Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, February 14, 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 bright sunshine to welcome Valentine’s Day, a day for celebrating love. And let us be glad for Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Season of Lent.  St. Valentine, the patron saint of lovers and beekeepers, was priest and physician in Rome in the 3rd Century, who (according to legend), signed a letter “from your Valentine” to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and healed from blindness.  An alternative legend suggests that St. Valentine secretly married couples so that the husbands couldn’t be drafted to serve in a war.  Either way, St. Valentine was guided by love to serve others.

And we are guided by love to serve others, and to serve the church.  On this Ash Wednesday, love calls us to repentance and discipline as we prepare for Christ’s Passion and Resurrection at Easter.  Through the simple act of the imposition of ashes, we are reminded of where we came from and to where we will return when the time comes for us to be called home.  Actually, it’s more accurate to say that we are reminded of from whom we came, and to whom we shall return; Almighty God.  Ash Wednesday, and the Season of Lent that follows, is an invitation to each one of us to draw closer to the Divine so that we can better hear what changes in our lives will allow us to live in full communion with God and Jesus Christ, and those who share the journey of life with us.  We’ve been saying this for years, but it bears repeating; Lent is not about “giving something up” in a superficial act of contrition.  Lent is about setting aside distractions and temptations so that we can focus on what really matters – our relationship with God, and our walk with Christ.  Join us in this part of the journey!!

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

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, February 7, 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 bright, sunny day, and let us be glad for the abundant blessing that our Lord has given to us!  We all know that Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow last Thursday, which means an early spring, but given that the little rodent has been correct in his prognostications only 39% of the time, none of us should be sharpening up the lawn mower blades and putting away the snow shovels any time soon!  We hate to burst anyone’s bubble, but winter is going to be with us for a while.

As hard as it is to believe, a week from today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent; this Sunday we will observe the Transfiguration of the Lord, when he became radiant in his glory and his divinity was affirmed.  While few among us have experienced anything remotely like Christ’s transformation, each of us have been transformed by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and by changing our lives to follow in The Way.  When we accepted Christ, we became a new being; it doesn’t matter if that acceptance came as a youngster, or in middle age, or near the end of our Earthly existence – we were made new, and in a way unique to each of us, radiant.  All of us shine with the light of Christ, when we’re willing to let our light shine through the dreariness of a routine day, or through the darkness of suffering and pain, or through the delights of joys and successes.  It’s up to us if we’re going to shine, or put our light under a basket so that no one can see it; at this time of transition, we encourage you to let your light shine bright on all whom you meet.  And to let it shine on yourselves, because sometimes we’re unwilling to embrace the light for ourselves.  And that would be a tragedy.

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

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, January 31, 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 pleasant day to end the month of January, and let us be glad for the ease of getting around that we’re enjoying in recent days!  Following the disruption to our routines that resulted from the big storm a couple of weeks ago, this is a nice break; but as we all know, winter is nowhere near being done with us!  We live Up North, after all!!

Tomorrow, the pages of the calendar turn from January to February; a new month dawns, full of promise and possibility.  This year, February is a Leap Year, so we’ll have an extra day to enjoy the upcoming Season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday (February 14th).  That’s kinda’ special; while Leap Years come around every four years, it doesn’t always happen that Ash Wednesday, and therefore Lent, falls in the month of February.  We’ve got a couple of weeks to think about how we might make use of this extra day, and each of us will have a different answer to that question, but let us gently suggest that an extra day of focus on our faith can’t be anything but good.  An extra day of prayer can’t be anything but good, an extra day of studying Scripture can’t be anything but good.  As an entirely practical matter, an extra day to take care of the business of life can’t be anything but good, whether that business involves cleaning the basement or organizing your sock drawer; but it’s a rare thing indeed to be blessed with an extra day in the midst of a special season to deepen our relationship with the Divine.  Let us all rejoice and be glad for the gift of extra time!

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

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way
you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, January 10, 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 arrival of winter (??) and let us be glad for the men and women who go out in the teeth of the storm to clear away the snow so that we can travel in safety.  Or if you prefer, let us rejoice in the arrival of winter, and let us be glad for the warmth of hearth and home, good books, and classic movies on TV.  Either way, those of us who have been hoping for snow so that we can get our winter toys out of storage are happy indeed; and those of us who prefer warmer weather can curl up next to the fire with a warm beverage and sneer at the snow blanketing the earth.

