Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, November 3, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  OK, rejoicing and being glad might be a bit tougher today with snow on the ground and sub-freezing wind chills, but still we can rejoice in the beautiful vista of new-fallen snow on the trees, and be glad that most of us only got a light dusting of snow this morning (unlike our friends over in Gaylord, who got over a foot…)  Let’s look at it this way; the snow will be gone tomorrow, and we’ve been given a “head’s up” on what’s to come!  God is good!

On a more serious note, Monday was All Saints’ Day, a day which the church sets aside to remember all those who have gone on before us into the Church Triumphant.  Not one among us hasn’t known the sting of loss when someone dear to us has let loose the bonds of Earth, yet All Saints’ isn’t intended to be morose; it is a day to celebrate!  Celebrate the lives of those whom we loved, and who loved us; celebrate the happy memories we associate with those whose physical presence is no longer with us; celebrate those lessons we learned from those dear to us.  All Saints’ Day is a gift, a gift of joyful remembrance as we await the day when we will be reunited with all the saints in the Kingdom of Heaven, especially those many special saints who touched our lives.  This week, take time to remember; take time to celebrate and take time to remember that we are ever surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, loving us in ways we cannot yet fully understand.  And remember, snow or not, all the time, God is good!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 27, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice that as October morphs into November, the only things falling on the ground are leaves and a bit of rain, and let us be glad that we have a little more time to get ready for the inevitable snowfalls.  And let us pray fervently that by mentioning the “s” word, we haven’t inadvertently invited an early winter storm to visit Presque Isle County!

As we prepare to greet the month of November, with its several holidays (and most likely a bit of that white stuff on the ground before the end of the month…), let us take some time to reflect on what the first ten months of 2021 has brought us, and what the remaining two months might hold; we’ve seen great progress in combating the COVID-19 virus, and while it’s still with us, the virus isn’t keeping us locked in our homes any longer.  We’ve been able to resume many of our activities, and can reasonably look forward to enjoying the upcoming holidays more-or-less as we choose.  Praise be to God!  Looking forward, we’re about to enter into a holiday-dense period, filled with gatherings and special events that will warm our hearts and fill our spirits; let’s make sure that we’re fully prepared for what is to come, as we give thanks for the blessings of life on November 25^th, and then as we usher in the Season of Advent on the 28^th.  While life may not be exactly as we would wish it to be, we all have much to be thankful for, much to look forward to, and much to sing praises to the Almighty for!

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Proverbs 22:9

You are invited to join us for this
four week Bible Study

God Does His Best Work With Empty
By Nancy Guthrie

We are meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays, November 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th in the Grand Lake Community Chapel fellowship hall. We will begin with a video presentation followed by a discussion. 

-All are Welcome

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 20, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in one more bright, sunshiny, and relatively warm mid-October day, and let us be glad that the weather forecasters have given us fair warning about the changes coming our way.  Nothing to shovel, yet; but certainly cooler and wetter days are ahead.  And that’s to be expected in autumn Up North!

While the weather is changing to what some might call more “normal” for this time of year and almost every day we learn of a new development or advancement in science and technology; it’s good to remember that some things never change, and never will.  Of course, we’re talking about the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.  In a world of continuous change (some of it good, some of it not so good), isn’t it nice to know that those things we hold most dear are unchanging and unchangeable?  Knowing that from your first cup of morning coffee to your last snack before going to bed, the Triune God is surrounding you, protecting you, and guiding you, brings such incredible joy and confidence into our lives.  This is something to be truly thankful for!

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

God Does His Best Work With Empty
By Nancy Guthrie

You are invited to join us for this
four week Bible Study

We are meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays, October 27^th and November 3^rd, 10^th, and 17^th in the Grand Lake Community Chapel fellowship hall. We will begin with a video presentation followed by a discussion.

-All are Welcome-

Wishing you joy and peace in your day! Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 13, 2021 

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 moderate weather, and let us be glad for a little more time to get ourselves ready for the inevitable switch to a more normal autumn!  And let us further rejoice and be glad that tomorrow, October 14th, is National Dessert Day!  We can only imagine the scrumptious treats that will emerge from bakeries, confectioners, and home kitchens tomorrow; maybe for one day, we can set aside our dietary disciplines and indulge.  Hey, it’s only once a year, right??

One discipline we’d encourage you to not set aside is your daily conversation(s) with God; in other words, the discipline of prayer.  Prayer is an incredibly powerful thing; something that any of us who have experienced the amazing feeling of blessed assurance that washes over us after (and during) a heartfelt time of prayer cherish.  We need only think back to our prayer time during worship, when our fellow worshippers share stories of answered prayer, to be reminded that God listens, God hears, and God answers.  Sometimes God’s answer is “no,” sometimes his answer is “not now,” and sometimes his answer is “not what you want, but what I want;” and of course, sometimes his answer is “yes, absolutely!”  But regardless the answer, it is the right one, whether we like it or not; our task, as people of faith, is to accept God’s answer and trust that all will be well.  Many of us have an expectation that God will give us whatever it is we ask for, and are disappointed (if not downright angry) if we don’t get exactly what we say we want; forgetting that God is also known as “God the Father Almighty.”  Just as our earthly parents sometimes rejected our pleas, our Heavenly Father will as well; and just as was the case with our earthly parents, Father always knows best!  Because God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good!

