Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

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 colors of the season, and let us be glad for at least a couple of more weeks to enjoy them! The strong winds of recent days have certainly helped strip some leaves from the trees, but there are still plenty of beautiful colors to marvel at as the autumn season moves along. Grab a light jacket or a sweater, and get out and enjoy!!f

As we write this message, pop-up ads are showing up on the computer urging us to jump on special gift offerings for Christmas so we don’t miss out on the latest must-have items. Let’s set aside the fact that it isn’t yet Halloween, and that there is plenty of time to deal with Christmas preparations (which shouldn’t be focused solely on finding the “perfect gift”), and be reminded that all things happen in God’s perfect time – not on the timeline of profit and loss statements of retailers. Consider the words of Ecclesiastes 3:1: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. This is a time of transition between seasons, not a time for jumping several weeks ahead. This is a time to savor the here-and-now, not a time to fret about what might be over the horizon. This is a time to celebrate the day we have been blessed with, not a time to be fearful of tomorrow. We have been blessed with a great day; live it out fully and deal with tomorrow, tomorrow.

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

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 bright, sunny morning Up North, and let us be glad for the opportunity to maybe get a little of our seasonal outdoor work taken care of without being bundled up in heavy jackets, and without getting drenched by rain! Or, maybe rejoice and be glad in a quiet walk!

One of the daily devotions your pastors shared this morning was titled “divine order.” This isn’t the first time this particular subject has come up, and it’s one that we have always found to be a helpful reminder; while we may have carefully thought-out, detailed plans for our day, sometimes things happen that throws our plans into disarray. When this happens, and it’s inevitable that sometimes it will, we have a choice — stick to our schedules and plans, and drive ourselves (and maybe those around us) nuts trying to “stay the course,” or accept that God might have other plans for us. And his plans are always better than ours. A traffic delay might protect us from an accident up ahead. An unexpected visitor or phone call might allow us to be of great help to someone in need. A power outage might bless us with a needed respite from a pressure-packed day. A ray of sunshine breaking through dark clouds might remind us that the storms of life are but a temporary concern. We love our schedules and our plans, and we are often upset when they’re disrupted; but consider that perhaps God is behind the disruption, and seek the wisdom and goodness to be found. 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 we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

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 season, and let us be glad for all the things that make fall a wonderful time of the year! Yes, it’s true; at 8:05 pm last night in the Eastern Time Zone, the autumnal equinox occurred, officially ending summer and beginning fall. This season of year brings crisp air, beautiful colors, cozy sweaters, and a bountiful harvest of good things to eat (and yes, donuts and cider count as good things to eat)! But let’s not write off the joys of outdoor recreation just yet; there are still plenty of great boating and camping days, still time for bicycle rides and sitting at a beach!

As we make the shift from summer fun to autumn delights, let’s remember the source of all good things and be thankful; let’s embrace the newness of the season, while remembering the joys of the season just past. There’s no call for lament, only a call to live fully in whatever season of the year, and whatever season of life, we find ourselves in. Sometimes we have to deal with challenges and inconveniences, but we know that with the help of family and friends, and the loving presence of the Divine, we’ll get through it and arrive at God’s right and perfect place in God’s right and perfect time; the trick is to not give up, to keep running the race, and to always trust that we are being upheld and guided by Almighty God, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit in every tough time and in every joyous time of our lives. 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 ________________________________________________________________________________________

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20

Reaching out from Grand Lake Chapel

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, sunny day, and let us be glad for another week of summer! There’s no denying that this has been a rather “odd” summer in many ways, but it’s still hard to beat the season Up North. As we prepare for the inevitable transition to cooler weather, we invite you to join us in the Adopt-A-Highway road cleanup on Tuesday, September 22nd (rain date Thursday, September 24th) to collect trash and other debris from our assigned section of US-23. As always, we’ll meet at the gravel parking lot at the intersection of US-23 and County Road 638. Many hands make for light work, so we hope to see as many of you as possible on Tuesday morning!

Our responsibilities as stewards of God’s creation extend far beyond cleaning up a section of highway; we are called to take good care of the beaches and woods that surround us, to be prudent in our use of fertilizers and other lawn and garden chemicals, and to be careful not to disturb the wildlife with whom we share the Earth. A common sign at trailheads and near campgrounds reads “leave only footprints, take only memories,” which is actually pretty good advice for daily living as well. God has blessed us with tremendous beauty to observe, and amazing things to experience in the great outdoors; let us enjoy his gifts to the fullest, all the while being gentle with Creation.

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 ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.” – Job 12:7-8

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

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 loving support all of you have offered Rev. Karen as she recovers from her shoulder surgery, let us rejoice in the prayers and words of encouragement, and let us be glad for the kindness shared with Dr. Greg in his role as caregiver. We can’t thank you enough for all you’re doing to help us through this time of healing!