Days like this remind us of the sometimes-unpredictable trajectory of life.  True enough, the weather forecasters gave us something of a head’s up earlier in the week; but with the usual caveats about when and how much and how long, we’re conditioned to take their prognostications with a grain of salt. And so today’s snowfall was heavier than some had predicted, less than some had feared, and generally disruptive to our plans.  How marvelous!  Our carefully laid out plans probably won’t come to fruition today, because we’ve had to clear our driveways, or schools are closed and so the kids are at home, or an anticipated delivery didn’t happen.  But consider the possibilities that are now available; there’s that book we’ve wanted to finish since before Christmas, a project or two that we haven’t been able to find the time to address, or maybe there’s a devotion or Bible study that we’ve wanted to pick up; now that would be a great use of a snowy January day, wouldn’t it?  As we read in Ecclesiastes, “There is a time for every matter under Heaven,” and many of us have been presented with some unplanned time today.  So how about picking up that devotion, or Bible, or prayer guide, and spend some of this day communing with your Lord and Savior, your indwelling Holy Spirit, and your Heavenly Father?  They’d love to spend the day with you!!

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

There is a time for everything, and a season for
every activity under the heavens Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, January 3, 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 this 9th Day of Christmas, and let us be glad for three more days to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child!  And let us rejoice in the nine ladies dancing with joy as the Season of Christmas continues, and let us be glad that no more wildlife is expected to arrive in our homes – partridges, turtledoves, French hens, geese, and swans are quite enough!

  A new year has dawned, and the news from around the world is pretty much bad; ongoing wars, earthquakes, aviation accidents, and unrest in cities.  Not much reason to be dancing with joy, is there?  Except there is.  There always is.  For winter sports enthusiasts, the weather is finally coming around to a more seasonable pattern; for non-winter sports enthusiasts, there are fireplaces and hot cocoa and good books to enjoy.  For all of us, there are the unlimited possibilities of a new year, and there are the unlimited possibilities of our lives with Christ.  Remember that in his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes (4:13) “I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” and that throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, dancing is embraced as a means of honoring God, so does it not follow that since we can do all things through Christ, we shouldn’t refrain from dancing with joy as a way of expressing our gratitude?  Now, we understand that not everybody is a gifted dancer, and that a lot of us are entirely uncomfortable with the idea of dancing in public, but maybe every now and again over the course of the year to come, we can overcome our fears and engage in an impromptu moment of unbridled joyful dancing.  What can it hurt, and what benefits might it bring?  Happy New Year!! 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

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

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, December 27, 2023


Greetings in Christ!

        This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in this Season of Christmas, and let us be glad for the ongoing celebration of the birth of the Christ Child that is ours to claim!  We hope the three French hens that your true love gave to you today aren’t making too much noise, and that the two turtledoves that you received yesterday aren’t being too messy…  Bet you just can’t wait for the pipers and drummers to show up just before Epiphany rolls around on January 6^th!

        As we work our way through the twelve days of the Christmas Season, whether or not the animals, gold rings, and performers come to your house as the popular carol describes, we hope that you can take time each and every day to think and pray about the birth of Christ means to you.  As the excitement of Christmas Day begins to fade, as the wrapping paper is cleaned up and the cookies are slowly consumed; what does the birth of a baby boy in the ancient Middle East really mean?  We all know what we’re “supposed” to say; love came down at Christmas, light came into the world, the Prince of Peace has come to rule the nations.  But each of us receives the gift of Christ in ways that are unique to us, because we are all unique individuals, and this short season of the church year blesses us with a rare opportunity to think and pray about how we want to incorporate Christ into our lives.  Without a doubt, those descriptions of Jesus Christ that we’ve heard throughout our lives are absolutely true, but how do these descriptions fit into your relationship with the Son of God?  Do they fill you with wonder, or with fear?  Do they inspire you, or intimidate you?  Have you given yourself over entirely to him, or are you holding back a bit?  There are no right answers, but there is one wrong one– saying “no” to the gift that is Christ Jesus our Lord.

Blessings to you during this holy season!

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 have joy and gladness,

and many will rejoice at his birth. Luke 1:14

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, December 20, 2023


Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in this last full day of autumn, and let us be glad for the winter solstice that arrives at 10:27 p.m. EST on Thursday!  The rather wild, unseasonable swings in the weather over the course of this fall has had us raking leaves on one day, shoveling snow the next, and hanging on for dear life in gale-force winds on the day that followed!  Here’s hoping that the arrival of winter, on the shortest day of the year, will lend a degree of predictability to our days!