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:8

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 6, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the first Wednesday in October that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in a lovely autumn day, and let us be (very) glad that we don’t have to shovel anything yet!  It seems as if the weather isn’t quite sure what it wants to do from day-to-day, but the days are definitely getting shorter and the general trend is definitely pointing to cooler temperatures; in other words, it’s autumn in Michigan!

How we wish we could say that the change in seasons has brought a positive change in the world around us, but sadly, that isn’t the case; COVID-19 is still impacting our lives in ways big and small, unrest in major cities of the country continues unabated, politicians still seem intent on advancing pet projects and ideologies instead of doing the people’s work, and the economy is showing signs of weakening.  It would be nice if there was at least some good news, wouldn’t it?  Well, there is, and it’s the same good news that we celebrate every day as Christian brothers and sisters!  In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!  Through the power and presence of the living God, all our needs will be met!  Through the limitless grace and love of God, we’re going to come through this rough patch in our lives in fine shape, even if we may arrive at the end of this time a bit different than we started it.  It’s easy to forget that God is good, all the time; and that all the time, God is good, when we’re inundated with negative news stories.  But the truth is that God’s got this, God’s got us, and there’s nothing that the world can throw at us that will ever change that.  Whenever you feel worn down by all that’s happening, remember that as a beloved child of God, everything is going to be OK.  You can take that to the bank!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, September 29, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

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 brisk temperatures, and let us be glad in the ever-intensifying colors of the trees around us!  It’s amazing to see the daily changes in our world, and exciting to anticipate the coming peak of color season; while it’s hard to put away our summer toys, and sad to hear the furnace come on early in the morning on some days, the delights of autumn are ours to embrace.  So let’s embrace them!

As we embrace the new season, let us also allow ourselves to be embraced by God in new ways.  For much of the summer months, we spent times outdoors enjoying the warmth of the sun, maybe spending some time on the water or the golf course; we’ll most likely all be spending a little more time indoors now, settled into a favorite chair, cuddled up in a comfy sweater with a good book.  During the summer, we meet God out in nature, on the beach or in the woods; in the fall, we have the opportunity to meet God next to a fire or out on a color tour.  God is present in all seasons, in all settings, but we are blessed to know him differently.  God embraces us in the gentle breezes and sunshine of summer, and in the crisp air and glorious colors of autumn, if we’ll allow him to do so.  We gently suggest that you choose to return that embrace, and share that embrace with all whom you meet.  Because God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good.  

With our love in Christ,

Karen and Greg

Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:10

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, September 15, 2021 

This is the day of the autumnal equinox that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in a calm (if a bit cool) first day of fall, and let us be glad that the colors are beginning to peek out from a few trees by the side of the road!  As we prepare to bid “farewell” to the warmth of summer, and greet the new season, let us rejoice and be glad for the ongoing cycles of life and the unique joys and blessings of each season!

One of the devotionals that we read every day touched on a subject that we don’t pay enough attention to, in these challenging days of pandemics and strife around the world; cheerfulness.  So many of us are feeling pretty beat-up these days, with good reason; the news is almost universally negative, COVID-19 is surging, politics are beyond ugly, and the Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a brutally cold and long winter.  But we read in Proverbs 15:13 that “A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance.”  Are our hearts not glad?  Is that why we go about with furrowed brows and downcast eyes?  Have we forgotten the great and eternal good news, that in Jesus Christ we are forgiven?  Have we lost sight of the fact that God loves us, and wants only good things for us?  Did we not notice that, as dark as the days seem to be sometimes, the sun always comes up the next day?  All of these things, and many, many more, should make our hearts glad – and make for a cheerful countenance on each one of us.  We are loved, cared for, and protected by Almighty God; we each have a full measure of the grace of Jesus Christ, and we are filled by the Holy Spirit.  If that doesn’t put a smile on our faces, we don’t know what will!

With our love in Christ,

Karen and Greg

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

 CHURCH AND COMMUNITY UPDATES

-Joint GLCC and WPC Adopt-A-Highway—Tuesday, September 28^th at 9 a.m., with a rain date of Thursday, September 30^th at 9 a.m. We will meet at the corner of 23 and 638 to begin.  Join the fun!

-Women’s Conference— Thursday, October 7^th  God Does His Best Work with Empty is the theme of the Women’s Conference this year.  This one-day Bible study will be held in the “living Room” of the Birch Hill Store, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Lunch and snacks will be served.  Registration forms and $30 fee are due by September 27^th.  The green forms are available in the GLCC Narthex, or from the pastor at WPC.

