Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Greetings in Christ!

He is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!  We pray that this crisp Up North morning inspires you to rejoice and be glad in the day that the Lord has made; as we write this message, the sky is crystal-clear, the temperature is around 30, and the snow (yes, we said snow!) that fell in the early morning hours has pretty much melted away.  None of us should be surprised, it’s Michigan after all, but the irony of seeing boats on trailers being towed by snow-covered vehicles isn’t lost on us.  At least what fell on the ground wasn’t shovelable!

Tomorrow, April 25th, marks the halfway point between Easter and the Day of Pentecost, which makes it the perfect day to look back and remember the glories of Easter Sunday, and to look forward to the joy of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit will fill all believers with its eternal and powerful presence.  This is not a day to begin to forget Easter; much better to take a moment to reflect on how our lives were changed that day, and to recommit to living every day as Easter people.  People filled with the hope and promise of the Resurrection, people dedicated to loving one another, to generosity and compassion and forgiveness.  These 50 days of the Season of Easter are such an important time, so we encourage you to make good use of them to strengthen your relationship with God and Christ Jesus in anticipation of the arrival of the third person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit.  Let these days continue the transformation into complete Christian brothers and sisters, so that from this point forward we live with the unlimited confidence of the children of God.
Blessings to you!

Karen and Greg

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


“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this, all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Greetings in Christ!

He is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!  Our journey from Easter to Pentecost continues, and so the traditional greeting of the season remains fully in force!  On this breezy Up North day, let us rejoice and be glad in the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice that the damaging winds of last week are considerably calmer today, and let us be glad that the forecast is free from any hint of snow!  Maybe, just maybe, it’s safe to put away the snow shovels and window scrapers – but don’t put them too far into the back of the garage!

    While it may seem as if the winds of Pentecost have arrived a few weeks ahead of time, rest assured that there’s still plenty of time to cement our relationship with the Risen Lord before the Holy Spirit arrives, which is the core reason that the Season of Easter is 50 days long.  Each Sunday, we’re presented with a passage from the Acts of the Apostles that recounts the incredible works done by our ancestors in faith, and are reminded each week that the apostles did nothing on their own; they performed the miraculous works through their reliance and trust in Christ Jesus, which is a pretty big hint that we are able to do some pretty awesome things if we rely on and trust in Christ Jesus as well!  We’ve said it many times before, but it bears repeating on this windy day; miracles happen every day, and every day ordinary believers are part of those miracles.  Every day, believers in the medical professions use their skills and gifts to relieve pain, cure illnesses, and save lives.  Every day, believers in all manner of uniforms serve and protect their fellows, preventing harm and providing immediate relief.  Every day, believers find ways to support those in need through action, donations, and prayer.  Don’t think these are miraculous acts?  Think again; any time any person shifts their attention away from themselves and onto another, sacrificing their time, talent, and treasure to make a positive difference in the life of another, a small miracle has taken place.  Everyone reading this note has the potential to be a miracle worker, because we believe in a higher power than ourselves.  Thanks be to God for all the miracles that will be performed today!


Blessings to you!

Karen and Greg

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

   “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:23

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, April 10, 2024


Blessings to you!

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 crystal-clear skies and comfortable temperatures, and let us be glad that the forecast doesn’t appear to have any “shovelable” events on the horizon!  Spring Up North is unfolding in fine fashion, and that should make all of us happy, indeed!

And continuing our celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord should make all of us happy, indeed!  As we walk with the Risen Christ on the path to his Ascension and then on to Pentecost, we are blessed to be reminded of the encounters Jesus had with his disciples and others, whether on the road to Emmaus or on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and others beside.  This season presents us with countless opportunities to journey with Christ, to encounter him in all that we do and everywhere we go; as the weather improves, and many of us turn our attention to our gardens and yards (and maybe our summertime toys), we can talk with Jesus, sharing our thoughts and joys and concerns.  We can listen to the voice of our Savior, and let his words soak into our souls.  We can express our frustrations, trusting that Jesus will not be bothered that we’re having a tough day; he gets it, and only wants to help.  We invite you to invite Jesus to join you during the Season of Easter (and beyond), as you go about the business of shifting gears from winter to spring; the transition will be richer and fuller than you can imagine!

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

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, April 3, 2024


Blessings to you!

He is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!  This first Wednesday in the Season of Easter started out with incredible winds and torrents of rain, and then settled down into an overcast and chilly day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice that reported power outages from the high winds are few in our area, and let us be glad that we’re able to stay warm and dry on these early spring days.  It’s a little bit unclear if we’re going to be seeing heavy, wet snow in the next couple of days in Presque Isle County or if it’s going to be kinda’ sunny, but we know that sometime in the foreseeable future it will be warm enough to get outside without boots and heavy coats!  Yayyy!!!

