, friends, and most of all love. The love of God, the grace of Christ Jesus, and the companionship of the Holy Spirit are gifts worthy of our gratitude. And each and every person reading this message has these gifts in abundance; so, let us be truly thankful!

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 everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from the Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, November 19, 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 gift of today and all the wondrous things that God has given to us, and let us be glad for the promise of the great joys that the holiday season will bring! As stressful as Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas can sometimes be (if we allow them be so…), these days are always full of excitement.

Isn’t it interesting to see how many opportunities to give and to share we are presented with at this time of the year? Every day, without fail, we can count on at least three or four requests for donations to worthy causes, each of them designed to tug on our heartstrings through stories and pictures; your pastors are suckers for anything to do with animals, and so it’s hard for us to not grab the phone and pledge our life savings to the Humane Society or ASPCA, or to adopt several dozen puppies! Each of you most likely have a soft spot or two for a special cause, whether it be for children, veterans, the homeless, or the hungry. And you know what? That’s a very good thing!! As Christians, we are called to care for the “least of these,” and to share from what we have been blessed with as generously as we can. So, when those solicitations for donations come in hot-and-heavy, try to resist the temptation to delete them from your inbox or toss them in the recycling bin before you even read them, and do your best to discern how real the need is; and then set a budget for your charitable giving, and stick to it. There is nothing in our faith tradition that requires that we put ourselves in a tough spot in order to give to others. And remember, if you decide to give, do so with joy, for God loves a cheerful giver!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell: (734) 502-5969 revgregrc@yahoo.com / revgreggl@yahoo.com revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:25

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, November 11, 2025

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 recent snowfall has melted away, and let us be glad for the “head’s up” from Mother Nature that it’s time to get serious about our winter preparations. Those of us who hadn’t dealt with the leaves in our yards (and yes, that includes your pastors) have a bit of a reprieve to take care of that bit of business! Our local retailers have already stocked up on ice melter and snow shovels, so it’s time to get ready for what’s to come – no excuses!

Getting ready for what’s to come extends to our faith journeys as well. In just a couple of weeks, we’ll be entering into the Season of Advent; the paraments in the chancels at Westminster and the Grand Lake Chapel will change to blue, Advent wreaths will be found near the pulpits, and the scriptures on Sunday will focus on preparing the way of the Lord. Of course, we’ll also be inundated with ads on TV about the latest “must have” gifts, our mailboxes will be overloaded with catalogs, and many of us will lose hours of precious time to untangling strings of lights. In the midst of all these things, and many more, we cannot let ourselves forget what we’re getting ready for; the birth of the Christ Child. We don’t mean to diminish the importance (and the joy) of getting ready for the season, we simply want to remind you of the “why.” The “why” is what changes the world; the “why” is what changes lives. As you get ready for what lies just a handful of days down the road, make sure the “why” is front of mind. And front of heart.

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 now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 1 John 2:28

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, November 5, 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 day to snuggle in and watch the world go by, and let us be glad that we don’t have to break out the snow shovels just yet! Today in Presque Isle County is an invitation to light a fire in the fireplace (if you have one), and be at peace with a good book or a classic movie. Sometimes, even when we have tons of things to do, circumstances (or the weather) force us to embrace some down time.

We are so often surrounded by noise and bustling about. There are just so many things to do, so much to take care of as the season marches ever-forward to winter; our to-do lists are endless, and seemingly grow by the day. How can we possibly suggest that maybe this is great day to take a rest? Because it’s good for us! Look to Genesis 2:1-3; “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” The origin of sabbath, the day of rest, that so many of us are so very bad at embracing. If God rested, who are we to think that we don’t have to? So lest you think days like today, when the weather is gloomy and the leaves are piling up, are “lost” in some way, consider that God (who values rest) is trying to tell you something. Just a thought…

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

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

The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 29, 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 blue skies, puffy white clouds, and sunshine, and let us be glad for furnaces that take the chill out of the air in our homes and places of work! Autumn is a great time of the year, but also a time of great contrasts; paraphrasing a sign we once saw in a gift shop, “lovely to look at, delightful to behold, but if you think it’s warm outside, you’re about to be disappointed!” OK, perhaps not the best prose you’ve ever seen, but the point is made. We’re well beyond shorts and t-shirts, and well into sweatshirts and jeans!