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, September 15, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in calmer breezes and drier air, and let us be glad that the forecast is calling for a warmer weekend before the official start of autumn on September 22nd!  You may have noticed small hints of color beginning to show in the trees as you’ve been out-and-about, a preview of the magnificent hues that are just around the corner.  Fall in Northern Michigan is incomparable, and we urge you to get out and enjoy every possible minute of it!

While you’re reveling in the delights of early autumn resplendent with vivid colors, apples, and cozy sweaters, don’t lose sight of how these things came to be in our lives; remember who created all things in perfect balance and abundance.  And remember what we’ve been talking about for the last couple of weeks, both in writing and in worship; keeping our tongues in check, being careful with words, and redoubling our efforts to be kind, generous, compassionate, and loving.  The remembrances of 9/11 cannot be allowed to fade into the shadows; the unity and resolve that encompassed our nation and much of the world in the days following that tragic event can be ours again, if we’ll stop yelling at one another, stop finger-pointing, and stop retreating into our closely-guarded enclaves of like-minded souls so that we can engage with the world.  We can build the peaceable kingdom on Earth that God wishes for us, and it can begin right here in Presque Isle County.  And it can begin right now with us.

With our love in Christ,

Karen and Greg

Therefore be careful how you walk,not as unwise men but as wise Ephesians 5:15

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, September 8, 2021 

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 calmer weather today, following a few days of storms, and let us be glad that, for the most part, our corner of Michigan was relatively unscathed.  Our prayers go out to those who are without power and those whose homes were damaged in the storms; and our prayers continue for those in the South and Northeast who are struggling in the aftermath of hurricane strikes, and also for those in the Northwest dealing with wildfires.

We cannot avoid the subject of 9/11 this week, as much as we may want to; twenty years ago, our nation and our world were rocked by the terror attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C.  Twenty years ago, our lives were forever changed.  Twenty years ago, for a brief moment in history, citizens of the United States rallied together in support of kin and country; churches were filled, as if we instinctively knew that God was our only true refuge and strength.  Partisanship waned, patriotism flourished, and some thought that a new, brighter day had dawned, born out of unspeakable tragedy.  Sadly, it didn’t last very long, and now, as we continue to face the worldwide tragedy of the COVID-19 virus; we find ourselves at odds over vaccines, masks, social distancing, and shutdowns, and we once again have turned to God Almighty for refuge and strength. While it is true that there is no better place to seek support, it is also true that we have learned very little in the twenty years between tragedies; we are more divided than ever before, less willing to listen, to compromise, and to forgive.  Our actions, or lack thereof, grieve the heart of God, who wants only the best for us and all of Creation.  Let us set aside our desire to be “right,” and seek to become right with God, who is all goodness, mercy and love.  In unity we will find strength, in unity we will find love, and in love we will find God.

With our love in Christ,

Karen and Greg

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.  1 Peter 3:8

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, September 1, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the first day of September that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in a new month, and let us be glad for all the opportunities it will bring.  While many of us aren’t overly excited about this particular turn of the calendar page as it signals the approaching end of summer, we are blessed to live in a place where cooler weather brings spectacular beauty as the leaves change colors from lush green to vibrant hues of red and gold.  But not yet!

As the seasons change, we are reminded that the one consistent aspect of our lives is the One who created all things; God is unchangeable.  God’s goodness and mercy are limitless, as are his generosity and love.  Sadly, we human beings are not so consistent.  We are malleable beings, influenced by world events, social media, and popular culture; and we aren’t always kind, merciful, generous, or loving.  On this first day of a new month, on the cusp of a new season, let’s take some time to reflect on these things, and if we find ourselves coming up a bit short in emulating our Lord and Savior in our daily behaviors, let us then turn to God in prayer and ask for the courage, strength, and constancy to change.

And let us also pray for those in Afghanistan, the Gulf Coast as they recover from the impact of Hurricane Ida, and in our own state who suffered from the severe weather of the last several days, for God’s protection and healing.

God bless you!

Karen and Greg

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY UPDATES

-Rededication of the Kauffman House – 1 p.m., Sunday, September 5^th in the front lawn of the Grand Lake Community Chapel.
-God Loves You Food Pantry – Monday, September 13^th in the GLCC Parking Lot.
-Chapel Guild will meet Tuesday, September 7
-GLCC Council Meeting – Thursday, September 16^th at 9 a.m. 

A Prayer for Recovery

 God of mercy, be a present and steadfast help to those left reeling from Hurricane Ida.

 Be with those recovering from property damage and loss. Be with those traumatized by the storm’s    wind and rising waters. Be with those left without power, kids left without school, communities left without essential services.

 We also pray for those leading the rescue and recovery efforts. Grant them the strength and endurance they’ll need for the weeks and months ahead. Cool them in the brutal heat. Assure them that you are pleased with their efforts to seek and save.

 Holy God, may all those devastated by Ida know the shelter and security of your safe refuge.

 In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.