Wasn’t Easter Sunday magnificent?  The sun crested the horizon at the Sonrise Service to the delight and inspiration of all in attendance, and the day only got better from there!  Worship in our sanctuaries filled our hearts and brightened our spirits, preparing all to go out into the world praising God and sharing the familiar (and powerful) greeting of “He is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!”  And now we are blessed with the opportunity to live as free and forgiven people, strengthened by the Holy Spirit and accompanied by Christ Jesus our Lord in all that we do.  What an amazing gift we have received, and what an amazing gift we are called to share. During these next 50 days, until the day of Pentecost, let our focus be on fully embracing the new lives we have been given, so that nothing can separate us from the love of God in the person of Jesus Christ, to borrow a bit from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.  The stone has been rolled away, not only the stone that sealed the tomb of our Savior, but the stone that has kept our hearts sealed from expressing our true nature to the world – a nature of love, joy, compassion, and peace.  Easter makes us all new; the Season of Easter allows us to embrace that newness.  Let’s not miss out on this incredible opportunity!

Karen and Greg

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

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and

with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 27, 2024



Blessings to you!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in the first week of spring being “in the can,” as the film industry likes to say, and let us be glad that the weather forecast for the next few days doesn’t look like we’ll be celebrating with a “white Easter!”  In fact, we may well be enjoying a bright and sunny Sonrise Service at Range Light Park on Easter!  Won’t that be nice?

Here at the midpoint of Holy Week, it’s time to assess our readiness for the Day of Days that is only about 90 hours away; not our readiness for family gatherings or Easter egg hunts or attending worship (as important as those things are), but our readiness to welcome the Risen Christ as the prophesies are fulfilled and our lives are changed.  Our journey through Lent has nearly come to an end, and so we might be looking forward to indulging in some of the foods and treats we set aside for Lent, or perhaps letting go of an intentional prayer and study practice we took on for Lent.  Regardless, we are on the cusp of celebrating a life-changing, world-changing event in the death, burial, and Resurrection of the Son of Man, and we must ask; are we ready?  Are we ready to be changed, are we ready to reaffirm our faith, are we ready to live into hope and joy and forgiveness and love?  Are we ready to shout “He is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed” with believers around the world and right here in Presque Isle County?  Are we ready to continue the celebration for the 50 days of Easter, are we ready to welcome the Holy Spirit on Pentecost?  Are we ready to surrender ourselves fully to service in the kingdom of God here on Earth?  Lots of questions, hopefully only one answer; YES!!

May you and your loved ones enjoy a blessed and uplifting Easter!

Karen and Greg

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

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Blessings to you!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in the arrival of spring, and let us be glad for the glorious sunshine and warmth that greeted us this morning!  OK, sarcasm over; the weather outside is truly frightful as we write this message, with blowing lake-effect snow, cold temperatures, and gusty winds that are touching 35 mph (which only makes it feel colder…).  The fact remains that the Lord has given us another day to enjoy, even if we’re having to enjoy it wrapped up in a blanket and sipping hot cocoa.  Have no fear, spring weather will get here, eventually!

But, given that it is the first full day of spring, the cherished tradition of spring cleaning is front of mind for many of us.  With Easter only days away, our minds are focused on getting our homes ready to host family gatherings, planning for special meals, and seeking good hiding places for Easter eggs or Easter baskets (if that’s part of your family traditions).  It’s amazing how much “stuff” we can accumulate over the course of a year, both in our homes and in our hearts and minds.  We know some of us are meticulous about keeping our homes clean and clutter-free, and we know some of us aren’t quite so good at it, but we know for certain that all of us can do a better job of keeping our hearts and minds clean and clutter-free.  The waning Season of Lent has been an opportunity to jump-start the task of clearing away unnecessary junk in our souls, and for many among us it’s a good thing that we have another 10 days or so to finish the job; but what about those corners of our souls that we may have neglected during Lent?  Those dark corners where we harbor grudges and jealousies?  The time has come, with the advent of spring and the nearness of Easter, to dig into the darkest spaces and let the Light of Christ shine into them, cleansing them once and for all of those things that are corrosive to our souls.  This is going to be a heavy lift for some of us, but a desperately needed one, if we are to be truly prepared for the Passion of Our Lord and his Resurrection!  There’s no more time to put off this hard work; and trust us, we’ll all be better for having tackled the job.

Karen and Greg

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

Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 13, 2024


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 waning days of winter, and let us be glad that the beginning spring is exactly one week away!  This past week should remind us all that the old adage about Michigan weather rings true, and that as excited as many of us are about the prospect of getting outside into our gardens, best to “keep our powder dry” and not start switching out snow-fighting equipment for sharpened lawn mower blades just yet!

Let us also rejoice and be glad for the continuation of the Season of Lent, and the rich opportunity before us to keep drawing closer to God in preparation for Christ’s Passion and Resurrection.  Let us rejoice and be glad for the opportunity we’ve been blessed with to continue de-cluttering our spiritual lives, eliminating distractions and taking advantage of times of meditation and prayer that open our hearts to God’s presence.  Let us rejoice and be glad for the Holy Spirit that indwells our hearts, and let us rejoice and be glad for Jesus’ presence as we walk with him towards the cross.  These days of Lent are such a valuable gift, a gift to be savored; sometimes it can be hard to stick with the disciplines we’ve chosen for these 40 days, as the temptations beckon us to sneak a sweet treat or skip a day of Bible readings, but we’re so close to the fulfillment of our preparations that it would be a shame to give in.  So we urge you to keep the faith, be strong in your Lenten journey, and know that when the great day of Easter arrives, you’ll be ready to embrace the gift of forgiveness and eternal life!!