And let us rejoice in another summer’s day Up North! OK, it’s a bit overcast and rainy (and we certainly need the rain!), but where else would you rather be? Let us also be glad that summer has another three weeks (give or take) to go! God’s marvelous Creation remains open for business, the business of relaxation, exploration, and fun fellowship. With what’s going on in your pastor’s house-hold right now, we have a heightened sense of appreciation for the children of God who populate our region; good people in the medical profession, emergency responders, marina dockhands, and of course you, our beloved parishioners. It’s humbling to be the ones in need, instead of the ones fulfilling our calling to be of service; and that’s a good thing. It’s easy and joyful to help others in times of challenge, but not so much being on the other end of the equation. There’s a powerful lesson in all of this, not only for your pastors, but for all people; we need one another, in good times and in bad. Our standing ready to help in whatever way possible is the very essence of what it means to live a Godly, Christ-centered life. Setting aside our own needs for a time, and coming to the aid of another, is a part of our collective calling, and all of you have fulfilled that call. Thank you, and may God bless each of you.

With our love, Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell: (734) 502-5969 revgregrc@yahoo.com / revgreggl@yahoo.com revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com ________________________________________________________________________________________ My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

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 lovely mid-August day, and let us be glad that summer has several weeks yet to go! How fortunate we are, how incredibly blessed, to live in such a beautiful place with so many great ways to spend our recreational time! And how wonderful to hear the youngest among us squealing in delight on playgrounds and beaches, and on the amusement rides at the annual Nautical Festival in Rogers City. We encourage you to visit the festival, stroll through the classic car show at Westminster Park, and enjoy your favorite carnival treats!

Traditions like the Nautical Festival keep us connected to our past, and also help point us towards our future as celebrations evolve over time; much-loved carnival rides eventually are replaced by new attractions, and the music playing in the background is different today than it was in the 1970’s (although nothing can beat Motown and the Beach Boys!). Birthdays and anniversaries do the same thing! And the same is true in the church world; Advent to Christmas to Lent to Easter, in a holy cycle of celebration and remembrance that keeps us tied to the origins of our faith and shows us a way forward into the faith of our future. Honored holiday traditions fill us with warmth and joy, while new music inspires us to dream. Beloved stories still bring wonder to our minds, while new understandings of Scripture fill in the blank spaces in those marvelous stories. The awesome, God-led rhythm of life serves to keep us centered in what truly matters; so revel in your traditions, but allow them room to breathe and grow in the fullness of time, so that tradition never ends up equaling “stuffy.”

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 ________________________________________________________________________________________

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

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 overnight soaking rain that replenished our gardens and lawns, and let us be glad for what looks to be a quiet day for indoor activities! As the saying goes, “into each life a little rain must fall,” and today is one of those days. We hope you have a good book to enjoy, or maybe a little shopping to take care of while the sun takes the day off.

Rainy days often give us a bit of time and space to think and pray about our lives, and that’s a very good thing. Without the pressure to be out and about in our all-too-short Up North summers, we can set aside the tools and toys that occupy so much of our time and be still; to re-set our priorities, to sharpen our focus on relationships, to rest. Don’t let the rain outside, which all living things need to survive and thrive, dampen your spirit. As the rain freshens the earth, let your soul be freshened by the quiet time. As God cares for his good creation with the perfect mix of sun and rain, let the Al-mighty care for you with the perfect mix of activity and rest. Embrace the rainy days with as much enthusiasm as you embrace the sunny ones, and remember that there are far more sunny days to enjoy! 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 ________________________________________________________________________________________

“I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” Jeremiah 31:25

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice in an absolutely glorious mid-summer’s day and let us be glad for all the great blessings of an Up North summer! We’re not sure who placed the order for today’s weather, but we want to offer our heartfelt thanks and praise. We hope that you’ll be able to get out and enjoy this day, if at all possible, and allow yourselves to be refreshed and restored by God’s blessings. Remember your sunscreen and sunglasses, but bask in the glory of this wonderful day!

While every day of our lives brings a mix of joys and concerns, let us not dwell on the concerns; that’s not to say that we should ignore issues that come our way, only that we shouldn’t let them blot out the joys. It’s all-too-easy to become absorbed by worry and fear, or to be overtaken by feelings of lack and inadequacy, when the truth is that there are almost always effective responses to the tough things that come our way. As a gentle pastoral reminder, the first response to tough things should be prayer. When less-than-happy news arrives, before charging off to “do something about it,” we should always take a centering breath and seek God’s wisdom and guidance, invite Jesus to come walk with us through the trying times, and welcome the Holy Spirit’s comforting presence into the situation. So often, we want to fix it RIGHT NOW by whatever means are available to us, but the immediate relief we seek may well bring with it unintended consequences; better to be still for a moment, let the shockwave pass by us, and then respond as opposed to reacting. The Triune God will be with us, and the right and perfect outcome will become evident at the right time and in the ideal form. Glorious days like today serve as a reminder that God is here, wherever “here” is for you, wanting only the best for each of us, his beloved children. 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 ________________________________________________________________________________________

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5–6