Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, September 25, 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 slowly emerging autumn season, and let us be glad for the beauty around us as it begins to change into its colorful finery. This is a wonderful time to be Up North (isn’t it always a wonderful time to be Up North?), a wonderful time to explore, and a wonderful time to get reacquainted with favorite seasonal traditions and activities. We invite you to join us in embracing all that God has prepared for us to enjoy!

If it seems as if the news is almost universally bad lately, you’d be right; when was the last time there was a story about a country on the other side of the world that wasn’t focused on a tragedy of some kind, or a report about a community in our own country that’s made great progress in addressing a challenge? Sure, every now and then, we’ll come across news of a medical breakthrough, or a feel-good story in the local media, but the old adage “if it bleeds, it leads” certainly dominates news coverage far more than it used to. We think it’s fair to assume that everybody knows that we don’t live in a utopian society, and that there are serious issues to be dealt with, but would it hurt if there were a more optimism in the air? Those of us with a foundation in faith know that God is good, Creation is good, and that the future is full of promise; and that today is pretty darn decent as well. The world needs an attitude adjustment, away from despair and towards joy; this is a choice each of us can make every day, and if enough of us are intentional about choosing joy, the rest of the world will soon join us – because joy is a whole lot better than despair!

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 can do all things through Christ who strengthen me.

Philippians 4:13

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, September 18, 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 magnificent late-summer day Up North, and let us be glad for the warm days and cool nights of this time of year! There are so many wonderful things happening in our area as one season comes to an end, and another is about to begin; festivals, apple cider and donuts, the hint of color in the trees, and the list goes on. This is a great time of the year, and we encourage you to get out and enjoy it!

We’d like to thank the Rev. Dr. Bob Case for leading worship while we were on vacation, it’s good to know that our beloved congregants are in good hands when we’re away. This vacation time was very different for us, because we really didn’t do much of anything! Not sure we planned it that way, but that’s how it turned out; and we are beyond grateful to God for guiding us to exactly what we needed. We needed rest, quiet, and peace to recharge ourselves after a very busy spring and summer. That’s one of the truly amazing things about our God – he gives us exactly what we need, whether or not we ask for it. Our God knows us so well, and loves us so completely, that our every need is met at the perfect time and in the perfect way. If we need a bit of adventure, we’re presented with the opportunity to explore new places and things. If we need rest, our cares are lifted from us and we are given the time and space we need to be restored. Isn’t that a remarkable thing? Whether we need rest or adventure or something in between, 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

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and glad in it! Let us rejoice in yet another gorgeous Up North day, and let us be glad for the seasons to come! There are so many great ways to spend time in our area, whether it’s seasonal festivals or hunting or fishing or camping or whatever; all made available to us courtesy of Almighty God, who showers us with good things every day. We’d like to suggest that a fine way of expressing our appreciation for God’s gifts is to get out and enjoy them!

These next few weeks are a time for change, as children head back to school or college, seasonal businesses begin to shut down, and some of our friends prepare to move to warmer climates for the upcoming cooler weather. As things around us change, we’re presented with an opportunity to assess our own lives, and consider if there are things we’d like to change. Are there less-than-good habits we’d like to break, are there new habits we’d like to cultivate, and are there books we’d like to read or activities we’d like to engage in? Not surprisingly, your pastors would like to gently and humbly suggest that Bible study and prayer could be on your list of things to begin, or continue, as the case may be Emoji. And oddly enough, we’re planning on offering two structured Bible studies later this year, one in the fall and one during Advent; please consider joining us! Regardless of how you plan on spending your “free” time during this time of change, we urge you to invite the Triune God to be your companion. Remember that 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

Beholding the glory of the Lord transforms us

into His likeness. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, August 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 upcoming holiday weekend, and let us be glad that we are free to celebrate a national holiday that honors the importance and inherent dignity of labor. While for some among us, this holiday marks the end of the “season” Up North, for others it signals a return to life governed by the events and activities of a school calendar. And the Labor Day holiday kicks off the college football season! Yay!!!

As noted above, schools are coming back into session very soon, if not already back for some. Back-to-school shopping excursions may be ancient history for a few of us, but it’s probably fair to say that all of us have memories, fond or otherwise, of the process of getting back into the swing of the academic year. As classes begin, at all levels from kindergarten to graduate school, we invite you to honor the educators in your prayers; theirs can be a challenging profession, but it is an absolutely essential one for the future of our nation and our way of life. We know that many who are reading this message are educators (or have retired from this honorable profession), and to all who teach, or have taught, we offer our heartfelt thanks. And no matter how long it’s been since you cracked a textbook, you can get back into the saddle by studying scripture or participating in a Bible study or reading any of the thousands of excellent books about theology and church history that are out there; our faith is an enduring subject to study, one that is both exciting and confounding. Trust us, your faith will be made richer by ongoing learning; you may be truly surprised by the insights that come your way as you read (or re-read) passages from the Bible or thoughtful words by an inspired author. It’s way too early to think about cuddling up in front of a roaring fire with a good book, but you could curl up with that Good Book on a porch or patio or beach! To quote the founder of Faber College of “Animal House” fame, knowledge 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

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, August 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 summer Up North, and let us be glad that the season still has a ways to go!  We’ve touched on this in the past, but there’s something truly special about life north of the 45th parallel (which lies just south of Alpena, in case you didn’t know    ).  We’re blessed with an almost unlimited array of things to do and see, and we’re blessed with a beautiful place to do absolutely nothing, if that’s what’s calling to you.

Most importantly, we’re blessed with an amazing community.  Not only in our churches, but all across the region; we’re able to be out and about and not be too worried about our safety.  We’re greeted with a smile and a friendly wave when we meet others, and we’re happy to reciprocate.  We’re blessed to be surrounded by people who genuinely care for one another and for the world around us; people who are willing to help out, people who are generous with their time and resources when a need in the community arises, people who are compassionate and kind.  Sure, there are exceptions to what we’ll call “Up North hospitality,” but they’re hard to come by; our community is composed of a rich blend of natives, transplants, and transients, all of whom bring their very best to the work of the community; some do so with a bit of fanfare, some quietly, others anonymously.  And that’s OK, because no matter how we participate in our treasured Up North community, what matters is that we do indeed participate and celebrate life up here.  Let us honor our community, both the community of faith and the community outside the doors of our churches, for it is in community that we find strength and joy.  As we read in Psalm 133:1; how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

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

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity. Psalm 133:1

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, August 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 an absolutely gorgeous Up North day, and let us be glad for the opportunity to enjoy it!  Today is one of those days that almost takes your breath away; a near-perfect blend of clear skies, ideal temperature, and gentle breezes that beg us to get outdoors and soak in the gloriousness!  So let’s do it, shall we???

Thanks be to God for this grand day, but let us remember that each and every day is a gift from God.  Each and every day is full of promise, each and every day affords us the opportunity to learn, serve, and grow.  Each and every day gives us a chance to take care of ourselves and those around us, by treating ourselves gently when we make mistakes, being generous with our kindness towards others, forgiving when necessary and celebrating when possible, and above all else honoring Almighty God who provides all things for our enrichment and joy.  As much as we’d like to put today in a bottle so that we can pour it out on the inevitable rainy day that’s coming our way, that’s not the way this works; we live today fully and joyfully, and remember it for the great experiences we shared.  We should live every day fully and joyfully, and remember them for the great experiences we shared.  You see, it’s not the weather that governs how we receive each new day, it’s our attitude.  Choose joy today, and every day.  Then every day will be remembered for great experiences shared.

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 make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11