Something else that will lend a degree of predictability is Christmas Day; most of us have well-defined, predictable routines for the great day on which we celebrate the birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, that have evolved over many years.  Of course, we hope that you will join us in worship on Christmas Eve, as we hold our traditional candlelight services; but the next morning when we awake, everything will have changed.  Certainly many of us will gather ’round the Christmas tree, some in our jammies, some in our holiday best, some with a steaming mug of coffee (or hot chocolate); many of us will exchange gifts with our loved ones, delight in watching our children or grandchildren tear open their packages, or sit quietly with our special love.  All of us, ALL of us, should remember what the day is really all about, and focus our attention on the only gift that really matters – the Christ Child.  It seems that often this little detail is overlooked in our celebrations, that the reason for the season is overshadowed by the tinsel glittering on the tree or the contents of the next package to be opened; don’t let that happen this year.  Enjoy your traditions, revel in your loved ones, but above all else, honor the Light of the World.  After all, it’s His big day!

Blessings to you during this holy season!

Karen and Greg

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

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, December 6, 2023


Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in this crisp late autumn day and let us be glad that we have twelve days left to take advantage of the gift of Advent to finalize our preparations for the arrival of the Christ Child!  Some among us are rejoicing at the lack of snow and are glad for clear roads, sidewalks, and driveways; some among us are sad about the lack of snow, because wintertime toys are sitting idle.  Rest assured that the snow will come, and that those who are sad today will be rejoicing when the ground is covered with a pristine white blanket.

In the meantime, we are reminded that this coming Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, is “joy” Sunday; we will light the pink candle on the Advent wreath, and we will be called to rejoice at the approaching birth of Jesus.  Also known as Gaudete Sunday from the Latin word for rejoice, this day invites us to celebrate with joy all the gifts and blessings we enjoy as children of the Most High God, and to eagerly anticipate the joy of Christmas Day.  But how truly joyful can we be when the world around us seems bound and determined to tear itself apart?  How are we to rejoice when we hear of wars, crime, devastating storms and earthquakes, and economic distress?  We can rejoice because the promise made to us is that the days are surely coming when all things will be made right; truth and justice will prevail, light will overcome the darkness, and love will rule the Earth.  We aren’t told when these things will come to pass, but we know that they are coming; and we know that the process of fixing the challenges of the world will get an enormous boost on Christmas Day.  We have much to be thankful for, and therefore many reasons to rejoice.  We wish you all the very best as our Advent observations continue.

Blessings to you during this holy season.

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 as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, December 6, 2023


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 joys of the season and let us be glad that we have more than two weeks left to finish preparing the way of the Lord in our hearts and souls!  We know that the last-minute shopping push is well underway, with stores and on-line retailers urging us to hurry up and buy, but there’s no last-minute push to get ready for that which truly matters; we will celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25th, and we’re confident that we will be ready to receive him.

   Have you ever wondered what Advent and Christmas would look like if the holidays hadn’t become so heavily commercialized?  If, in the words of Ebenezer Scrooge, Christmas hadn’t become a “humbug – a waste of time and money. A false and commercial festival, devoutly to be ignored.”  Even during the 19th Century, when Charles Dickens penned “A Christmas Carol,” there was some sentiment that the true meaning of Christmas, the reason for the season, if you will, had been lost to a flurry of buying and selling; it’s only been magnified in the centuries that have followed.  It would be an interesting exercise to try to identify just when it was that this profoundly religious festival began to turn into the “false and commercial festival” that old Ebenezer described, but that is a task for a different day.  Today, our task is to embrace Advent, to embrace the true meaning of the candles on the Advent wreath; to embrace the little child that is to be born to us; and to make hope, peace, joy, and love the touchstones of our lives from this day forward. 

Blessings to you during this holy season.

Karen and Greg

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

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
1 John 4:16b

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, November 29, 2023


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 blanket of fresh snow on the ground, and let us be glad that the weather forecast is offering us a bit of a respite over the course of the next few days so that those of us who haven’t completed all of our change-of-season preparations can catch up!  And yes, that includes your pastors…

This week is kind of unique; we’re not yet into the Season of Advent, but we’re no longer in “Ordinary Time,” those days following Pentecost that make up most of the church year.  This week is very much an in-between time, that is best used to finalize our preparations for the season of preparation and waiting that we know as Advent.  Preparing to prepare might seem to be something of a head-scratcher, but bear with us for a moment– preparing to prepare involves clearing our decks of clutter and distraction, whether we’re talking about getting ready for a big project around the house or getting ready to observe a holy Advent, during which our entire focus is on preparing the way of the Lord in our hearts, minds, and souls.  We have been presented with a rare opportunity to tie up all the loose ends of our faith lives so that the incredible, amazing, wondrous, and glorious events leading up to the birth of our Savior can be celebrated without reservation.  So take advantage of this week to prepare for the season of preparation; it will be well worth the effort!!

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

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42