Blessings to you!

Karen and Greg

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

Do not quench the Spirit.  1 Thessalonians 5:19

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 6, 2024


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 late winter morning, and let us be glad for the promise of spring that is now only two weeks away!  We know that there are many among us who have been disappointed in the “odd” winter, with snow coming in big dumps only to melt away in a matter of days, putting a damper on winter sports activities; but there are also many among us who have enjoyed relatively easy driving and less time spent clearing driveways and sidewalks.  That being said, let’s not be too quick to declare winter over – strange things tend to happen Up North as seasons change…

We’re now about halfway through the Season of Lent, and it’s a good time to check in on our progress towards the cross, to take a status check on our preparations; most importantly our spiritual preparations.  We know we spend a lot of time touching on this subject, but it’s important.  Really important.  While we all know that Easter is the most important day in the church year, and a day that many of us have celebrated many, many times before; it’s still a day that we must prepare ourselves for if we’re going to fully appreciate the lessons and gifts the day offers us.  The good news is that we are blessed to have 25 more days to prepare; the less-than-good news is that we have 25 more days to be distracted, tempted, or knocked off-course in our journey.  This is not the time to relax, it is the time to sharpen our focus on what lies ahead.  And what lies ahead is Holy Week and the Passion of Christ, and ultimately the amazing gift of the Resurrection of our Lord.  So let’s recommit ourselves to making ourselves as ready as we possibly can, so that this Easter is the most special one of our lives!

Blessings to you!

Karen and Greg

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

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, February 28, 2024


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 Season of Lent, and let us be glad for four more weeks to grow ever-closer to our God!  It’s a little harder to rejoice in the truly “unique” weather we’ve been experiencing this winter, especially the last few days; we certainly were glad for warm temperatures and sunny skies on Tuesday, not so much for the gale force winds and bitter cold of today!  Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if winter snow was still on the ground, but let’s be honest – today is downright nasty in terms of the blowing.  What’s that old saying about Michigan weather – if you don’t like it, wait a few minutes and it will change?  It seems as if we’ve had the entire meteorological cycle run its course in the last 24 hours!

     Weird weather notwithstanding, this is a special day, a gift from God, as are all days; and so there is much to be joyful about, much to celebrate.  We’re not dealing with any natural disasters in Northern Michigan – and no, high winds and cold temperatures aren’t a disaster, it’s normal.  We are blessed with a relatively high level of safety and security, most of us are able to enjoy the warmth of our homes and enough food to eat, and regardless of the season, there is beauty all around us to marvel at.  Last night, your pastors stepped outside and were awed by the majesty of the stars in the clear sky.  Above all, we are walking with our Lord and Savior towards the glories of Easter Sunday, when all things will be made new; our sins forgiven, the promise of eternal life is ours to claim, and the wonderful fellowship of brothers and sisters all around the world!  Today is cold and blustery, but today holds the promise of a new tomorrow; a promise of limitless possibilities, the joy of being in the presence of the Almighty, and the peace of sharing the day with Christ Jesus.  Praise God for his incredible gifts!

Blessings to you!

Karen and Greg

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

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!  Psalm 107:1

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, February 21, 2024


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 bright sunshine to start our day, and let us be glad that the bitter cold of the recent past is no longer with us!  That said, for those amongst us who are hoping that today represents the fulfillment of Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of an early spring, please bear in mind that today is one full month until the first day of spring; we’ve still got at least a few days of winter left, in spite of what the redoubtable groundhog might think!

The ups and downs of the weather remind us of the ups and downs of the Lenten season, the success and shortfalls in our disciplines for this time of reflection and preparation as we continue our journey to the cross.  Regardless of how you planned to adjust your life so that God could be a more present part of your life during these 40 days, some days we fulfill our goals, and some days we stumble.  If your plan including avoiding certain foods, there are days when the forbidden fruit is accidentally consumed, and there’s a twinge of guilt; if your plan called for avoiding certain forms of entertainment, there are days when the TV powers up with the “wrong” channel selected, or a particular magazine hits the mailbox and you mindlessly flip through the pages before you catch yourself and set it down, and there’s a twinge of guilt.  Our pastoral advice to each of you whom might have stumbled (or will stumble before the season comes to an end), is GET OVER IT!!  Guilty feelings over a moment of weakness or an inadvertent choice are simply wasted energy; when we stumble, we should get back up, dust ourselves off, commit ourselves to continuing to do the very best we can to live out our plan, and keep going!  As has often been said, nobody’s perfect; all have erred and fallen short of the glory of God.  And God loves us still, God encourages us still, God forgives us still.  We are blessed to have God as our most ardent supporter and our most enthusiastic cheerleader; so let us forge ahead with this special season, live a Holy Lent, and reap the benefits of growing ever closer to the Almighty.

Blessings to you!

Karen and Greg

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

As you, therefore, have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. Colossians 2:6