Soon enough, Daylight Saving Time will come to an end (this weekend – remember to “fall back” on Saturday night), and our mornings will be brighter and our afternoons darker. As October fades into November, we’re entering a time of great contrasts in the church. Soon enough, Ordinary Time will give way to Advent, following the celebrations of Thanksgiving Day in the United States, and the decor of our sanctuaries will reflect the joys of Christmas yet to come. Soon enough, we’ll be inundated with ads for gift ideas, blurring the lines between the profoundly religious holiday that is Christmas and the profoundly secular season of overspending. While it may seem to be a bit early to take a stand for the true meaning of Christmas, we’re inviting you to hang onto autumn for a while longer. We’re inviting you to embrace the waning days of Ordinary Time in the church year, and allow yourself the peace of this calm before the inevitable storm of year-end holidays. Use this time to be still and know that God is everywhere around us.

Blessings, Karen and Greg

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

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out From Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Greetings in Christ!

What a glorious autumn day we are enjoying in the Lower Northern Peninsula! The air is crisp, the skies are blue, and the lovely fall colors cast their luminescence on all in their presence. It seems that even the air surrounding us is infused with a beautiful glow which reflects the bounty of the season.

We had an opportunity last weekend to go on one final camping outing for the season with our daughter, Justice, and our dog, Toby. We were reminded of the many blessings of fall: a toasty campfire on a cool evening, the rustle of leaves as one walks through a campsite, the warm colors reflected in the cool water of a lake, a meal of hot chili, the welcome coziness of a blanket pulled up under a chin when crawling into bed, and the special joy of sharing a simple, but rich, time with loved ones.

There is a particular happiness in our hearts when we are surrounded by the beauty of this harvest time, but even in all it’s glory, this is nothing compared to what we receive from our creator each and every day. In each moment, on each step, through each breath, we travel in the presence of our God who loves us and plans God’s goodness for us. We live within the offer of our Lord’s grace and salvation. And, we are guided and nurtured by the Holy Spirit along our way. Another way to look at this great gift is that we live being carried in the palm of God’s hand; a loving hand that wants only the best for us. Let us actively receive this gift in every season!

Blessings, Karen and Greg

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

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:16

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 15, 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 beginnings of peace in the Middle East, and let us be glad that hostages are being reunited with loved ones. The two-year ordeal suffered by so many has come to an end, and while true and lasting peace is a fragile thing right now, we trust that God is actively at work securing a just and eternal peace for all parties. Let us pray for similar results in Ukraine, and everywhere around the world where violence abounds.

Few of us can fully understand what people in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine have endured, in spite of the images on our screens and written reports of the horrors of war. None of us want to experience what those people have known. But all of us should rejoice that families on both sides of the conflict in the Middle East are being reunited. All of us should pray earnestly for the success of the peace plan, and all of us should pray earnestly for peace in Ukraine. All of us should pray for Christians in Africa who are being persecuted by terrorists, and all of us should pray for peace in the major cities of the United States where protests and unrest are dominating the news. Right now, it seems as if the world is coming apart at the seams; right now, it seems as if there’s nothing good people can do. Of course, we can donate money and goods to relief efforts if our personal resources allow, but the most powerful thing people of faith can do is to pray. Pray without ceasing, to quote the Apostle Paul. Prayer works, even if we think it’s taking far too long. Prayer works because the God to whom we pray wants only good things for all of his children. So pray; pray for peace, pray for kindness, pray for compassion, pray for forgiveness, pray for new beginnings. God hears our prayers, and God acts.

Blessings, Karen and Greg

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

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:16

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

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